"I had a rough night, and I hate the Eagles." Every line uttered by Jeff Bridges in the Coen Brothers masterpiece The Big Lebowski feels perfect. Bridges inhabits his titular character, also known as the Dude, so well that the actor has become almost indistinguishable from the character. And it's not just Bridges, either. Supporting performances by John Goodman, Julianne Moore, and Philip Seymour Hoffman are also pure comedy gold.
Is Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski Jeff Bridges's most iconic character, though? With a career spanning decades and many other acclaimed roles under this belt, the most enduring achievement from Bridges's still very active career might not be so clear cut.
The Dude: Bridges Perfects The Middle-Aged Stoner
When he isn't bowling or making White Russians, The Dude enjoys indulging in cannabis. His idea of a good night is having a candle-lit bath with a "J," as he prefers to call them.
Bridges brings The Dude's stoner qualities to life with ease, from his character's love for Creedence Clearwater Revival to his half-baked, anything goes mentality about life.
Alternative: Deputy U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (True Grit)
A far cry from the resident pothead in The Big Lebowski, Rooster Cogburn in the Coen Brothers' remake of the Western True Grit is a hard-nosed US Marshal. First played by John Wayne in the 1969 film, Bridges brings a similar, yet goofier, hypermasculinity to the character.
Rooster Cogburn loves booze as much as he loves tracking down criminals, and Bridges's Cogburn forms a unique bond with the 14-year-old girl who hires him to avenge her father's death: Mattie Ross. The performance testifies to Bridges' masterful take on the old, jaded lawman of the Old West.
The Dude: There Aren't Any Comedic Characters Quite Like Him
While The Dude is the consummate cinematic stoner, Bridges gives him a depth few other characters of his kind possess. He's ultimately much more than a fumbling fool. In fact, The Dude may be the sanest character in the entire film.
The bottom line: there is no one quite like The Dude. Or Duder. Or El Duderino for those not into the whole brevity thing.
Alternative: Obadiah Stane (Iron Man)
Bridges entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe canon by portraying villain Obadiah Stane in the first Iron Man film. Tony Stark's mentor turned nemesis develops his own supervillain persona in order to gain control of Stark Enterprises: Iron Monger.
Even though Stane is defeated by the movie's end, the role made Bridges known to a whole new generation of filmgoers.
The Dude: His Dialogue Is Hilarious
The Big Lebowski may be the most quotable comedy of all time. While Walter Sobchak's freakouts are pretty high up on the list, The Dude's philosophical ramblings are among the best jokes delivered in the movie.
Whether it's “Careful, man, there’s a beverage here," "This is a private residence," or "Obviously, you're not a golfer," The Dude's quips match his disposition perfectly. As he so aptly states in the film, "Life goes on, man."
Alternative: Kevin Flynn (Tron)
In another more mainstream role, Bridges stars in both 1982's Tron and its 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy. In both films, Bridges plays video game programmer Kevin Flynn, who is beamed into his employer's mainframe. Bridges also plays CLU, a hacking program.
For 2010's Legacy, Flynn goes missing, which prompts his son, Samuel (played by Garrett Hedlund), to track his father down, leading him to be transported onto the same grid his father mastered decades earlier. Tron is considered a seminal film when it comes to techie fantasy sci-fi.
The Dude: His Body Humor Is Just As Humorous
The Dude's quirky mannerisms go hand-in-hand with Bridges's hysterical dialogue. Even though it's subtle, The Dude's natural, laid back body language is often challenged by the stressful situations he finds himself in as The Big Lebowski progresses.
This is what makes The Dude's characterization so special: Bridges keeps his character mellow until the very last second, where he finally explodes. Case in point: when Walter accidentally spreads Donny's ashes all over The Dude's face.
Alternative: Bad Blake (Crazy Heart)
Bridges won an Academy Award for his portrayal of down-and-out country musician Otis "Bad" Blake. A former superstar, Bad Blake is a struggling alcoholic who hopes to pull his life back together after beginning a new relationship with a younger journalist, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Bridges' performance feels so natural it's easy to believe he was once a country star himself. Crazy Heart is based on the 1987 book of the same name by Thomas Cobb, who based Bad Blake on musicians like Hank Thompson and Ramblin' Jack Elliott.
The Dude: His Looks Remain Iconic
Every year, fans around the world participate in Lebowski Fest, which involves converging in bowling alleys or conference halls dressed up as characters from The Big Lebowski. The Dude and his many looks are easily replicated at this event, as well as during Halloween.
From his shaggy hair to knit sweaters to his pajama pants, The Dude definitely abides when comes to comfort. It doesn't get much more low maintenance than the ultimate expression of The Dude's style: his robe.
Alternative: Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Hell Or High Water)
Hell or High Water is viewed as the film that updated revisionist Westerns for the 21st century, and much of its success hinges on Bridges' performance. Bridges plays Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton in the film, who pursues two bank-robbing brothers with his partner.
Hamilton is far from a normal Texas Ranger, and Bridges brings nuance to his portrayal that completely subverts expectations for films of this caliber. Chris Pine and Ben Foster support Bridges with stellar performances, too, as the brothers his character is after.