The ensemble cast of The Big Lebowski is full of iconic actors playing unconventionally wacky characters. Although it received mixed reviews and bombed at the box office during its initial release, The Big Lebowski has since been reappraised as a beloved classic with a mᴀssive cult following. The Coen brothers are renowned writing quirky, unforgettable roles, and this 1998 stoner noir features some of the zaniest and most colorful characters in their canon. Led by Jeff Bridges’ career-defining turn as the king of all slackers, the Dude, The Big Lebowski has one of the most star-studded casts of the Coens’ filmography.

The old saying that there are no small parts, only small actors, is particularly true of the Coens’ movies. Even a minor character like Jesus Quintana can steal every scene they’re in. The cast of The Big Lebowski includes some of the Coen brothers’ most frequent regular collaborators, like John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, and John Turturro, as well as newcomers they’d never worked with before, such as Julianne Moore and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Coens found the perfect actor to play each of the madcap characters in the cast of The Big Lebowski.

Jeff Bridges As Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski

Born December 3, 1949

Actor: Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski, the zen, carefree slacker who gets swept up in a kidnapping plot when he just wants to go bowling, is played by Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski cast. The actor later reunited with the Coens to play the John Wayne role of Rooster Cogburn in their remake of True Grit. Over the course of his decades-spanning acting career, Bridges has starred in a wide range of movies including the coming-of-age drama The Last Picture Show, the buddy action comedy Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, and the sci-fi adventure Tron. He received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his turn as an alcoholic singer in the country music drama Crazy Heart.

Character: Jeff Bridges perfectly embodies Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski, a laid-back, unemployed bowler with a penchant for White Russians, cannabis, and taking it easy. The character is inadvertently drawn into a convoluted kidnapping scheme when he’s mistaken for a wealthy namesake. Bridges’ effortless charm, shaggy demeanor, and natural comedic timing make The Dude an instantly iconic figure. His ability to remain (mostly) unflappable amid chaos makes the performance unforgettable, cementing “The Dude abides” as one of the most memorable The Big Lebowski quotes.

John Goodman As Walter Sobchak

Born June 20, 1952

Actor: Walter Sobchak, the Dude’s H๏τheaded friend and bowling teammate who frequently invokes the U.S. Consтιтution, is played by John Goodman in The Big Lebowski. Walter is a veteran of the Vietnam War and finds a way to bring up the experience in every conversation. Goodman had previously worked with the Coens in Raising Arizona and Barton Fink but is mostly known for his role as Dan Conner in the classic sitcom Roseanne. He went on to play Fred in the live-action Flintstones movie, voice the character Sulley in the Monsters, Inc. franchise, and portray a Hollywood make-up artist awarded the CIA’s Intelligence Medal of Merit for his heroism in Argo.

Character: John Goodman’s Walter Sobchak is The Dude’s volatile, Vietnam-obsessed best friend and bowling teammate. A former soldier, Walter is prone to outbursts, misapplied wartime logic, and strict adherence to bowling league rules. Goodman’s performance is both hilarious and terrifying, shifting between bombastic rants and moments of odd sincerity. His pᴀssionate delivery of lines like “This is what happens when you f*** a stranger in the a**” makes Walter one of the The Big Lebowski’s most quotable and compelling characters.

Julianne Moore As Maude Lebowski

Born December 3, 1960

Actor: “The Big” Lebowski’s daughter, Maude Lebowski, a Sєxually liberated artist, is played by Julianne Moore. Maude is a hilarious subversion of the “femme fatale” archetype. Moore first rose to prominence in the Robert Altman anthology movie Short Cuts and later gained international recognition with her role in the Steven Spielberg blockbuster The Lost World: Jurᴀssic Park. Moore also stars in such films as Boogie Nights, The End of the Affair, and Children of Men. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance as a woman with Alzheimer’s disease in Still Alice.

Character: Julianne Moore’s The Big Lebowski character, Maude Lebowski, is a wealthy, avant-garde feminist artist and the estranged daughter of the тιтular “Big” Lebowski. She enlists The Dude’s help while pursuing her own peculiar agenda, including conceiving a child with him. Moore’s sharp, ᴅᴇᴀᴅpan delivery contrasts beautifully with The Dude’s aimless nature, making their interactions particularly amusing. Her poised, intellectual demeanor enhances Maude’s eccentricity, making her an enigmatic and memorable The Big Lebowski character.

Steve Buscemi As Donny Kerabatsos

Born December 13, 1957

Actor: The Dude and Walter’s friend and bowling teammate Donny Kerabatsos, who the former often tells to “shut the f*** up,” is played by Steve Buscemi. The actor had previously worked with the Coens on Miller’s Crossing, Barton Fink, The Hudsucker Proxy, and Fargo. Buscemi’s breakout role was diamond robber Mr. Pink in Quentin Tarantino’s debut movie, Reservoir Dogs. He went on to play Rockhound in Armageddon, the Marietta Mangler in Con Air, and the lead role of Nucky Thompson in the HBO crime drama Boardwalk Empire. He also voiced Randall in the Monsters, Inc. franchise and Wayne the Werewolf in H๏τel Transylvania.

Character: Steve Buscemi portrays Donny in The Big Lebowski, Walter’s soft-spoken and frequently interrupted bowling teammate. Constantly belittled by Walter with “Shut up, Donny!” retorts, Donny remains good-natured and somewhat clueless throughout the entirety of the movie. Buscemi’s understated performance makes Donny’s eventual fate unexpectedly poignant. His presence provides a perfect foil to Walter’s loud, dominating personality, and their relationship makes for some of the funniest moments in the entirety of The Big Lebowski.

David Huddleston As Jeffrey “The Big” Lebowski

Born September 17, 1930. Died August 2, 2016

Actor: Jeffrey “The Big” Lebowski, the wealthy magnate that the Dude is mistaken for, is played by David Huddleston. The Big Lebowski represents everything that the Dude stands against — and vice versa. Huddleston had a prolific TV career with roles in episodes of such classic shows as Kung Fu, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. On the big screen, he played Dr. Jones in Rio Lobo, Olson Johnson in Blazing Saddles, and Santa Claus in the origin film Santa Claus: The Movie.

Character: Jeffrey “The Big” Lebowski, the pompous, wheelchair-bound millionaire who falsely claims his young trophy wife has been kidnapped, and effortlessly to life by David Huddleston. Huddleston delivers a performance dripping with condescension, self-importance, and bluster, making his eventual comeuppance all the more satisfying. His contrast to The Dude- one Lebowski rich and self-aggrandizing, the other poor and indifferent – highlights the The Big Lebowski’s satirical take on class and character.

Philip Seymour Hoffman As Brandt

Born July 23, 1967. Died February 2, 2014.

Actor: “The Big” Lebowski’s loyal ᴀssistant, Brandt, is played by Philip Seymour Hoffman. Brandt acts as a middleman between the two Lebowskis, communicating the elder’s furious demands to the Dude in a calm and compᴀssionate way. Hoffman is known for his collaborations with Paul Thomas Anderson on movies like Boogie Nights, Magnolia, and The Master. He also played the villain in Mission: Impossible III and Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games franchise. Hoffman received an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of author Truman Capote in the movie Capote.

Character: The late Philip Seymour Hoffman steals every scene he appears in in The Big Lebowski as Brandt, the obsequious personal ᴀssistant to the Big Lebowski. With a perpetual nervous smile and over-eager politeness, Brandt serves as the middleman between The Dude and the upper crust. Hoffman’s impeccable comedic timing, awkward body language, and ability to convey barely concealed exasperation make Brandt one of the The Big Lebowski’s funniest minor characters.

John Turturro As Jesus Quintana

Born February 28, 1957

Actor: Jesus Quintana, the “pederast” on a rival bowling team who taunts the Dude and his friends in the bowling alley, is played by John Turturro. The actor is a regular collaborator of the Coens’ who also worked with them on Miller’s Crossing, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and Barton Fink, for which he won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor. He has also frequently appeared in Spike Lee movies, including Do the Right Thing. Turturro can be seen in big-budget blockbusters like The Batman and the Transformers franchise, too.

Character: John Turturro delivers a wildly memorable performance as Jesus Quintana, an eccentric, purple-clad bowling rival with an unsettling past. Though he appears in only a few scenes, his flamboyant mannerisms, exaggerated Spanish accent, and bizarre taunts (“Nobody f***s with the Jesus”) make him one of the most unforgettable side characters in Coen Brothers history. Turturro’s fearless, over-the-top performance ensures that Jesus’ brief screen time leaves a lasting impact.

Sam Elliott As The Stranger

Born August 9, 1944

Actor: The mustached, deep-voiced, cowboy hat-clad narrator of The Big Lebowski, credited as “The Stranger,” is played by Sam Elliott. The actor is known for playing Western roles, like Virgil Earp in Tombstone and Con Vallian in The Quick and the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. He also played supporting roles in the war movie We Were Soldiers and the comic book films Hulk and Ghost Rider. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Bradley Cooper’s half-brother and manager in the 2018 remake of A Star is Born.

Character: Sam Elliott serves as the film’s deep-voiced, mustachioed narrator, known as The Stranger, who occasionally appears to offer The Dude sage, cowboy-style wisdom. His folksy, old-west demeanor contrasts hilariously with the absurdity of the story of The Big Lebowski, grounding it with a touch of mythical charm. Elliott’s smooth, authoritative delivery adds a timeless quality to the film, making The Stranger feel like a fable-spinning observer of The Dude’s journey.

The Big Lebowski Supporting Cast & Characters

Tara Reid as Bunny Lebowski: “The Big” Lebowski’s self-kidnapped wife, Bunny, is played by Tara Reid. The actress is best known for her roles as Vicky in the American Pie franchise and April Wexler in the Sharknado movies.

David Thewlis as Knox Harrington: Knox Harrington, a video artist and close friend of Maude’s, is played by David Thewlis. He won the Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his work in Mike Leigh’s Naked. He also played Professor Lupin in the Harry Potter franchise and the villainous Ares in Wonder Woman.

Ben Gazzara as Jackie Treehorn: Adult film producer Jackie Treehorn is played by Ben Gazzara. He got his big break starring in the Broadway production of Cat on a H๏τ Tin Roof and famously collaborated with director John Cᴀssavetes on movies like Husbands and Opening Night.

Peter Stormare as Uli Kunkel / Karl Hungus: The leader of the nihilists, Uli Kunkel, also known by his X-rated stage name Karl Hungus, is played by Peter Stormare. The actor previously played a larger role for the Coens: the hateable villain Gaear Grimsrud in Fargo. He is also known for playing John Abruzzi in Prison Break.

Jon Polito as Da Fino: Da Fino, the private eye hired to tail the Dude, is played by Jon Polito. The actor played Detective Steve Crosetti in the first two seasons of Homicide: Life on the Street and Jay’s business rival Earl Chambers in Modern Family. He also worked on other Coen brothers movies including Miller’s Crossing and Barton Fink.

Jimmie Dale Gilmore as Smokey: Smokey, the bowler held at gunpoint by Walter to mark down his score, is played by Jimmie Dale Gilmore. He is more known for his work as a singer and songwriter in the country music genre than his work as an actor.

Jack Kehler as Marty: The Dude’s landlord, Marty, is played by Jack Kehler. He has appeared in action movies such as Men in Black II, The Last Boy Scout, and the timeless cult classic Point Break.

Dom Irrera as Tony: Tony, the chauffeur who drives the Dude home after visiting Maude’s studio in The Big Lebowski, is played by Dom Irrera. He is also a well-known standup comedian and has played such voice roles as Ernie Potts on Hey Arnold! and Duke on Back at the Barnyard.