Walter Sobchak

From Coen Brothers Wiki

"Am I wrong?"

―Walter

Walter Sobchak is a Vietnam War veteran, and The Dude's best friend and bowling teammate. Born a Polish Catholic, he converted to Judaism when he married his wife, Cynthia. They divorced five years prior to Bunny Lebowski's disappearance, but he still attempts a relationship with her, remains devoted to Judaism, and even takes care of her Pomeranian while she vacations with her new boyfriend.

His experiences from the Vietnam War have left him mentally unstable and paranoid. He deals with some situations in a passive-aggressive and stubborn manner, while dealing with other situations in a recklessly head-on aggressive manner. He is boisterously confident in his actions, though his plans usually backfire, often ending disastrously. Walter runs his own security firm, Sobchak Security, and places bowling second in reverence only to his religion, as evidenced by his strict rule against bowling on Shabbos.

[edit] Behind the scenes

Walter was played by John Goodman. The character is based in part on the screenwriter/director John Milius.