Walter Sobchak

John Goodman, the actor who portrayed Walter Sobchak. 2011.

Walter Sobchak is a fictional character in the movie The Big Lebowski. He is a Vietnam veteran, owns his own security business, and is a good bowler.

He carries a semi-automatic pistol and has an explosive temper. He curses frequently, and is impatient with his friend, Donny.

Walter is a highly effective street fighter, making use of whatever objects are at hand including a bowling bag, boom box, and his own teeth.

Walter is Jewish, though he was born Polish Catholic and converted when he married his ex-wife, Cynthia. He takes care of her dog, a Yorkshire terrier, when she goes on vacation with Marty Ackerman. The dog can't be boarded because it's a show dog, and it gets nervous and pulls out its fur. It has papers.

The character was modeled after director John Milius, who made Conan the Barbarian and Red Dawn. It was also inspired by the character Alex Cutter, from the movie Cutter's Way, played by John Heard.