His Name In The Script
There was never a doubt in anyone’s mind—Elliott was made to the “The Stranger” in The Big Lebowski. “Well, they gave me a script. I read the script, and it says in the script, ‘There’s this Western voiceover, and ‘Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds’ is playing in the background, and the voiceover sounds not unlike Sam Elliott.’ This is in the pages! So I read a little further on, and then this character appears, and it says, ‘And here’s The Stranger, looking not unlike Sam Elliott.’ So it was, like, that was the pitch: ‘Let’s put his name in the script. Maybe he’ll bite for it.’”
His Name In The Script
Working With Jeff Bridges
Thanks to his popularity in The Big Lebowski, Elliott was eventually offered the role of Kermit Newman in the Contender. The film’s director, Rod Lurie, loved Elliott’s energy as he worked alongside Jeff Bridges, and as soon as he finished the script, he sent it to Elliott for him to consider.
Working With Jeff Bridges
