who is this guy? more info please.

yes, laura and I don't know of this man.
why is he walking?
When will he get a hair cut?
why does richard roeper want to talk to him?
perhaps you should offer him some nice shoe inserts.

doesn't everyone walk? how did he get his title of "walking dude"?

Someone posted a movie about him on the internet a while back. I wish I still had the link. I believe it was that video that gave him the name "walking dude". The funny thing was that when that video came out, everyone thought it was great because everyone has seen the "walking dude".

"Walking dude" is famous in the city. You can see him at all times of the day, making one wonder if he has a job.

As far as myth goes, Walking Dude is probably as famous as the Hi Guy, the guy who walks around in a white t-shrit and shorts carrying a sign that says "Hi". I think Hi Guy actually has his own Website.

I updated the this post to include a link of photos to this walking dude: http://www.spudart.org/chicagowalkingdude

I, too, know of this man. I have never seen him sitting, running, driving, public transportating, bicycling, rollerblading, pogo sticking, or any other mode of motion. "Walking dude" is appropriate. Next time I see him, I will say "Hi!"

I wonder if he has a library card.

why doesn't the walking dude walk over to Elmhurst? He is quite welcome in the wonderful town of Elmhurst.

Perhaps someone should suggest that to him. It would make a nice day trip.

I wonder how long it would take him to walk from the Michigan Avenue bridge [which is where I normally see him] to Elmhurst?

Here's some talk about city/suburb journeys. http://www.spudart.org/blogs/randomthoughts_comments/A99_0_3_0_C/
Mentioned are walking trips from chicago to:
ï Montgomery (past Aurora) 47.90 miles
ï Cities in Wisconsin (58-84 miles)
ï Mount Prospect (17 miles)

I was actually thinking of that post when I posted my question. I remember you talking about how long it would take to walk to Montgomery. Thanks for posting the link :^]

To walk from the Michigan Avenue bridge to Elmhurst Public Libary (my favorite place in Elmhurst) would be 19.1 miles.

Gapers Block has an interesting post on how many Chicago blocks are in one mile:
http://www.gapersblock.com/airbags/archives/measuring_a_chicago_mile/

For this post, I'll just stick with the traditional 8 block per mile standard.

Spudart says that you can walk 1 block in 3 minutes leisurely ( http://www.spudart.org/blogs/randomthoughts_comments/99_0_3_0_C/ ).

So it would take about 7.6 hours to walk to Elmhurst.

7.6 hours! What about lunch!? ;^]

After that kind of journey I would hope to find great things to do in Elmhurst, great places to shop and eat and a "Welcome to Elmhurst" sign hung on the library :^D

you could visit my parents, tom. they live semi-near the art museum/library. but they probably wouldn't be home. they keep strange hours. for great food, go to "Two Brothers from Italy" restaurant, right across the street from the train station [and also near the art museum/library] - I recommend the Veggie Special pizza, although any of their pizzas are superb. if you like Chinese food, i recommend the Red Dragon restaurant, on the other side of the train station. both restaurants are Elmhurst institutions.

I would need a map, I get lost outside of the 312 area code.

I think it would be fun though ... when it gets a little warmer, like around 57.

Red Dragon good food. there's a nice comic book shop by the dragon. what else is there. hmmm... elmhurst library is about as far east as i go. I live in far, far west elmhurst. I should go to downtown elmhurst more often. I think i will write a review on my blog of the different downtown areas of different suburbs. Generate some buzz so the walking dude would be enticed to visit the land out west.

make sure to note the hair salons in these suburbs. That will surely entice Walking Dude.

Walking Dude is pretty fashionable too ... Does downtown Elmhurst have nice stores?

first of all, downtown Elmhurst is referred to as "uptown" by all Elmhurstians. it is clear that you haven't frequented "uptown" very much, moose, if you are referring to it as "downtown." to Elmhurstians, "downtown" refers to the city of Chicago.

tom, "uptown" has many nice shops, as well as some long-time Elmhurst institutions. one of these is the York Theatre. this movie theater now has like 16 screens and shows first-run movies, but when i was a kid, there was only one screen, and it showed like third-run movies. i saw many many movies there. i even saw "Phantom Menace" there with my sister when it first came out! even though i was living in Chicago then, my sister was still living at home, so she got us some midnight seats to the movie.

moose, Gem Comics used to be run by my ex-boyfriend [he lives in Aurora now].

many of the uptown shops in Elmhurst reflect the kind of people who go there. Elmhurst is full of families - mostly white, upper-middle-class, Christian, bagels-n-coffee kind of people. so there are bagel shops, cafes, coffee shops, thrift stores run by Elmhurst hospital, dry cleaners, ice cream shops, grocery stores, drug stores, stuff like that. it's a very "nice" place to live. i myself prefer the danger/diversity of city life, hence i left Elmhurst. but Elmhurst is a very popular place to live, and properties values are sky-high.

anyway, the uptown area has a lot of stores. if you want kind of an interesting coffee place, try the Chocolate Moon, just across from the train station. i know, i say that everything is across from the train station! but the Metra train runs straight thru uptown Elmhurst, so it's really convenient. anyway, the Chocolate Moon opened when i was in college, and it's run by one guy and his family, and they have awesome coffee [beats Starbucks by a mile] and coffee-type food, and you can bring your laptop there.

I used to pass by the Walking Man on the Columbus Bridge every day for a month or two when I was on my way to work. He was always walking South and I was always walking North. My sightings have been more sporadic since January.
Since I saw him at the same time everyday does that mean he's on some schedule?
Is his schedule self-imposed?
I used to try to figure out what was going on in his life by his appearance. Some days his hair was more disheveled than others. Sometimes his roots were showing. Sometimes he had a camel coat and a scarf with a button-down shirt. Other times he was wearing a wife-beater T-shirt with a sport jacket. His dress seemed appropriate to his mood rather than the weather. Some days he seemed to have taken more care in dressing than others. What dictates that?
Sometimes he walked with long, purposeful strides, like he was on his way to a meeting or his art studio with an urgent muse. Other times he seemed to be making his way through a fog.
I'm trying to figure out what made me wonder about him.
What made him stand out from all the other people I pass on the way to work?
Obviously his hair and mustache are atypical in this time and place.
But there's something about him that portrays a struggle.
He has the look of a ship's captain who has thrust his chin in the air and tied himself to the mast of his sinking ship.
Thanks for reading.

Outstanding observations, Craig! You are right on across the board. I believe it's his distinct looks that makes him stand out. He is not the person that I recognize simply from walking down the street, but he is perhaps the only one that everyone [seemingly] sees with a good deal of frequency. Couple those two things [his distinct looks and the frequency with which he is out] and you might have your answer.

Thank you for posting about the Walking Dude! My husband and I have spotted him all over town -- River North, walking along Columbus, on Michigan Avenue, but most frequently on Inner Lake Shore Drive. We've been fascinated for the past two years -- we consistently have seen him about once a month or so. I'm so glad to have found this site and to find out that more people have been intrigued by him as well.

I hope you don't mind if I post the link to the plug for the documentary ... it made me laugh out loud

http://www.nata2.info/humor/movies/thewalkingdude.mpg

Prolly best to right click and "Save Target As..." ... Go for it. Chicagoans will get a reall kick out of this ... Even people who have never seen him before might enjoy this ;^]

As soon as I saw the name "Walking Dude", I KNEW who it had to be. I used to see this guy on Rush Street 25-30 years ago, and he looked EXACTLY THE SAME. Everyone else I know has changed dramatically in that time period, but this guy - he's the same. Same clothes, same hair, he doesn't look any older, he's not bald or gray, and he's still walking! I just saw him in the loop last week..... too funny!

30 years ago! Really! WOW! That makes me wonder if The Walking Dude is "The Walking Dude" full-time AND gets paid by the city to be "The Walking Dude"!!

Maybe he's a spy from the first Daley administration. And now he continues to be a pawn of the 2nd Daley administration.

Yeah, i've seen him.. i've been in Chicago for two years, and i thought i was the only one fascinated by him! i can't really say why..he just..overwhelmms me with something that transcends simple curiosity. I first saw him on michigan avenue, i was a doorman at a dubiously popular tourist attraction, every day i'd see him, winter, summer, spring, and fall. My co-workers and i had dubbed him "yanni-man", and it seemed like anyone i'd talk to about him instantly knew who he was.... i must know everything about him at all costs..anyone who can tell me anything, please e-mail me..thanks

OK, I used to live in Old Town at Lincoln Park West and Menomonee, and Walking Dude lives (or used to live) in a multi-tenant apartment building right there on the east side of the street. Used to see him all the time around '97-2001 in that area. That would work with the sightings in River North or LSD, making his way home from his day job walking downtown...

What? How would he afford the rent? Isn't it about $1000 a month around there now???
Wow.

This begs the question: What does Walking Dude do for a living!?

These aren't fabulous places mind you. This is an old building that most likely had alot of studio apts or efficiencies. I am guessing the rent is probably $650-$750. But still...

If you have ever watched him, he tends to talk to cabbies alot. My wife told me last night that he "sells things" to them. What those "things" are I don't know...

BTW, when is the Dudementary coming out??? I saw the preview clip 2 yrs ago and looks like no progress has been made... since they just did a docu about Ronny Woo Woo, we definitely need Walking Dude up on the big screen. He is just as much a fixture of Chicago and needs the exposure!!!

What about the "Jesus Man" - has anyone seen him? He used to ride the Harrison bus all the time, dressed as Jesus, complete with cross.

One day, I was in Garcia's in Lincoln Square far away, and there he was, eating! He took off his Jesus clothes to eat, and then put them back on when he left. By the time I paid and stepped outside, there was no sign of him.

i saw him getting on a bus once with his cross. his cross is really big, i was surprised that he could fit it through the bus door. i have a friend who talked with him once. she found out that he has an extremely literal translation of "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Luke 9:23)

What a lunch! Not only did I see walking dude, but there was also a cool jet trail left behind the Tribune Tower for the Chicago Air and Water Show.

Photos:
cool jet trail:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16706861@N00/35409335/

walking dude:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/16706861@N00/35408693/

I'm glad you posted here. I got the pictures in my email and rated them both "10" ! !

Where is the video? Where is the video?Where is the video? Seriously, let's really get this video posted somewhere. The world needs to know about Walking Dude. He is a shirtless legend in the Windy City.

Walking Dude and I have crossed paths
for thirty years.
I used to call him Truckin Man in my mind since his posture at an earlier time reminded me of R Crumb.
Today,
for the first time ever I saw him this morning hawking watches to cab drivers parked on upper Wacker
near the Swissotel.
I've always imagined that he was a kept man, residing in the Gold Coast area. Now I'm wondering if his "sponsor" has passed away and he is reduced to street vending???
By the way, I have a copy of the video
stored as a document in my pc.
I'd be willing to get it out there for all to see if someone can tell me how.

i've seen the walking dude for over a decade. i've seen him by the opera house; by mcclurg court; in logan square; grant park; in the loop...almost everywhere. our eyes have met once or twice but after hearing that he refuses to be interviewed i never attempted to speak with him. he is truly an enigma!

I see this guy a lot on Michigan Avenue. For some reason, he reminds me of Kramer on Seinfeld, so that's what my co-workers and I refer to him as. I once saw some tourists stop him for directions and he seemed pretty nice to them.

did you know that there is a walking dude in Cairns Australia? He walks around 150 km's a day from the city to innisfail and back.
Has he ever thought about an exchange program to Australia?
He too does not use hair product or scissors.
He would be a good walking buddy.
Adelaide Australia also has one but he just goes back and forth along the main strip in the city. Added bonus- he wears jocks and a t-shirt only...

day trip to Elmhurst?
exchange program to Australia?
you people are so funny
I have seen him too, may many years ago & yup his hair is the same
what a trip

My wife and I have been fascinated with the Walking Dude since we moved here three years ago. I've had two experiences with the WD, or, more specifically, two experiences where I was directly in his orbit. The first time, I was on the 146 going south on Michigan and he got on around Oak. He sat down in front of me. My heart skipped a beat. He was dressed in his usual finery. We always thought he might be homeless, though exceedingly well-groomed, but on the bus I saw that his hair was well-conditioned. He got off at Belmont, crossed Sheridan (I followed) and got on a 151 going back north. The second time, I was in the grocery store on Diversey in LP. WD was in line in front of me. He was carrying a basket that was filled with at least 20 cans of Chef Boyardee. I'm not making this up, honest. The shocking thing was that when it came time to pay, he brought out a wad -- and I mean a wad that would compare to a wad of cash Tony Soprano would carry -- of twenties and fifties. He didn't say anything to the cashier and, alas, I was too shy to say anything.

Hi name is John or so he tells me. I purchase some old coins from him. He was walking around, as usual by NBC. He cme up to ma and asked if I wanted to buy some old coins for $30.00, I politly said no and as he walked away I asked " hey what's your name?' He replied "John". I seen him a couple of hours later and got the coins for half price.

prolly works as a fence?

Works as a fence? What do you mean by fence?

I like how Howard used the word, "orbit" to describe the Walking Dude's walking path.

I have lived in Chicago for alomost 3 years now and work on Michigan ave. I think I've seen the Walking Dude but I had no idea that he was such a Chicago legend! I have only learned this today when I opened my Redeye paper during lunch and read about Chicago Icons. The paper has listed 20 things/people as possible Chicago Icons for readers to vote for. One of them of course is Walking Dude! That is how I found blog. I will certainly inform everyone if I happen to run into him.

What does Walking Dude do for a living? Many times I have seen him walking next to the row of cabs outside the NBC Building or on Columbus Drive near the Sheraton offering each cab driver something to buy. I'm not sure what he is selling.

I have the mpeg of the walking dude and i've loved it for like 4 years. Who did it and what is the background music? omg!

pleze lemme know xtopspinx at gmail

I have seen this dude many times walking around the Gold Coast...

WD isnt dying his hair lately, he has let it go au natural.

Just found this site thru a link in the readers' comments section of a Zorn article in the Trib today.

Anyway, back in the early 90s, while working as a bike messenger, I'd see this guy all the time. Up until today, I've always referred to him as Mr. Seventies. One day I stopped in to refuel at the now-gone Burger King at Mich/Wack. He was at a table next to me, and another guy came in and addressed him as "Eddie the Con-man", and they chatted briefly.

I also once asked him if he used to bartend at the now-defunct bar at the top of the Executive House, as I coulda sworn I saw him there in the 80s, but he denied it.

I'm pretty sure I've seen him offering jewelry to pedestrians.

I always thought that was Yani!! :)

His hair is totally gray now. We saw him on Sunday near the Mich Ave bridge and were really excited because we hadn't seen the Walking Dude in months.

Yes. He lives... I spotted him today at lunch walking north in Wabash at Hubbard.

The Walking Dude was in my neighborhood this morning. I recognized him immediately, even though ... HE WAS STANDING STILL! I had to do a double-take! "Walking Dude? Is that you!?" Sure enough, 'twas him

I just saw walking man on Adams and Franklin around 2:30 on 8/8/07. I recognized him from seeing a video clip on WGN's morning news on 8/7/07.

I used to work on North Michigan in the 70's and 80's, and I saw the Walking Dude hundreds of times. Then, we just called him "The Dude". I never knew anything about him or where he came from. One day, he was walking toward me on Ohio Street near Rush, and he held out a watch and said "Longines, buddy, Longines". So, I guessed he was some kind of street hustler. I changed jobs, and didn't see him for a long time, until two years ago, when I saw hiim sitting on the Jackson overpass at the Kennedy Epressway. Then, I saw him last week, at Michigan and South Water, talking to a homeless man. This time, he looked pretty scruffy. He has aged considerably, and turned gray. He always used to look really sharp. We always thought he looked like the lead singer in Three Dog Night. Somewone told me a few years ago he lived in the Logan Square area, but no longer. The guy really gets around.

Walking Dude, or "Yanni Walker" as I am accustommed to calling him, has been known in the graphic art industry as a male gigolo. there is a whole website about it: http://anythingofinterest.blogspot.com/2005/09/walking-dude-whats-his-deal.html

I was quite pleased to find that there is actually an individual named the Walking Dude! I am the owner of the domain name http://walkingdude.com I have had this domain name in my portfolio of domain names for several years and had no idea what to do with it.Just keep walking dude! Peace and love to all! The Dude!

He is or at least looks like Sam Elliott

I saw the Walking Dude twice today! First spotted him in the Illinois Center eating a bag of Jay's potato chips (snack size bag). Then, after I finished picking up my lunch, I saw him outside at the crosswalk, so I stood next to him. I noticed he was wearing a gold band on his left ring finger. Is there a wife? Maybe she died and he's walking off his grief.

Renee, you saw Walking Dude eating? I've never seen him eat. I wonder if his entire diet consists of Jay's potato chips. The gold band on his left ring finger is a good catch! Does that drop him off the list as one of Chicago's top bachelors?

I've seen walking dude tons of times over the years, going back to the 80s. I've never seen him trying to sell stuff or do much of anything. I've only heard his voice once or twice.

It's interesting how except for what people have seen him do, no one knows anything about him. Like, how he managed to look so well kept and live where does/did, with no apparent job.

He still lives in the efficiencies/studios building right off Wells and Menomenee.

We live in the same building.

I rarely run into him. The few times I've seen him, he doesn't say much. He keeps to himself.

I see him more often when I'm at work. I work in a building on Wacker Drive. He's always in the area,

One thing though

One thing though. . . he hasn't changed much in the looks department, but he's aged a bit. His hair is mostly gray.

One time I ran into him in the hall, he appeared to be carrying fake watches or something. Maybe he sells things?

here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jhv3mj1UUKU


just walked right by him today while in the loop

Will there ever be anything more than this wonderful trailer? It manages to capture both the seventiesness and the essentially enigmatic charm of the 'Dude, but leaves the viewer wanting more.

I can confirm the 'Dude's role as seller of stuff, as I recently watched him try to sell … what else? … a watch to a taxi driver in front of the W Hotel on Adams, then stride on.

Earlier in the year, however, I spotted him sitting [the Sitting Dude] in the Cultural Center lounge with his arm in a cast or a sling, looking a little forlorn. Since then, his gait seems a little more hesitant and limp-ey than of old.

Question : Are we not all Walking Dudes of our own in someone else's universe?

He isn't a gigolo. He isn't anything more than a street hustler. He was probably involved in some sort of petty illicit activity, because he was in all the "hot spots" during the seventies. New Town, Old Town, Rush Street, etc. I have seen and been around this guy for over thirty years, I even knew his name once but have since forgotten it. Although I want to say it was Stosh. Or people referred to him as Stosh (Meaning Stache because of his Mustache as opposed to Stosh meaning Stanley in Polish.)
He used to pal around with a very well know hair stylist in Chicago who would drive up and down Rush Street in one of those Excalibur cars. I won't say his name, but his wig shop is now on Wells and Huron.
He lived in several of the SRO's in the goldcoast area during the seventies. I used to see him coming out of the Chicagoan and occasionaly from the Cass Hotel. My family owned a club on Rush Street during the sixties, seventies and eighties and I would see this guy ten times a day or more. His age seems to have limited his range. In the early seventies I would see him as far North as Belmont and Broadway. I don't think he ventures much beyond the river/michigan ave. area now.
It's funny that someone mentioned he looked like the singer from Three Dog Night as there was a hotdog stand called "Three Dog Night" on Diversey just a bit west of Sheridan and I would see him there during the seventies as well. I saw him recently and it appears that he is in bad physical condition. He has a gait that looks like he has suffered from a stroke and his hair and clothing were kind of shabby.
But you can be sure there is a cheap SRO somewhere around river north and that's where you'll find him living.

I saw Walking Dude today. He was walking on Michigan just north of Ohio and I was waiting for the 148 bus. He stopped and waited, as well. I had a hunch he would get on the 148 towards Uptown because if I picture Walking Dude living anywhere, Uptown is the place. And he got on the 148, too. He got off at Broadway and Wilson and headed south on Broadway.

I would like to say that I am the one who named Walking Dude.

This can be verified by my ex-wife. I got the name from the character in Stephen King's book, The Stand. I dubbed him, "The Walking Dude" sometime around 86 or 87 right after I had read King's book.

Here we go! This blog post is now the official source proof document for who named Walking Dude to be Walking Dude. Thank you Brad Goodman.

I saw THE WALKING DUDE today. I too have been seeing him for about 27 years (have I really worked downtown that long.... scary). Many years ago, I would see him about once a month or so as I did a LOT of walking on my lunch hours. Now I see him about 2x year and I am totally surprised and elated when I do.

I consider it a sign of good luck to see him and should purchase a lotto ticket on the way home today.

So what must he think of the city's fascination with him? Does anyone suppose he'd accept any kind of help? Its so weird how certain things provoke you to "have to know" or you go crazy wondering about it.. the man must have something to say if he's been so quiet.

Skeech - he strikes me as the kind of person who is pretty much oblivious to the city's (or at least the posters on this site)'s fascination with him. Oblivious or doesn't really care is my guess. Doubtful he is a real big Internet user, so he probably isn't even aware of his cult following. Kinda sad in a way. I like to think that he really doesn't need help and that he's making it on his own (gigolo, fence, trust-fund baby, etc).

He has been featured on local tv stations before. I think he's aware that he's a local celeb of sorts, but I don't think he appreciates the attention.
As I said before, he was always around and/or involved with some of the more seedy people and places. The more I think about my numerous encounters with him I seem to recall that he is actually a bit of a jerk. I remember going to the store as a kid and in passing there was a commotion in the alley known as woogms alley which is an acronym for something. A biker bar called the fat black pussy cat was at the intersection of that alley on Broadway between Barry and Wellington. I recall the walking dude wrestling/fighting with someone and hearing a deep, raspy throated tirade of swearing from this guy. It's just my personal memory. It was over thirty five years ago, but I seem to recall it nevertheless. A good test would be to ask this guy something and see if he acts like a jerk.