Meet The Real Oklahoma Journalist That Inspired Sterlin Harjo’s ‘The Lowdown’

One of the highly anticipated shows of the fall is Sterlin Harjo's sophomore project, "The Lowdown." The Tulsa noir comedy stars Ethan Hawke as Lee Raybon - a bookshop owner and radical journalist with a die-hard obsession with the truth. Hawke's character is based on a real-life Oklahoma, truth-seeking journalist, the late Lee Roy Chapman.

Chapman was a Tulsa historian and citizen journalist who contributed to This Land Press and was the founder of the Center for Public Secrets. He dedicated his life to discovering the true history of Tulsa.

'The Lowdown' is Harjo's 'love letter' to Tulsa.

According to an article from TulsaPeople Magazine, Harjo met Chapman through This Land Press and were colleagues and friends. Harjo based "The Lowdown" on Chapman's life, and he has also described the series as his "love letter to Tulsa."

"The Lowdown" was also filmed in Tulsa and features actors from Tulsa, like Jeanne Tripplehorn, Tim Blake Nelson and Tracy Letts.

READ MORE: Tickets Now On Sale for 'The Outsiders' Musical In Tulsa

Chapman's most acclaimed story uncovered dark secrets of Tulsa founder.

In 2011, This Land Press published an article by Chapman that received local acclaim and shaped Tulsa history and local landmarks. The article, titled "The Nightmare of Dreamland," shed a light into the dark past of Tulsa founder Tate Brady. Chapman uncovered Brady's actions during the Tulsa Race Massacre, resulting in the desolation of Greenwood. He also brought to light Brady's affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan.

After Chapman's article, Tulsa's Brady Art District was renamed to the Tulsa Arts District and Brady Avenue is now Reconciliation Way.

The Pickup from This Land Press has more information about Chapman, including his full article, "The Nightmare of Dreamland."

Watch 'The Lowdown' on FX.

"The Lowdown" premiered on FX on Tuesday, Sept. 3. The first two episodes are now available to stream on HULU.