Former NYPD detective Sonny Grosso dies aged 89

Former NYPD detective Sonny Grosso, whose police work inspired the plot for Oscar-winning film The French Connection dies aged 89

  • Sonny Grosso, who inspired The French Connection, died aged 89 in Manhattan  
  • His police work with partner Eddie Egan made the plot of the 1971 smash-hit
  • Mr Grosso even consulted on the film, which went on to win five Oscars 

A former NYPD detective whose police work with his partner was used as the plot for the classic film The French Connection, died yesterday aged 89. 

Sonny Grosso and his police work with partner Eddie Egan formed the plot of the 1971 thriller. 

His character in the film, Detective Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo, was played by Roy Schieder and Egan’s character, Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle, was played by Gene Hackman. 

Mr Grosso consulted on the five-time Oscar-winning film and even played the minor role of federal agent Klein.  

Sonny Grosso, former NYPD detective whose police work with his partner was used as the plot for the classic film The French Connection , died aged 89 yesterday. Mr Grosso consulted on the five-time Oscar-winning film and even played the minor role of federal agent Klein (right)

His character in the film, Detective Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo (right), was played by Roy Schieder and Egan's character, Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle (left), was played by Gene Hackman

His character in the film, Detective Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo (right), was played by Roy Schieder and Egan’s character, Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle (left), was played by Gene Hackman

His death, which followed a long illness, was confirmed by his former NYPD captain, Ernie Naspretto.  

He was found in Manhattan. 

Mr Naspretto told the New York Post: ‘He had a good run.’

Mr Grosso and his partner, Eddie Egan, inspired the characters Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle and Detective Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo in The French Connection (pictured)

Mr Grosso and his partner, Eddie Egan, inspired the characters Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle and Detective Buddy ‘Cloudy’ Russo in The French Connection (pictured)

He also worked on production sets for Night Heat and Baretta (pictured)

He also worked on production sets for Night Heat and Baretta (pictured) 

After Mr Grosso's work on The French Connection went well he carried on to become a producer and film consultant in his own right and worked on Kojak (pictured)

After Mr Grosso’s work on The French Connection went well he carried on to become a producer and film consultant in his own right and worked on Kojak (pictured)

 After Mr Grosso’s work on The French Connection went well he carried on to become a producer and film consultant in his own right and worked on Kojak, Night Heat and Baretta. 

Mr Naspretto also revealed that while Mr Grosso was consulting on The Godfather he lent the actors a prop, his department-issued handgun. 

He said: ‘The gun that killed Solazzo and McCluskey in The Godfather, from the toilet, that’s Sonny’s gun. 

‘He carried it to the day he died.’

Mr Grosso was known for helping to take down an organised crime ring in 1961 and seizing 112 pounds of heroin – a record at the time and an amount which would have a current street value of roughly $30million.

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