Sonny Grosso (1930–2020), detective inspired Oscar-winning film “The French Connection”

Sonny Grossowas aNew York City detective whose take down of a major heroin trafficking ring was the basis for theacclaimed1971 film cThe French Connection.c8d In 1961, Grosso and other detectives broke up the heroin ring in 1961 and seized a record amount of the drug at the time. Grosso and Egan were technical advisors on the movie, which featured Roy Schneider and Gene Hackman playing characters based on them, and had small roles as well. Grosso retired from the NYPD in 1976 and became a producer on shows including cKojak.c8d

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Died:Wednesday,January22, 2020(Who else died on January22?)

Details of death:Died at the age of 88.

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What they said about him:cHe was some narcotics detective. He made that case. He made the French Connection case. Sonny Grosso figured out how they were doing it. It was Sonny Grosso. There were a lot of busts that were coming out of narcotics and Ie28099m telling you, Sonny Grosso was at the front, the bottom, whatever it was, with all those cases.c8de28094Retired Det. Randy Jurgensen, who worked on the case, told the New York Daily News

cHe was the most unpretentious celebrity you could ever imagine. He was so well known in the showbiz worlde280a6 and yet he would talk to anybody at any time and had a great sense of humor.c8de28094Retired NYPD Capt. ErnieNasprettotold the New York Daily News

Full obituary:New York Daily News

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