Eddie Egan; Police Officer Dramatized in ‘French Connection’

Eddie Egan, 65, the New York City police officer whose exploits were featured in the film “The French Connection.” With his partner Sonny Grosso, Egan made a historic 112-pound, $32-million heroin bust in 1962. The story became the basis for the 1971 Academy Award-winning film featuring Gene Hackman as Jimmy (Popeye) Doyle in the Egan role and Egan playing his boss. Egan went on to play small police roles in several television shows, including “Joe Forrester” and “Mike Hammer.” He had retired to Florida in 1984. On Saturday in Ft. Lauderdale of cancer.