'Zodiac' detective, who was model for 'Dirty Harry,' dead at 86

Fox ^ | Jan 11, 2018 | Stephen Sorace | Fox News

[Morgana]

Dave Toschi, the lead detective in San Francisco's unsolved Zodiac serial-killer case of the 1960s and ‘70s, and who served as the model for charaClint Eastwood's "Dirty Harry" movie character, has died at age 86.

Toschi died Saturday at his home in San Francisco after a prolonged illness, his daughter Linda Toschi-Chambers told the San Francisco Chronicle.

Toschi's investigation into the Zodiac case began with the shooting death of a San Francisco cab driver in 1969. He was taken off the case nine years later after acknowledging he wrote and mailed anonymous fan letters to the Chronicle applauding his own work.

[LiveFreeOrDie2001]

RIP Dave.

Dirty Harry & Magnum Force were quite the movies.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

He was taken off the case nine years later after acknowledging he wrote and mailed anonymous fan letters to the Chronicle applauding his own work.

Sounds like a legend in his own mind.

[Psalm 73]

“....do you feel lucky today, well DO YOU, PUNK?”

[shelterguy]

“”””””””Dirty Harry & Magnum Force were quite the movies.”””””

I was working in my shop yesterday and had Dirty Harry in the VCR. That movie would never get past the PC Police these days.

[Finnwolf]

Toschi’s stylish detective work immediately caught the eye of Hollywood, with Steve McQueen basing his character in the 1968 film “Bullitt” after him.

I also have read that McQueen’s iconic shoulder holster in Bullitt was designed from what Toschi used.

[Vaquero]

The VCR wouldn’t get past the 21st Century Police.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Do you feel Lucky???

[T-Bone Texan]

Just looked for the quote about “This ain’t an encounter group”.

Could not find it.

[shelterguy]

“”””””””The VCR wouldn’t get past the 21st Century Police.”””

I frequently stop at various Goodwills and thrift stores. VCR’s for a few bucks. Movies for a dime. I will stay locked in the 1970’s no matter what the cost.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/an-iwd5bmm2JhbbmY/the_enforcer_1976_interviewing_officer_moore/

http://www.filmsquish.com/guts/?q=node/2835

[T-Bone Texan]

Thank you so much.

the term “encounter group” absolutely reeks of the 1970s.

I use the term. Folks say “huh?”, and as if to clarify I rebut with “group grope”. No one knows WTH I’m talking about.

Kids today have no grasp of the classics, sigh.

[Ciexyz]

If you want old DVD’s and even VHS tapes, check out Ebay.

[ImJustAnotherOkie]

Or When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross.

[karnage]

It’s fascinating to consider that Toschi was the inspiration for two of the greatest movie cops of all time, Frank Bullitt and Harry Callahan.

“Lieutenant, we must all compromise.”
“Bullshit.”

[Vaquero]

I have a vcr or 3 up in the attic. I have hundreds of movies either original or copies in my laundry room. Eventually I’ll have the 25 or so Home movies on VHS made digital. The rest is junk.

I don’t even buy Blu-rays anymore. Everything is streamed. I’m an old guy not far from 70. but I keep up with the quality of HD. It’s amazing. Anything less is just impossible to watch.

[fieldmarshaldj]

RIP.