Dave Toschi dead at 86 – ‘Zodiac’ killer detective who led the failed investigation and inspired Clint Eastwood’s ‘Dirty Harry’ dies
The detective's stylish dress sense and quick-draw gun holster inspired movie characters such as Harry Callahan aka Dirty Harry and Frank Bullitt in action film Bullitt
THE San Francisco super sleuth who led the probe into the Zodiac serial killer and inspired Clint Eastwood’s Dirty Harry character has died.
Dave Toschi passed away on Saturday aged 86 after a lengthy illness, his daughter, Linda Toschi-Chambers, told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Toschi was put on the Zodiac case after a San Francisco taxi driver Paul Stine was shot dead in his cab in 1969.
He was removed nine years later when he acknowledged writing and mailing anonymous fan letters to the Chronicle lauding his own work.
Five people were fatally stabbed or shot to death in Northern California in 1968 and 1969, and their killer sent taunting letters and cryptograms to the police and newspapers.
The murderer was never caught. He was dubbed the Zodiac killer because some of his cryptograms included astrological symbols and references.
Duffy Jennings, who was played by Adam Goldberg in the 2007 film, covered the killings for the Chronicle and grew close to Toschi.
Jenning said Toschi visited the San Francisco murder scene on the anniversary of the killing for many years in a row to see if he overlooked any clues.
"The Zodiac case gnawed at him," Jennings said. "He said it gave him an ulcer."
Actor Mark Ruffalo portrayed Toschi in the 2007 movie "Zodiac."
Toschi was born in San Francisco and graduated from Galileo High School before serving in the Korean War with the Army.
He returned to San Francisco in 1953 and was hired at the Police Department, where he worked until retiring in 1985.
The colourful detective was known for his distinctive dress sense, including a liking for bow ties, trench coats and a quick-draw shoulder gun-holster.
Screenwriters Harry Julian Fink and R. M. Fink said Toschi served as inspiration for their tough talking cop Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry movies.
The villain in the first Don Siegel-directed film was named The Scorpio Killer, played by actor Andrew J. Robinson, and was based on the Zodiac murderer.
The character of Callahan was played by movie legend Clint Eastwood in five films from 1971 to 1988.
Another acting icon Steve McQueen based much of his San Francisco cop character in the 1968 movie Bullitt on Toschi including wearing a shoulder holster.
Aside from his work on the Zodiac case, Toschi helped solve the Zebra murders in early 1970s which were racially motivated and involved the random killing of 14 white men.
In his last year of service, he was given an award for arresting a depraved sex attacker who raped pensioners and robbed their homes.
Toschi's family said the retired inspector enjoyed music and books.
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He "could sing with the best of them," said his daughter.
"His greatest pleasure was his loving family, and we will miss his keen sense of humour, his gentle guidance and his unconditional love."
Toschi is survived by his wife, Carol Toschi of San Francisco; two daughters, Toschi-Chambers of San Francisco and Karen Leight of San Mateo County; and two granddaughters, Sarah Leight of Pacifica and Emma Leight of Los Angeles.
Private services were held Wednesday.
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