Real Life Sgt Stadanko has Died

Abe Snidanko who worked undercover in Vancouver busting hippies, has died. He was the inspiration for Cheech and Chong's Sgt Stadanko (Up in Smoke, Nice Dreams, Los Cochinos).

He died August 2nd at 79 years old.

“We needed a name for the cop, and I immediately thought of Abe Snidanko,” said Chong. “I used his name purposely, it was my way of saying, ‘How you doin’, Abe?’ It did make him famous. Years later I got a call from the narcotics office in Vancouver and they said Abe was retiring and wanted me to send him a signed Up in Smoke poster. So I did and apparently Abe wasn’t too pleased.”