The character of Sergeant Popwell is a reference to character actor Albert Popwell, who appeared in numerous films of the Dirty Harry franchise and always as a black stereotype in Dirty Harry he played a bank robber, in Magnum Force he played a pimp, in The Enforcer he played a revolutionary gan leader and in Sudden Impact he graduated to the big leagues as Clint Eastwoods partner. However, despite his myriad of roles he did not possess a great big bushy beard, at least not to the same majesty as Sandford Popwells corpse does.