About Joseph Sullivan
Lived 1917 – 2002 (aged 85). Joseph Sullivan was an American civil servant.
Joseph Aloysius Sullivan (February 17, 1917 – August 2, 2002 ) was a Major Case Inspector for the Federal Bureau of Investigation from 1941 to 1977. Born in Montreal, Wisconsin, the murder of United Mine Workers reformer Joseph "Jock" Yablonski,
Popular culture The character played by Willem Dafoe (himself, incidentally, also a native Wisconsinite) in the movie Mississippi Burning is loosely based on Sullivan. According to The FBI – A Comprehensive Reference Guide (1998), edited by Athan G. Theoharis, Sullivan was also the model for Inspector Lew Erskine, the lead character played by Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., on the TV series The FBI. Upon Sullivan's death in 2002, author Tom Clancy is quoted as referring to him as "the greatest lawman America ever produced."
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Important facts
People in Joseph Sullivan's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Joseph Sullivan's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Joseph Sullivan?
FBI agent
When was Joseph Sullivan born?
Joseph Sullivan was born on 17 February 1917 in Montreal.
When did Joseph Sullivan die?
Joseph Sullivan died on 2 August 2002 in Manhattan.
What was Joseph Sullivan's occupation?
Joseph Sullivan was a civil servant.
What nationality was Joseph Sullivan?
Joseph Sullivan was American.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Joseph Sullivan (FBI agent)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Joseph Sullivan. https://biography.guide/joseph-sullivan-civil-servant/
MLA: "Joseph Sullivan." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/joseph-sullivan-civil-servant/.
Chicago: "Joseph Sullivan." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/joseph-sullivan-civil-servant/.
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