In the 1971 film 'The French Connection', who plays the role of Buddy Russo?

'The French Connection' is a 1971 American action thriller film directed by William Friedkin and starring Gene Hackman (Detective Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle) Roy Scheider (Detective Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo) and Fernando Rey (Alain 'Frog One' Charnier). The screenplay, written by Ernest Tidyman, is based on Robin Moore's 1969 non-fiction book of the same name.

The film tells the story of fictional NYPD detectives Jimmy 'Popeye' Doyle and Buddy 'Cloudy' Russo, whose real-life counterparts were narcotics detectives Eddie Egan and Sonny Grosso, in pursuit of wealthy French heroin smuggler Alain Charnier.

Often considered one of the greatest films ever made, 'The French Connection' appeared in the American Film Institute's list of the best American films in 1998 and again in 2007. In 2005, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant'.

At the 44th 'Academy Awards', the film earned eight nominations and won five for 'Best Picture', 'Best Actor' (Hackman), 'Best Director', 'Best Film Editing' and 'Best Adapted Screenplay'.

Roy Richard Scheider (November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer. He gained fame for his leading and supporting roles in celebrated films from the 1970s through to the early to mid-1980s. He was nominated for two 'Academy Awards', a 'Golden Globe Award', and a 'BAFTA Award'.