Jack Dragna - in Popular Culture

In Popular Culture

  • Dragna appears as a character in James Ellroy's L.A. Quartet novels, specifically the final 2 books, L.A. Confidential (1990) and White Jazz (1992). Like many real life characters presented in Ellroy's novels, some of Jack Dragna's actions aren't real, but fictional in the story. In White Jazz, the novel's protagonist Dave Klein, approaches Jack Dragna for the favor of killing two gangsters. Klein's sister, Meg, is badly beaten by Tony Brancato and Tony Trombino. Dragna allows it, and Dave kills them both. However, after their murders Dave returns to Dragna, but Dragna gives Dave a tape of Dave saying how he will kill the Two Tonys. Dave is now blackmailed into doing mob favors and several mob killings. On Jack Dragna's deathbed, Dave begs Dragna to cancel his debt. Jack changes the subject. Dave suffocates Jack Dragna with a pillow. Sam Giancana becomes the one who gives orders to Klein afterwords.
  • In the 1991 film Bugsy, the highly-fictionalized story of Bugsy Siegel, Dragna is played by Richard C. Sarafian.
  • Though he does not make an actual appearance, he is mentioned several times in the video game L.A. Noire.

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