 According to cryptozoologist Loren Coleman, some characters in the  film are based to varying degrees on actual figures in the search  for Sasquatch. "Jacques LaFleur" (David Suchet) is a nod to the late  Canadian Rene Dahinden, and "Dr. Wallace Wrightwood" (Don Ameche)  combines some qualities of John Green, Peter Byrne and the late Dr.  Grover Krantz.