Telly SavalasTelly Savalas (born Aristotle Savalas) (January 21, 1924 - January 22, 1994) was a Greek-American actor. He was best known for his work on the Kojak television series, and for playing Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Personal HistorySavalas was born in Garden City, New York to Greek parents, Nicholas and Christina Savalas. He served in World War II after he dropped out of Columbia University, where he was studying psychology. He was honourably discharged with a Purple Heart disability. During the early 1950s, Savalas worked for ABC radio and eventually became the executive producer of his own popular talk show, "Telly's Coffee House". It was not until he was in his thirties that he decided to turn to acting. Telly was well known for being totally bald. Up until the mid-1960s, he had what his family termed a halo - a ring of hair along the back and sides of his head. He eventually decided to shave off the remaining hair when he began playing in movies. Telly maintained that style for the rest of his life. In the early 1990s, Savalas contracted bladder cancer, ultimately succumbing to the disease in 1994, only a day after he turned 70, in Universal City, California. He was also the godfather of Friends star Jennifer Aniston, with whom he shared Greek roots. Acting CareerKojakUndoubtably Savalas' most famous role was that of the tough detective Kojak on television. Lt. Theo Kojak was a bald New York detective who had a fondness for lollipops and whose trademark line was, "Who loves ya, baby?" Reportedly the lollipop gimmick was added in lieu of having the character smoke, a habit that fell out of vogue among TV series in the 1970s. Telly portrayed Kojak in the following shows;
Telly's brother George played the recurring role of Detective Stavros. Movie RolesHis silver screen career usually involved him being cast as the quintessential villain in such films as: Mad Dog Coll (1961), Cape Fear (1962), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), Genghis Khan (1965), Beau Geste (1966), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Assassination Bureau (1969), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Escape to Athena (1979), and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). This page about Telly Savalas includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Telly Savalas News stories about Telly Savalas External links for Telly Savalas Videos for Telly Savalas Wikis about Telly Savalas Discussion Groups about Telly Savalas Blogs about Telly Savalas Images of Telly Savalas |
|
His silver screen career usually involved him being cast as the quintessential villain in such films as: Mad Dog Coll (1961), Cape Fear (1962), Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), Genghis Khan (1965), Beau Geste (1966), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Assassination Bureau (1969), On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Escape to Athena (1979), and Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979). He married actress Sandra Jenkins in 1998. Telly's brother George played the recurring role of Detective Stavros. He has been considered for and lost out on a number of major roles including Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and The X-Files. Telly portrayed Kojak in the following shows;. Since the cancellation of Hercules, he has been playing the starring role of Captain Dylan Hunt in Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda. Theo Kojak was a bald New York detective who had a fondness for lollipops and whose trademark line was, "Who loves ya, baby?" Reportedly the lollipop gimmick was added in lieu of having the character smoke, a habit that fell out of vogue among TV series in the 1970s. Born in Mound, Minnesota and educated at then-Moorhead State University he worked as a model for print and television advertising before landing the role of Hercules in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Lt. Kevin Sorbo (born September 24, 1958) is an American actor. Undoubtably Savalas' most famous role was that of the tough detective Kojak on television. He was also the godfather of Friends star Jennifer Aniston, with whom he shared Greek roots. In the early 1990s, Savalas contracted bladder cancer, ultimately succumbing to the disease in 1994, only a day after he turned 70, in Universal City, California. Telly maintained that style for the rest of his life. He eventually decided to shave off the remaining hair when he began playing in movies. Up until the mid-1960s, he had what his family termed a halo - a ring of hair along the back and sides of his head. Telly was well known for being totally bald. It was not until he was in his thirties that he decided to turn to acting. During the early 1950s, Savalas worked for ABC radio and eventually became the executive producer of his own popular talk show, "Telly's Coffee House". He was honourably discharged with a Purple Heart disability. He served in World War II after he dropped out of Columbia University, where he was studying psychology. Savalas was born in Garden City, New York to Greek parents, Nicholas and Christina Savalas. He was best known for his work on the Kojak television series, and for playing Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. Telly Savalas (born Aristotle Savalas) (January 21, 1924 - January 22, 1994) was a Greek-American actor. Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990) (TV). Kojak: It's Always Something (1990) (TV). Kojak: None So Blind (1990) (TV). Kojak: Fatal Flaw (1989) (TV). Kojak: Ariana (1989) (TV). Kojak: The Price of Justice (1987) (TV). Kojak: The Belarus File (1985) (TV). "Kojak" (1973-78) TV Series. The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV) The Pilot for the Kojak TV series. |