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Telly Savalas : Biography, Pictures, Photos, Trivia, Address, Filmography (Kojak)

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Telly Savalas

Lieutenant Theo Kojak in Kojak

Photos Telly Savalas Birth name: Aristotelis Savalas
Birth date: 1924/01/21
Date of death : 1994/01/22 (70 years old)
Birth place : Garden City, New York (USA)
Height: 1.80 m

French Traduire

Biography for Telly Savalas

Son of Greek immigrants. Soldier during World War II. Studied psychology. Worked as journalist for ABC News. The bald-headed actor played character roles, often as sadistic or psychotic types. He became a TV favorite in the 1970s when his role as Det. Theo Kojak in the TV movie The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV) was expanded into the gritty "Kojak" (1973) TV series, lasting from 1973-78.

The son of a Greek migrant, Telly Savalas served in the army at the end of the Second World War before studying psychology in New York.

He enters the Show Business by the small door, since he is a presenter in the Greek language on American government radio Voice of America. He then became a newspaper producer for the ABC channel and won a Peabody for a documentary on the cogs of the Voice of America radio.

Telly Savalas then leaves the world of information and embarks on adult education, until the day a producer offers work. Thanks to his Greco-American accent, he will be entrusted with many roles in European films.

In 1965, on the occasion of the filming of "the biggest story ever told", he shaved his skull to interpret Ponce Pilate. Despite the film's failure, he decided to remain bald. This decision will change the course of his career by directing him towards roles of "bad guys".

Thanks to the success of Robert Aldrich's film "The Twelve Salopards" (1967), he continued filming in cinema and television. It was during this period that producers Harry Saltzman and Cubby Broccoli offered him to play Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "In the secret service of His Majesty" (1969). The second name with Blofeld Greek consonances and the actor's ease to make an unfriendly imposes it as evidence in the role of the spectrum n ° 1.

In 1971, contacted by the screenwriter Abby Man, he turned "the return of Mongo". This telefilm gives birth to a famous series that would impose it as an international superstar: "Kojak".

Telly Savalas was an American actor known for his role in the television series "Kojak". He was born on January 21, 1922 in Garden City, New York, and died on January 22, 1994 in Los Angeles, California.

Savalas began his acting career in the 1950s, playing in films such as "The Young Savages" and "The Greatest Story Every Told". He also played in television series such as "The Greatest Show on Earth" and "The Fugitive".

However, he is best known for his role in the series "Kojak", where he embodied the main character, a New York police detective. The series was broadcast between 1973 and 1978, and was a real success, which allowed Savalas to become a real television star.

In addition to his acting work, Savalas was also a producer and director. He notably produced and produced the "Kojak" series.

Apart from his acting career, Savalas was also known for his distinctive appearance, with his shaved head and his earring. He died in 1994 following prostate cancer.

Photos

Photos Telly Savalas n_7 Photos Telly Savalas n_7 Photos Telly Savalas n_7 Photos Telly Savalas n_7 Photos Telly Savalas n_7 Photos Telly Savalas n_7 Photos Telly Savalas n_7

Filmography

Title Role
Backfire! (1995) Most Evil Man
Rose Against the Odds (1995) (TV) George Parnassus
Mind Twister (1994) Richard Howland
Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990) (TV) Inspector Theo Kojak
Kojak: It's Always Something (1990) (TV) Inspector Theo Kojak
Kojak: None So Blind (1990) (TV) Inspector Theo Kojak
The Hollywood Detective (1989) (TV) Harry Bell
Kojak: Ariana (1989) (TV) Kojak
Kojak: Fatal Flaw (1989) (TV) Theo Kojak
Faceless (1988) Terry Hallen
The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (1988) (TV) Maj. Wright
The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission (1987) (TV) Maj. Wright
Kojak: The Price of Justice (1987) (TV) Kojak
GoBots: War of the Rock Lords (1986) (voice) Magmar
Alice in Wonderland (1985) (TV) Cheshire Cat
Kojak: The Belarus File (1985) (TV) Lieutenant Theo Kojak
The Cartier Affair (1984) (TV) Phil Drexler
Cannonball Run II (1984) Hymie Kaplan
My Palikari (1982) (TV)
Fake-Out (1982) Lt. Thurston
Hellinger's Law (1981) (TV) Nick Hellinger
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) (TV) Cretzer
The French Atlantic Affair (1979) (mini) TV Series Father Craig Dunleavy
The Muppet Movie (1979) El Sleezo Tough (uncrddited) (Special Guest Star)
Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) Captain Stefan Svevo
Escape to Athena (1979) Zeno
The Border (1979) Cooper
Capricorn One (1978) Albain
Beyond Reason (1977) Dr. Nicholas Mati
Killer Force (1976) Webb
Inside Out (1975) Harry Morgan
Kojak (1973) TV Series Lt. Theo Kojak (1973-1978)
Horror Express (1973) Captain Kazan
She Cried Murder (1973) (TV) Inspector Joe Brody
Casa dell'esorcismo, La (1973) Leandro
The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV) Lt. Theo Kojak
Senza ragione (1973) Memphis
Pancho Villa (1972) Pancho Villa
Visions... (1972) (TV) Lt. Phil Keegan
J. and S. - storia criminale del far west (1972) Sheriff Franciscus
Assassino... è al telefono, L' (1972) Ranko
Familiari delle vittime non saranno avvertiti, I (1972) Don Vincenzo
Ragione per vivere e una per morire, Una (1972) Maj. Ward
Mongo's Back in Town (1971) (TV) Lieutenant Pete Tolstad
Clay Pigeon (1971) Redford
A Town Called Hell (1971) Don Carlos
Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) Captain Sam Surcher
CittĂ  violenta (1970) Weber
Kelly's Heroes (1970) MSgt. Big Joe
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) Ernst Stavro Blofeld
Land Raiders (1969) Vince Carden
Mackenna's Gold (1969) Sgt. Tibbs
The Assassination Bureau (1969) Lord Bostwick
Crooks and Coronets (1969) Herbie Haseler
Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) Walter Braddock
The Scalphunters (1968) Jim Howie
Sol Madrid (1968) Emil Dietrich
Cosa Nostra, Arch Enemy of the FBI (1967) (TV) Ed Clementi
The Dirty Dozen (1967) Archer J. Maggott
The Karate Killers (1967) Count De Fanzini
Beau Geste (1966) Sergeant Major Dagineau
The Slender Thread (1965) Dr. Joe Coburn
Battle of the Bulge (1965) Sgt. Guffy
Genghis Khan (1965) Shan
John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965) Macmuid (harem recruiter)
The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) Pontius Pilate
The New Interns (1964) Dr. Riccio
Fanfare for a Death Scene (1964) (TV)
Johnny Cool (1963) Vincenzo 'Vince' Santangelo
Love Is a Ball (1963) Dr. Christian Gump
The Man from the Diner's Club (1963) Ronald 'Foots' Pulardos
The Interns (1962) Dr. Riccio
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) Feto Gomez
Cape Fear (1962) Charles Sievers
The Young Savages (1961) Police Lt. Gunderson
Mad Dog Coll (1961) Lieutenant Dawson
Acapulco (1961) TV Series Carver

Trivia

Early in his career, he played mainly brutish criminals until he changed his image completely in the 1970s when he was cast as the righteous police detective Kojak.

He used off-script phrases and mottos in greek during filming.

His brother, George Savalas, starred in "Kojak" (1973) with him.

Father of Christina Savalas (with Katherine); Candice Savalas and Penelope Savalas (with Marilyn); Nicholas Savalas (with Sally); and Christian Savalas and Ariana Savalas (with Julie).

On January 21 1994, he celebrated his 70th and last birthday with his family, friends and colleagues at the Universal Sheraton Inn in Universal City, California, 1 day before his death.

Had a fear of flying.

Was originally slated to play Luke in Cool Hand Luke (1967), but the producers were unable to wait for him to complete his boat trip from Europe to the U.S. Therefore, Paul Newman played the role instead.

Early in his career, he directed stage plays at a theater in Connecticut.

He was an accomplished poker player.

His son Nicholas' half-sister Nicollette Sheridan and his former Kojak co-star, Kevin Dobson both starred in the popular 80s soap opera, "Knots Landing" (1979).

Before becoming an actor, he had many odd jobs, from selling newspapers to becoming a lifeguard.

Was a member of Company C, 12th Medical Training Battalion, 4th Medical Training Regiment at Camp Pickett, Virginia.

Was the second of 5 children.

Was an avid golfer and swimmer.

Purchased a house in the Palm Desert because he enjoyed playing golf so much.

Interred at the George Washington Section of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Attended Columbia University in New York, New York.

When he worked as a lifeguard, he failed to save a man from drowning, and was troubled by the memory forever after.

Was involved in a serious car accident in Virginia, during the Army.

Met his first wife (Katherine) at a Greek dance while attending Columbia University.

Hosted the popular radio program, "Telly's Coffeehouse," in the early 1950s.

Top part of one of his index fingers was missing.

The character design for villain Lex Luther in the 1996 animated Superman series was loosely based on Savalas.

Reason why he sucked on a lolly-pop during "Kojak", was to help him to quit smoking.

Graduated from Sewaneka High School in Florak Park, New York, in 1942.

Met his last wife, Julie Hovland, on the set of "Kojak", while he was traveling with her to Minnesota in 1977.

Would always refused to talk about his tenure during World War II.

Family

Godfather of Jennifer Aniston

Author of the card

  • Creation date: 01/07/2003 by misou
  • Last update: 01/05/2007 by abdest

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