Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Telly Savalas (January 21, 1924 – January
22, 1994) was a Greece|Greek-United
States|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 history==
Savalas was born Aristotle Savalas 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 interred in Forest Lawn -
Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.

He is the father of Nicolette Sheridan of
Desperate Housewives He is also the godfather of
Friends star Jennifer Aniston, with whom he shared
Greek roots.

In addition, he was a keen poker enthusiast,
finishing in 21st place in the 1992 $10,000 World
Series of Poker.

==Acting career==
===Kojak===
Undoubtedly Savalas' most famous role was that of
the tough detective Kojak on television.  Lt. Theo
Kojak was a bald New York City 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;
*The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV) The pilot
for the Kojak TV series.
*Kojak (1973–78) TV Series
*Kojak: The Belarus File (1985) (TV)
*Kojak: The Price of Justice (1987) (TV)
*Kojak: Ariana (1989) (TV)
*Kojak: Fatal Flaw (1989) (TV)
*Kojak: None So Blind (1990) (TV)
*Kojak: It's Always Something (1990) (TV)
*Kojak: Flowers for Matty (1990) (TV)

Telly's brother George Savalas|George played the
recurring role of Detective Stavros.

===Movie roles===

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
(film)|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).

== External links ==
*http://www.tellysavalas.com/ TellySavalas.com
*http://www.savalas.tv The Savalas Family Web Site
*imdb name|id=0001699|name=Telly Savalas

lived|b=1924|d=1994|key=Savalas, Telly