Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas (Αριστοτέλης Σαβάλας in Greek) (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. Best known for playing the title role in the popular 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting role in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). His other movie credits include The Young Savages (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Scalphunters (1968), Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970) and Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971).
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 Marcus-Nelson Murders, The (1973) (TV) was expanded into the gritty "Kojak" (1973) TV series, lasting from 1973-78.
