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Telly Savalas
Age: 72 (passed away Jan. 22nd, 1994)
Height: 5' 10"
Birth Place: Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA
Born: Jan. 21st, 1922
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Telly Savalas' Main TV Roles
NOTE: Complete List of Works can be found at
IMDB
BIOGRAPHY: 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.
TRIVIA:
- He wasn't the first choice to audition for _"Kojak" (1973)_ (qv), when 'Marlon Brando' (qv) had been offered the role.
- Born on the same day as 'Benny Hill' (qv), who impersonated Savalas's _"Kojak" (1973)_ (qv) character on _"The Benny Hill Show" (1969)_ (qv).
- Was originally slated to play Luke in _Cool Hand Luke (1967)_ (qv), but the producers were unable to wait for him to complete his boat trip from Europe to the U.S. Therefore, 'Paul Newman (I)' (qv) played the role instead.
- Left index finger was deformed.
- Underwent successful surgery for prostate cancer in 1989, but in 1991 was diagnosed with bladder cancer which spread to his bones and pancreas.
- Father of Christina Savalas (with Katherine Nicolaides); Candace Savalas and Penelope Savalas (with 'Marilyn Gardner' (qv)); 'Nick Savalas (I)' (qv) (with Sally Adams); and Christian Savalas and 'Ariana Savalas' (qv) (with Julie Hovland).
- Remained good friends with 'Kevin Dobson (I)' (qv) during and after _"Kojak" (1973)_ (qv).
- Early in his career he played mainly brutish criminals until he changed his image completely in the 1970s, when he was cast as a homicide detective in the acclaimed TV-movie _The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) (TV)_ (qv) and its spin-off series, _"Kojak" (1973)_ (qv).
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