Short Biography

Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an 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), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Scalphunters (1968), supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty`s Secret Service (1969), Kelly`s Heroes (1970), Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) and Escape to Athena (1979). He was famous for his shaved head and dry yet still feeling delivery.

Savalas was married three times. Savalas died on January 22, 1994 of complications of bladder cancer at the Sheraton-Universal Hotel in Universal City, California, at age 72. He was interred at the George Washington section of Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery. The funeral, held in a Greek Orthodox Church, was attended by his third wife Julie and his brother Gus.

Miscellaneous Information

Friends and Family

Gus Savalas [Brother]

Teddy Savalas [Brother]

George Savalas [Brother]

Christina Savalas [Mother]

Nick Savalas [Father]

John Aniston [Friend]

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