Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas (Greek: Αριστοτέλης Σαβάλας; January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an American film and television actor and singer whose career spanned four decades. Noted for his resonant, deep voice[1][2][3][4] and bald head, Savalas is perhaps best known for his role as Lt. Theo Kojak in the police-drama series, Kojak (1973–1978). He also released the British one-hit-wonder song "If", which became a UK number-one single in 1975.[5]
Career[]
Savalas' movie roles include Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) — where he was nominated for the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor — The Greatest Story Ever Told, Battle of the Bulge (both 1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), as supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970) and Escape to Athena (1979).
Death[]
On January 22, 1994, Savalas died from complications of bladder and prostate cancer. He is survived by his brother, Gus, his three wives, Katherine, Marilyn, and Julie, and his six children.