Telly Savalas Overview:

Legendary character actor, Telly Savalas, was born Aristotelis Savalas on Jan 21, 1922 in Garden City, NY. Savalas died at the age of 72 on Jan 22, 1994 in Universal City, CA .

MINI BIO:

Shaven-headed, strong-faced, and grinning American character star of Greek parentage. He switched from being a TV executive to an actor in the late 1950s. His slightly unbalanced features got him cast as psychopathic villains, and it was only with his great personal success as the tough detective in the TV series Kojak that he managed to break the mold. His attempts at direction on that series were very promising. Nominated for an Academy Award in Birdman of Alcatraz. Died from prostate cancer.

(Source: available at Amazon Quinlan's Film Stars).

HONORS and AWARDS:

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Although Savalas was nominated for one Oscar, he never won a competitive Academy Award.

Academy Awards

YearAwardFilm nameRoleResult
1962Best Supporting ActorBirdman of Alcatraz (1962)Feto GomezNominated
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He was honored with one star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.

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Telly Savalas Quotes:

Ernst Stavro Blofeld: I've taught you to love chickens, to love their flesh, their voice.


Sheriff Franciscus: I could put the next bullet between your eyes! But you're not gonna die that easy, punk!


[Blofeld wants to share his life with Tracy]
Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Now, if you're very, very nice to me. I could make you my Countess.
Tracy: But I'm already a Countess.
Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Whereas if you displease me, I can promise you a very *different* estate.


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Best Supporting Actor Oscar 1962





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Telly Savalas on the
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Telly Savalas Facts
Was originally slated to play Luke in Cool Hand Luke (1967), but the producers were unable to wait for him to complete his boat trip from Europe to the U.S. (Telly had a severe fear of flying). Therefore, 'Paul Newman (I)' played the role instead.

When he worked as a lifeguard, he failed to save a man from drowning, and was troubled by the memory forever after.

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 "Kojak: The Marcus-Nelson Murders (#1.0)" (1973) and its spin-off series, "Kojak" (1973).

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