Telly Savalas
Birth Name:
Aristotelis Savalas
Birth Place:
Garden City, Long Island, New York, United States
Profession
Actor, Soundtrack, Director, Writer
Fast Facts
- A long-term resident of the Sheraton-Universal Hotel in Hollywood, the hotel would eventually name their bar after the actor following his death
- Died from complications due to cancer of the bladder and prostate
- Born to Greek parents, he only spoke Greek until the age of 18 when he learned English after enrolling at Columbia University
- Worked for the State Department as a host of "Your Voice of America․"
- Det․ Kojak's onscreen affinity for lollipops was originally written into the series to accomodate Savalas' apparent sweet tooth
- His most famed role was that of the titular detective on CBS series "Kojak․"
- Initially got into the entertainment via network news as the executive producer of the "Gillette Cavalcade of Sports" before venturing to Hollywood to pursue a career in front of the camera
- Made more than 50 guest appearances on numerous TV series throughout the '50s and '60s
- Godfather of Jennifer Aniston
- Was a lifeguard as a teenager, and once failed to save a man from drowning, an event that he claimed haunted him throughout his adult life
Awards
- 1963Oscar - Best Actor in a Supporting Role:Nominated
- 1963Golden Globe - Best Supporting Actor:Nominated
- 1966Golden Globe - Best Supporting Actor:Nominated
- 1968Golden Laurel - Male Supporting Performance:Nominated
- 1973Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Single Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role:Nominated
- 1974Primetime Emmy - Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series:Winner
- 1975Bambi - TV Series International:Winner
- 1975Golden Globe - Best TV Actor - Drama:Winner
- 1975Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 1975Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Directing in a Drama Series:Nominated
- 1976Golden Globe - Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama:Winner
- 1976TP de Oro - Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero):Winner
- 1977Golden Globe - Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama:Nominated
- 1978Golden Globe - Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama:Nominated
- 2005TV Land Award - Favorite Private Eye:Nominated