Person
Telly Savalas
Acting · 1922–1994 · Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA
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 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance 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), Inside Out (1975) and Escape to Athena (1979).
Known for
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self
Top of the Pops
Self
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Guest
The Love Boat
Dr. Fabian Cain
The Bob Hope Show
Self
The Fugitive
Steve Keller
The Red Skelton Show
Tex
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
Bonanza
Charles Augustus Hackett
Alice
1976
Filmography
- 2022La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était présidentSelf (archive footage)
- 2021Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci UnchainedSelf - Actor (archive footage)
- 2012Remote Control Magic: The MovieSelf (archive footage)
- 20102Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo DriftSelf (archive footage)
- 2006Operation Dirty DozenSelf
- 1995Backfire!Most Evil Man (Not Really)
- 1994Mind TwisterRichard Howland
- 1991Perfect CrimesSelf - Narrator
- 1991Halloween Monster BashCaptain Kazan (archive footage)
- 1991Rose Against the OddsGeorge Parnassus
- 1991The CommishTommy Colette
- 1990Ein Schloß am WörtherseeTeddy
- 1990Kojak: None So BlindInspector Theo Kojak
- 1990Kojak: It's Always SomethingInspector Theo Kojak
- 1990Kojak: Flowers For MattyInspector Theo Kojak
- 1989Kojak : Error FatalLieutenant Theo Kojak
- 1989Kojak: ArianaLieutenant Theo Kojak
- 1989The Hollywood DetectiveHarry Bell
- 1988The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal MissionMaj. Wright
- 1988FacelessTerry Hallen
- 1987Return to the Titanic... Live!Host
- 1987J.J. StarbuckThe Greek
- 1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineBrother Joseph Heiden
- 1987The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly MissionMaj. Wright
- 1987Kojak: The Price of JusticeInspector Theo Kojak
- 1986The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration
- 1986GoBots: Battle of the Rock LordsMagmar (voice)
- 1985Alice in WonderlandCheshire Cat
- 1985The EqualizerBrother Joseph Heiden
- 1985Kojak: The Belarus FileLieutenant Theo Kojak
- 1984The Cartier AffairPhil Drexler
- 1984Cannonball Run IIHymie
- 1984Afghanistan For What?
- 1982Fake-OutLt. Thurston
- 1982Silent RebellionPete
- 1982American PlayhousePeter Panakos
- 1982Beyond ReasonDr. Nicholas Mati
- 1981Telly Savalas Looks at AberdeenNarrator
- 1981Telly Savalas Looks at PortsmouthNarrator
- 1981Hellinger's LawNick Hellinger
- 1981Telly Savalas Looks at BirminghamNarrator
- 1980Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking StoryCretzer
- 1980Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking StoryCretzer
- 1980The BorderFrank Cooper
- 1979The French Atlantic AffairFr. Craig Dunleavy
- 1979OkaySelf
- 1979The Muppet MovieEl Sleazo Tough
- 1979Escape to AthenaZeno
- 1979Beyond the Poseidon AdventureCaptain Stefan Svevo
- 1979Tales of the UnexpectedJoe Brisson
- 1977Capricorn OneAlbain
- 1977The Love BoatDr. Fabian Cain
- 1977Black AphroditeThe Boss (as Aristides T. Savallas)
- 1976Alice
- 1976JoysSelf
- 1976Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby?Self
- 1976Killer ForceWebb
- 1975Inside OutHarry Morgan
- 1975The House of ExorcismLeandro (archive footage)
- 1975Les Rendez-vous du dimancheSelf
- 1975Midi PremièreSelf
- 1974Tony Orlando and DawnSelf
- 1974Dinah!Self - Guest
- 1974Am laufenden BandSelf - Guest
- 1973KojakTheo Kojak
- 1973She Cried MurderInspector Joe Brody
- 1973The Dean Martin Celebrity RoastsSelf
- 1973Lisa and the DevilLeandro
- 1973The Marcus-Nelson MurdersLt. Theo Kojak
- 1973RedneckMemphis
- 1972A Reason to Live, a Reason to DieMajor Ward
- 1972MusikladenSelf
- 1972Pancho VillaPancho Villa
- 1972Visions...Lt. Phil Keegan
- 1972The Killer Is on the PhoneRanko Drasovic
- 1972Horror ExpressCaptain Kazan
- 1972Sonny and JedSheriff Franciscus
- 1972Crime BossDon Vincenzo
- 1971Mongo's Back in TownLieutenant Pete Tolstad
- 1971A Town Called BastardDon Carlos
- 1971Clay PigeonRedford
- 1971The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour
- 1971V.I.P. SchaukelSelf
- 1971Pretty Maids All in a RowCaptain Sam Surcher
- 1971DiscoSelf
- 1970Violent CityAl Weber
- 1970Kelly's HeroesMaster Sergeant "Big Joe"
- 1969On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceErnst Stavro Blofeld
- 1969Land RaidersVince Carden
- 1969Crooks and CoronetsHerbie Haseler
- 1969Mackenna's GoldSergeant Tibbs
- 1969The Assassination BureauLord Bostwick
- 1969ITV Saturday Night TheatreGregor Antonescu
- 1968Buona Sera, Mrs. CampbellWalter Braddock
- 1968The ScalphuntersJim Howie
- 1968Sol MadridEmil Dietrich
- 1967The Carol Burnett ShowSelf - Guest / Various Characters
- 1967Cimarron Strip
- 1967Garrison's Gorillas
- 1967The Dirty DozenArcher Maggott
- 1967The Karate KillersCount De Fanzini
- 1966Beau GesteSgt. Maj. Dagineau
- 1965Battle of the BulgeSgt. Guffy
- 1965The Slender ThreadDr. Joe Coburn
- 1965The F.B.I.Ed Clementi
- 1965Run for Your LifeIstvan Zabor
- 1965Genghis KhanShan
- 1965The Greatest Story Ever ToldPontius Pilate
- 1965John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!Macmuid (uncredited)
- 1964The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Count Valeriano De Fanzini
- 1964The Rogues
- 1964Fanfare for a Death SceneIlchidai Khan
- 1964The New InternsDr. Dominic Riccio
- 1964Einer wird gewinnenSelf
- 1964Top of the PopsSelf
- 1963Kraft Suspense TheatreBeret
- 1963Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler TheatreMueller
- 1963Johnny CoolVincenzo 'Vince' Santangelo
- 1963Burke's LawFakir George O'Shea
- 1963The FugitiveSteve Keller
- 1963Arrest and TrialFrank Santo
- 1963Grindl
- 1963Love is a BallDr. Christian Gump
- 1963The Man from the Diners' ClubFoots Pulardos
- 1963The DakotasJake Volet
- 1962Combat!Colonel Kapsalis
- 1962The Tonight Show Starring Johnny CarsonSelf
- 1962The Alfred Hitchcock HourPhiladelphia Harry
- 1962The Virginian'Colonel' Bliss
- 1962The InternsDr. Dominic Riccio
- 1962Birdman of AlcatrazFeto Gomez
- 1962Cape FearPrivate Detective Charles Sievers
- 1961The Mike Douglas ShowSelf - Guest
- 1961The Sin of JesusFelix
- 1961The New BreedDr. Buel Reed
- 1961Ben Casey
- 1961Cain's HundredFrank Meehan
- 1961The Young SavagesDetective Lt. Gunderson
- 1961Mad Dog CollLt. Dawson
- 1961AcapulcoMr. Carver
- 1960The AquanautsPaul Price
- 1960The Dow Hour of Great MysteriesDr. Patterson
- 1959The DetectivesBen
- 1959The UntouchablesLeo Stazak
- 1959The Twilight ZoneErich Streator
- 1959BonanzaCharles Augustus Hackett
- 195877 Sunset StripBrother Hendricksen
- 1958Naked CityGabriel Hody
- 1951The Red Skelton ShowTex
- 1950Armstrong Circle Theatre
- 1950The Bob Hope ShowSelf
- 1948BambiSelf
- 1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee
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