Nickname:	Telly Aristoteles Savalas / Golden Greek
Known for:	On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Kelly's Heroes, The Dirty Dozen
Birth name:	Aristotelis Savalas
Birthday:	21 January 1922, Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA
Height:	6' (1.83 m)

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Free Image Hosting - Upload your favorite celebrity pictures. 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). His brother, George Savalas, starred in "Kojak" (1973) with him. On January 21 1994, he celebrated his 72nd and last birthday with his family, friends and colleagues at the Universal Sheraton Inn in Universal City, California, 1 day before his death. 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. Therefore, Paul Newman played the role instead. He was an accomplished poker player. Before becoming an actor, he had many odd jobs, from newspaper vendor to lifeguard. Was the second of 5 children. Purchased a house in the Southern California desert community of Palm Desert because he enjoyed playing golf so much. Attended Columbia University in New York, New York. Was involved in a serious car accident in Virginia during his hitch in the army. Hosted a popular radio program, "Telly's Coffeehouse," in the early 1950s. Reason why he sucked on a lollipop during "Kojak" (1973): to help him to quit smoking. Met his last wife, Julie Hovland, on the set of "Kojak" (1973) while he was traveling with her to Minnesota in 1977. Spoke Greek fluently He didn't appear in his first film until he was 37. Has the distinction of playing two Alcatraz prison inmates; Feto Gomez in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Cretzer in Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) (TV). Owned a wide variety of luxury vehicles, including Cadillacs, Lincolns, Fords, Pontiacs, Mercedes and DeLoreans. After portraying Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), he chose to remain completely bald and this signature look, somewhere between the comic and the ominous, stood him in good stead in the years that followed. His mother, Christina, was a world recognized contemporary of Pablo Picasso, and Savalas himself released several records, the most remembered being his version of "If", that was #1 in Europe for 10 weeks in 1975. Uncle of Australian-born actor Peter Cavnoudias. Enjoyed watching "Jeopardy!" (1984). Underwent successful surgery for prostate cancer in 1989, but in 1991 was diagnosed with bladder cancer which spread to his bones and pancreas. Best remembered by the public for his starring role in "Kojak" (1973). His mother, Christina, died in 1989. At first, Telly was an executive director and then senior director of the news special events at ABC, Savalas then became an executive producer for the "Gillette Cavalcade of Sports," where he gave Howard Cosell his first job. He was an active liberal Democrat. Of Greek descent.