Telly Savalas
Co-starred with Angie Dickinson in the 1964 film *The Killers*.
Telly Savalas, born Aristotelis Savalas in 1922 on Long Island, New York, was an American actor renowned for his shaved head and deep, resonant voice. He is best remembered for portraying Lieutenant Theo Kojak on the crime drama *Kojak* and for playing the James Bond archvillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in *On Her Majesty's Secret Service*. The son of Greek parents, he initially spoke only Greek when starting school. After graduating high school in 1940, he worked as a lifeguard; a failed rescue attempt that left a father dead deeply affected him, leading him to promote water safety for life. Drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941, he served as a corporal until a severe car accident in 1943 left him with a broken pelvis and concussion, requiring over a year of recovery. He later earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University. Savalas began his career in radio and television production, hosting a radio show and working as a director and executive producer for ABC News and sports programming, where he gave Howard Cosell his first TV job. He did not pursue acting until 1958, when he substituted for a friend on an episode of *Armstrong Circle Theatre*. His film debut came in 1961’s *Mad Dog Coll*, playing a cop. His performance in *Birdman of Alcatraz* (1962) earned him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He shaved his head for the role of Pontius Pilate in *The Greatest Story Ever Told* (1965) and kept it bald thereafter. Notable films include *The Dirty Dozen*, *Kelly’s Heroes*, and *Horror Express*. In 1975, his cover of the Bread song "If" became a number-one single in the United Kingdom.
- born
- January 21, 1924, Garden City, New York
Lore & Background
Savalas appeared in the 1964 film *The Killers*, a remake of the 1946 version based on a story by Ernest Hemingway. Directed by Don Siegel, the film was originally intended to be the first made-for-television movie but was released to theaters due to its violent content and entertainment value. It was the only film Ronald Reagan made in which he was cast as a villain. In one scene, Reagan viciously slaps Angie Dickinson. Savalas also appeared in the 1971 dark comedy *Pretty Maids All in a Row*, directed by Roger Vadim and written and produced by Gene Roddenberry. That film also starred Rock Hudson and Angie Dickinson, who played a lascivious substitute high-school teacher. *Pretty Maids All In A Row* drew hostile critical reviews and was a box-office failure.
Reader's Guide
Telly Savalas was a Greek-American actor whose distinctive bald head and deep, resonant voice defined his screen presence. He is most famous for playing Lieutenant Theo Kojak on the crime drama *Kojak* and the James Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in *On Her Majesty's Secret Service*. His filmography includes a wide range of roles, from the brutal Archer Maggott in *The Dirty Dozen* to the historical figure Pontius Pilate in *The Greatest Story Ever Told*, a role that prompted him to shave his head permanently. Savalas earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in *Birdman of Alcatraz*. Beyond acting, he had a brief music career, releasing a cover of the Bread song "If" that reached number one on the UK singles chart in 1975. His early life included working as a lifeguard, and a traumatic failed rescue attempt led him to become a lifelong advocate for water safety, insisting that all six of his children learn to swim. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, was injured in a car accident, and later earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Columbia University. Savalas began his career in television production and news, giving Howard Cosell his first television job, before transitioning to acting in the late 1950s. His work frequently placed him alongside major stars like Burt Lancaster and in ensemble war films such as *Kelly's Heroes* and *Battle of the Bulge*.
Did You Know?
- Telly Savalas co-starred with Angie Dickinson in the 1964 film *The Killers*.
- *The Killers* was originally intended to be the first made-for-television movie.
- Ronald Reagan played a villain in *The Killers*, the only film in which he did so.
- In *The Killers*, Reagan's character viciously slaps Angie Dickinson.
- Savalas also appeared with Dickinson in the 1971 film *Pretty Maids All in a Row*.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Telly Savalas?
He was an American film and television actor whose shaved head and booming baritone made him instantly recognizable on screen. His birth name was Aristotelis Savalas, and he was born in Garden City, New York, in 1924.
What roles made Telly Savalas famous?
He is most associated with the wisecracking NYPD lieutenant Theo Kojak, a character he carried across five seasons of a 1970s crime series. He also brought the mastermind Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld to life in a 1969 James Bond film.
What was Telly Savalas's physical appearance like?
His completely bald head and stocky build became his trademark, and he leaned into that look for decades of his career. Paired with his rich, low-register voice, it gave him a commanding screen presence that few actors of his era matched.
Where and when was Telly Savalas born?
He entered the world on January 21, 1924, in the Long Island community of Garden City, New York.
Why is Telly Savalas considered a classic Hollywood icon?
His two signature characters—a gruff New York cop and the scheming Bond antagonist—cemented his place in popular culture during the late 1960s and 1970s. Even decades later, fans still recognize his voice and bald silhouette from those performances.
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