Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

162

Gender

Male

Birthday

1922-01-21

Day of Death

1994-01-22 (72 years old)

Place of Birth

Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA

Also Known As

Telly Aristoteles Savalas

Telli Savales

Telly Savales

Τέλης Σαβάλας

Телли Савалас

Aristides T. Savallas

A. T. Savallas

Telly Savalas

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

Acting

Birdman of Alcatraz

1962

Birdman of Alcatraz

as

Feto Gomez

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

1969

On Her Majesty's Secret Service

as

Ernst Stavro Blofeld

The Dirty Dozen

1967

The Dirty Dozen

as

Archer Maggott

The Greatest Story Ever Told

1965

The Greatest Story Ever Told

as

Pontius Pilate

Mad Dog Coll

1961

Mad Dog Coll

as

Lt. Dawson

Genghis Khan

1965

Genghis Khan

as

Shan

Lisa and the Devil

1973

Lisa and the Devil

as

Leandro

The New Interns

1964

The New Interns

as

Dr. Dominic Riccio

Cape Fear

1962

Cape Fear

as

Private Detective Charles Sievers

Land Raiders

1969

Land Raiders

as

Vince Carden

Kelly's Heroes

1970

Kelly's Heroes

as

Master Sergeant "Big Joe"

The Karate Killers

1967

The Karate Killers

as

Count De Fanzini

Capricorn One

1977

Capricorn One

as

Albain

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure

1979

Beyond the Poseidon Adventure

as

Captain Stefan Svevo

Cannonball Run II

1984

Cannonball Run II

as

Hymie

Violent City

1970

Violent City

as

Al Weber

The Scalphunters

1968

The Scalphunters

as

Jim Howie

Horror Express

1972

Horror Express

as

Captain Kazan

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

1968

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell

as

Walter Braddock

Battle of the Bulge

1965

Battle of the Bulge

as

Sgt. Guffy

Faceless

1988

Faceless

as

Terry Hallen

Escape to Athena

1979

Escape to Athena

as

Zeno

The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission

1987

The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission

as

Maj. Wright

The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission

1988

The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission

as

Maj. Wright

A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die

1972

A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die

as

Major Ward

A Town Called Bastard

1971

A Town Called Bastard

as

Don Carlos

Mackenna's Gold

1969

Mackenna's Gold

as

Sergeant Tibbs

The Slender Thread

1965

The Slender Thread

as

Dr. Joe Coburn

Pretty Maids All in a Row

1971

Pretty Maids All in a Row

as

Captain Sam Surcher

The Assassination Bureau

1969

The Assassination Bureau

as

Lord Bostwick

Redneck

1973

Redneck

as

Memphis

Killer Force

1976

Killer Force

as

Webb

Pancho Villa

1972

Pancho Villa

as

Pancho Villa

Johnny Cool

1963

Johnny Cool

as

Vincenzo 'Vince' Santangelo

The Young Savages

1961

The Young Savages

as

Detective Lt. Gunderson

Inside Out

1975

Inside Out

as

Harry Morgan

Crime Boss

1972

Crime Boss

as

Don Vincenzo

The Killer Is on the Phone

1972

The Killer Is on the Phone

as

Ranko Drasovic

Fanfare for a Death Scene

1964

Fanfare for a Death Scene

as

Ilchidai Khan

The Border

1980

The Border

as

Frank Cooper

Sonny and Jed

1972

Sonny and Jed

as

Sheriff Franciscus

Love Is a Ball

1963

Love Is a Ball

as

Dr. Christian Gump

Backfire!

1995

Backfire!

as

Most Evil Man

Perfect Crimes

1991

Perfect Crimes

as

Self - Narrator

The Man from the Diners' Club

1963

The Man from the Diners' Club

as

Mr. Martindale

Sol Madrid

1968

Sol Madrid

as

Emil Dietrich

Mongo's Back in Town

1971

Mongo's Back in Town

as

Lieutenant Pete Tolstad

Beyond Reason

1985

Beyond Reason

as

Dr. Nicholas Mati

Beau Geste

1966

Beau Geste

as

Sgt. Maj. Dagineau

The Interns

1962

The Interns

as

Dr. Dominic Riccio

Return to the Titanic... Live!

1987

Return to the Titanic... Live!

as

Host

She Cried Murder

1973

She Cried Murder

as

Inspector Joe Brody

Fake-Out

1982

Fake-Out

as

Lt. Thurston

The House of Exorcism

1975

The House of Exorcism

as

Leandro (archive footage)

The Cartier Affair

1984

The Cartier Affair

as

Phil Drexler

Remote Control Magic: The Movie

2012

Remote Control Magic: The Movie

as

Self (archive footage)

The Hollywood Detective

1989

The Hollywood Detective

as

Harry Bell

The Muppet Movie

1979

The Muppet Movie

as

El Sleazo Tough

Operation Dirty Dozen

2006

Operation Dirty Dozen

as

Self

Crooks and Coronets

1969

Crooks and Coronets

as

Herbie Haseler

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

1980

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

as

Cretzer

Telly Savalas Looks at Aberdeen

1981

Telly Savalas Looks at Aberdeen

as

Narrator

Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham

1981

Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham

as

Narrator

Kojak: The Price of Justice

1987

Kojak: The Price of Justice

as

Inspector Theo Kojak

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

2022

La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président

as

Self (archive footage)

Telly Savalas Looks at Portsmouth

1981

Telly Savalas Looks at Portsmouth

as

Narrator

Silent Rebellion

1982

Silent Rebellion

as

Pete

Clay Pigeon

1971

Clay Pigeon

as

Redford

Mind Twister

1994

Mind Twister

as

Richard Howland

2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

2010

2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift

as

Self (archive footage)

Visions...

1972

Visions...

as

Lt. Phil Keegan

Kojak : Error Fatal

1989

Kojak : Error Fatal

as

Lieutenant Theo Kojak

Kojak: Flowers For Matty

1990

Kojak: Flowers For Matty

as

Inspector Theo Kojak

Kojak The Belarus File

1985

Kojak The Belarus File

as

Lieutenant Theo Kojak

Kojak: Ariana

1989

Kojak: Ariana

as

Lieutenant Theo Kojak

Kojak: None So Blind

1990

Kojak: None So Blind

as

Inspector Theo Kojak

The Marcus-Nelson Murders

1973

The Marcus-Nelson Murders

as

Lt. Theo Kojak

Hellinger's Law

1981

Hellinger's Law

as

Nick Hellinger

Joys

1976

Joys

as

Self

The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine

1987

The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine

as

Brother Joseph Heiden

The Sin of Jesus

1961

The Sin of Jesus

as

Felix

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

1965

John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!

as

Macmuid (uncredited)

The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration

1986

The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration

as

GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords

1986

GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords

as

Magmar (voice)

Rose Against the Odds

1991

Rose Against the Odds

as

George Parnassus

Kojak: It's Always Something

1990

Kojak: It's Always Something

as

Inspector Theo Kojak

Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby?

1976

Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby?

as

Self

Afghanistan For What?

1984

Afghanistan For What?

as

Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained

2021

Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained

as

Self - Actor (archive footage)

Alice

Alice

as

Garrison's Gorillas

Garrison's Gorillas

as

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

as

Fakir George O'Shea

Cain's Hundred

Cain's Hundred

as

Frank Meehan

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour

as

Kraft Suspense Theatre

Kraft Suspense Theatre

as

Beret

The F.B.I.

The F.B.I.

as

Ed Clementi

Tales of the Unexpected

Tales of the Unexpected

as

Joe Brisson

Okay

Okay

as

Self

Naked City

Naked City

as

Gabriel Hody

Kojak

Kojak

as

Theo Kojak

Arrest and Trial

Arrest and Trial

as

Frank Santo

The Equalizer

The Equalizer

as

Brother Joseph Heiden

Combat!

Combat!

as

Colonel Kapsalis

The Twilight Zone

The Twilight Zone

as

Erich Streator

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

as

Steve Keller

Acapulco

Acapulco

as

Mr. Carver

Run for Your Life

Run for Your Life

as

Istvan Zabor

Cimarron Strip

Cimarron Strip

as

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

as

Victor Leonetti

The Virginian

The Virginian

as

'Colonel' Bliss

The Aquanauts

The Aquanauts

as

Paul Price

Grindl

Grindl

as

The Rogues

The Rogues

as

The Dakotas

The Dakotas

as

Jake Volet

Ben Casey

Ben Casey

as

The New Breed

The New Breed

as

Dr. Buel Reed

The Detectives

The Detectives

as

Ben

The Fugitive

The Fugitive

as

Dan Polichek

77 Sunset Strip

77 Sunset Strip

as

Brother Hendricksen

Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland

as

Cheshire Cat

J.J. Starbuck

J.J. Starbuck

as

The Greek

Tony Orlando and Dawn

Tony Orlando and Dawn

as

Self

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

as

Count Valeriano De Fanzini

Am laufenden Band

Am laufenden Band

as

Self - Guest

Disco

Disco

as

Self

Ein Schloß am Wörthersee

Ein Schloß am Wörthersee

as

Teddy

Cain's Hundred

Cain's Hundred

as

Harry Remick

Combat!

Combat!

as

Jon

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

as

Balakirov aka Richard Goldtooth

Burke's Law

Burke's Law

as

Charlie Prince

The Bob Hope Show

The Bob Hope Show

as

Self

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self

The French Atlantic Affair

The French Atlantic Affair

as

Fr. Craig Dunleavy

Kraft Suspense Theatre

Kraft Suspense Theatre

as

Ramon Castillo / Raymond Castle

The Mike Douglas Show

The Mike Douglas Show

as

Self

Bonanza

Bonanza

as

Charles Augustus Hackett

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre

as

Mueller

V.I.P. Schaukel

V.I.P. Schaukel

as

Self

Einer wird gewinnen

Einer wird gewinnen

as

Self

Musikladen

Musikladen

as

Self

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

as

Leo Stazak

Bambi

Bambi

as

Self

The Carol Burnett Show

The Carol Burnett Show

as

Self - Guest / Various Characters

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

as

Self

Midi Première

Midi Première

as

Self

Armstrong Circle Theatre

Armstrong Circle Theatre

as

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

as

Cretzer

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

as

Self - Guest Host

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts

as

Self

The Red Skelton Show

The Red Skelton Show

as

Self / Tex

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Nominee

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as

Philadelphia Harry

Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

as

Self - Presenter

The Commish

The Commish

as

Tommy Colette

The Love Boat

The Love Boat

as

Dr. Fabian Cain

Dinah!

Dinah!

as

Self

Top of the Pops

Top of the Pops

as

Self

The Untouchables

The Untouchables

as

Wally Baltzer

Production

Crew

Directing

Beyond Reason

1985

Beyond Reason

as

Kojak

Kojak

as