Telly Savalas

Telly Savalas (January 21, 1924 – January 22, 1994) was a Greek-American actor. He was best known for his work on the Kojak television series, and for playing Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Personal history

Savalas was born Aristotelis Savalas in Garden City, New York to Greek parents, Nicholas and Christina Savalas. He served in World War II after he dropped out of Columbia University, where he was studying psychology. He was honourably discharged with a Purple Heart disability. During the early 1950s, Savalas worked for ABC Radio and eventually became the executive producer of his own popular talk show, "Telly's Coffee House". It was not until he was in his thirties that he decided to turn to acting.

Related Topics:
Garden City, New York - World War II - Columbia University - Psychology - Purple Heart - 1950s - ABC Radio

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Telly was well known for being totally bald. Up until the mid-1960s, he had what his family termed a halo—a ring of curly hair along the back and sides of his head. He eventually decided to shave off the remaining hair when he began playing in movies. Telly maintained that style for the rest of his life.

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In the early 1990s, Savalas contracted bladder cancer, ultimately succumbing to the disease in 1994, only a day after he turned 70, in Universal City, California. He was interred in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Related Topics:
Cancer - Universal City, California - Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery

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His younger brother, George Savalas, was also an actor in films and on TV; George Savalas died at the age of 58 in 1985 from leukemia.

Related Topics:
George Savalas - 1985 - Leukemia

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He is the stepfather of Nicollette Sheridan of Desperate Housewives and is also the godfather of Friends star Jennifer Aniston, with whom he shared Greek roots.

Related Topics:
Nicollette Sheridan - Desperate Housewives - Friends - Jennifer Aniston

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In addition, he was a keen poker enthusiast, finishing in 21st place in the 1992 $10,000 World Series of Poker.

Related Topics:
Poker - World Series of Poker

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