Telly Savalas

Early Life

Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas was born on January 21, 1922, in Garden City, New York, to Greek immigrant parents. He was the second of five children and grew up in a household where Greek was the primary language until he learned English in school. Savalas excelled in academics, winning a spelling bee in 1934, although he did not receive his prize until 1991 due to an oversight. After graduating from Sewanhaka High School in 1940, he worked as a lifeguard, an experience that profoundly impacted him when he was unable to save a drowning father, leading him to advocate for water safety throughout his life.

Career

Savalas's career began in the media, where he worked for the U.S. State Department and hosted a radio show in New York City. His acting career took off unexpectedly when he filled in for a friend in a television role in 1958. He quickly became a sought-after guest star on various TV shows, eventually landing the iconic role of Lt. Theo Kojak in the crime drama series "Kojak" from 1973 to 1978. Savalas also made a mark in film, notably portraying the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969). His deep voice and bald head became his trademarks, and he released several music albums, including "This Is Telly Savalas..." and "Who Loves Ya Baby."

Personal Life

Savalas was married three times and had six children. His first marriage to Katherine Nicolaides ended in divorce, and he later married Marilyn Gardner, with whom he had two daughters. He had a long-term relationship with actress Sally Adams, with whom he had a son, Nicholas. Savalas's final marriage was to Julie Hovland, with whom he had two more children. He passed away on January 22, 1994, leaving behind a legacy as a beloved actor and singer, recognized with numerous awards, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and an Emmy Award for his television performances.