Telly Savalas

Biography & Overview

Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas (Greek: Αριστοτέλης Σαβάλας; January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an American actor. Noted for his bald head and deep, resonant voice, he is perhaps best known for portraying Lt. Theo Kojak on the crime drama series Kojak (1973–1978) and James Bond archvillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).
Savalas's other films include Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Genghis Khan (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Horror Express (1972), Lisa and the Devil (1974), Escape to Athena (1979), Border Cop (1980) and Mind Twister (1993). For Birdman of Alcatraz, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Savalas released a cover of the Bread song "If", which became a UK number-one single in 1975.