Telly Savalas
Telly Savalas ( born January 21, 1922 in Garden City, Long Iceland, New York, † January 22, 1994 in Universal City, California; actually Aristotelis Savalas ) was an American actor of Greek descent, who also performed as a singer. He gained worldwide fame as a performer of the title detective series Kojak (German Kojak ).
Life
The son of Greek immigrants Nicholas and Christina Savalas abandoned his psychology degree and was, like his brothers, George Savalas jüngereren and Gus Savalas, a soldier in World War II and later awarded the Purple Heart. He then worked for ABC Radio, where he eventually produced the talk show Telly 's Coffee House.
From the mid- 1950s, Savalas had only a fringe of hair. This he shaved bald and has become his trademark, as well as the lollipop, which he described as " Kojak " always had in his mouth.
Also known as the " Golden Greek" actor was an avid poker player. In the World Series of Poker in 1992 he reached the 21th place.
Telly Savalas was stepfather of Nicollette Sheridan and godfather to Jennifer Aniston, who also has Greek roots. He was successfully operated on for bladder cancer in 1989 but died in 1994 from the effects of prostate cancer. The two cancers are confused in many sources, as well as the age, which is erroneously given as 70. He was at Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery buried in Hollywood, Los Angeles.
Career
In the movie The Prisoner of Alcatraz Savalas acted in 1962 at the Burt Lancaster's side so convincing that he was nominated for an Oscar in the best supporting role. When James Bond villain he fought in 1969 against the title hero George Lazenby in On Her Majesty.
His most famous in Germany role played by the bald-headed actor as lollipops lollipop forming Lieutenant Theo Kojak the NYPD in the television series Kojak (English Kojak ) first temporarily 1973 and 1978. For his achievements is therefore awarded him in 1974 the coveted with series starring Emmy Award to. His brother George Savalas portrayed in the series the figure of the detective Stavros.
In the 1990s, it took the series again - but now abandoned to the Lollis, as the American Dental Association had warned because of the bad example for children from it.
Kojak 's most famous quote was in the German dubbing (Speaker: Edgar Ott ) be mockingly ironic! " Delightful" and " Is' it true? " What he likes replied to the comments of his colleagues and the end of the 1970s was often cited.
As early as 1975 he had a number -one hit, who finished in the UK with a longer spoken version of Bread hits If in Germany Place 4. In 1980 he was represented with the sung by him variant of Some Broken Hearts Never Mend in the German charts at number 5.
Good friends Savalas was with the German singer Freddy Breck.