Trivia

When he worked as a lifeguard, he failed to save a man from drowning, and was troubled by the memory forever after.

Reason why he sucked on a lollipop during Kojak (1973): following Peter Cavnoudias's suggestion while filming Lisa and the Devil (1973) to help him to quit smoking.

He was also a strong contributor to his Greek Orthodox roots through the Saint Sophia and Saint Nicholas cathedrals in Los Angeles, and was the sponsor of bringing electricity in the '70s to his ancestral home, Yeraka, Greece.

At first, Telly was an executive director and then senior director of the news special events at ABC, Savalas then became an executive producer for the "Gillette Cavalcade of Sports," where he gave Howard Cosell his first job.

After portraying Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), he chose to remain completely bald and this signature look, somewhere between the comic and the ominous, stood him in good stead in the years that followed.

Resided at the Sheraton-Universal Sheraton Hotel in Universal City, California, from 1973 until his death in 1994, becoming such a fixture at the hotel bar that it was renamed Telly's.

Was friends with actor John Aniston and named godfather of Jennifer Aniston.

Was originally slated to play Luke in Cool Hand Luke (1967), but the producers were unable to wait for him to complete his boat trip from Europe to the U.S. (Telly had a severe fear of flying). Therefore, Paul Newman played the role instead.

Until his mother's death in 1988, she lived in a suite a few floors above his own at the Sheraton-Universal, with the actor paying all the expenses.

Before the Depression era of 1929, his father was a millionaire.

His ex-Kojak (1973) co-star, Kevin Dobson, had said in an interview, he was his best and dearest friend.

Telly Savalas passed away on January 22, 1994, one day after his 72nd birthday, which he celebrated with his family, friends and colleagues at the Universal Sheraton Inn in Universal City, California.

Left index finger was shorter than his other fingers ending right after the beginning of its second phalanx.

His mother, Christina Kapsalis Savalas, was a New York City artist, and his father, Nick Savalas, a hard worker, first worked odd jobs, then as a businessman in cigarettes, restaurant supplies and general contracting before becoming a restaurateur, owning a chain of Greek restaurants.

His father, Nick Savalas, died in 1948. His mother, Christina Savalas, died in 1988, at age 84.

Also owned a stone ranch house in Rancho Mirage, California and a luxurious four-bedroom apartment in London, England.

As he loved spending time with his family, also had many hobbies including golfing, swimming, gambling, collecting luxury cars, horse racing, motorcycle racing, watching football and reading romantic books as well as historical biographies.

He used off-script phrases and mottoes in Greek during filming.

Lived with Sally Sheridan from 1969 to 1978. Her daughter from a previous relationship is Nicollette Sheridan, who considered Savalas as her father.

In 1990 the city of New York declared The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) as the official movie of New York City, and awarded Telly with the Key to the City. The film was the one that introduced Savalas' most famous character, Lt. Theo Kojak, later made famous on its spin-off series Kojak (1973).

Longtime friend Danny Thomas guest-starred on the last episode of Kojak (1973).

Loved gambling and was a very successful gambler, winning many Vegas poker tournaments and losing few.

His final films, Mind Twister (1993) and Backfire! (1995), were dedicated to his memory.

His paternal grandfather, Kostas the Painter, lived to age 100 and became one of the area's most famous artists.

Met screen actress, Angie Dickinson, in 1971, when the two appeared in the movie Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971).18 years later, Dickinson worked with Savalas on Kojak: Fatal Flaw (1989).They were lifelong friends until Savalas' passing in 1994.

Was a member of Company C, 12th Medical Training Battalion, 4th Medical Training Regiment at Camp Pickett, Virginia.

Had attended an audition for the CBS anthology series Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950), intending to prompt an actor friend who was up for a role, in 1959. Instead, the casting director took Savalas' sinister demeanor into account and cast him in a character part, which led to other TV assignments and movie roles.

On Kojak (1973), he worked with George Savalas's character at the police station, in real-life, Savalas was (of course) George's second older brother.

Savalas qualified for the 1992 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he finished among the top 25 players in the tournament.

Originated the phrase, "Who Loves Ya, Baby?", for Kojak (1973).

Was involved in a serious car accident in Virginia during his hitch in the army.

He was the first American actor to play the villain in a James Bond film.

He starred in 56 films, in 21 of them he was cast as a villain.

As a singer, Savalas had some chart success. His spoken word version of Bread's "If" produced by Snuff Garrett was #1 in Europe for 10 weeks in 1975 and his sung version of Don Williams's "Some Broken Hearts Never Mend" topped the charts in 1980.

He didn't appear in his first film until he was 37.

Had a fear of flying. Ironically, he played a pilot in Capricorn One (1977).

Early in his career he played mainly brutish criminals until he changed his image completely in the 1970s, when he was cast as a homicide detective in the acclaimed TV-movie The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) and its spin-off series, Kojak (1973).

Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 5 times.

He wasn't the first choice to audition for Kojak (1973), when Marlon Brando had been offered the role.

Before he was a successful actor, early in his career, he directed stage plays at a theater in Connecticut.

On Kojak (1973), his character was of Greek American heritage just like Savalas in real-life too.

Survived by 5 children, 4 grandchildren, 2 brothers, 1 sister and his wife.

Singing ran in his family.

Before he was a successful actor, he hosted a popular radio program, "Telly's Coffeehouse," in the early 1950s.

His younger brother, George Savalas, starred in Kojak (1973) and in three films - "Genghis Khan" (1965), "The Slender Thread" (1965) and "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) - with him.

His son Nick Savalas's half-sister, Nicollette Sheridan, and his former Kojak (1973) co-star, Kevin Dobson, both starred in the popular 1980s soap opera, Knots Landing (1979).

Ernest Borgnine and Angie Dickinson attended his funeral.

He and his The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) co-stars Donald Pleasence and Max von Sydow all later played the Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld: Pleasence in You Only Live Twice (1967), Savalas in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) and von Sydow in Never Say Never Again (1983).

Three of his six children followed in their father's footsteps into acting.

Before he was a successful actor, he had many odd jobs, from newspaper vendor to lifeguard.