Telly Savalas
Biography
Telly Savalas was an American film and television actor and singer. His career spanned four decades. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz. Savalas appeared in numerous films, including The Young Savages, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Battle of the Bulge, The Dirty Dozen, The Scalphunters, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Kelly's Heroes, Pretty Maids All in a Row, Inside Out, and Escape. He is best known for playing a title role in a 1970s crime drama. Savalas was born on January 21, 1922, and died on January 22, 1994.
Career overview
Telly Savalas had a career spanning four decades as a film and television actor and singer. He is best known for his work in the 1970s crime drama series Kojak. Savalas received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in the 1962 film Birdman of Alcatraz.
In addition to his work in television, Savalas appeared in numerous films throughout his career. His movie credits include The Young Savages, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Battle of the Bulge, The Dirty Dozen, The Scalphunters, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Kelly's Heroes, Pretty Maids All in a Row, Inside Out, and Escape. Savalas played the role of Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Savalas's acting career consisted of over 150 credits, with a focus on film and television. His work in the entertainment industry spanned many years, with a notable presence in the 1960s and 1970s.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- La TV des 70's : Quand Giscard était président (2022) as Self (archive footage)
- Django & Django: Sergio Corbucci Unchained (2021) as Self - Actor (archive footage)
- Remote Control Magic: The Movie (2012) as Self (archive footage)
- 2Everything2Terrible2: Tokyo Drift (2010) as Self (archive footage)
- Operation Dirty Dozen (2006) as Self
- Backfire! (1995) as Most Evil Man (Not Really)
- Mind Twister (1994) as Richard Howland
- The Commish (1991) as Tommy Colette
- Rose Against the Odds (1991) as George Parnassus
- Halloween Monster Bash (1991) as Captain Kazan (archive footage)
- Perfect Crimes (1991) as Self - Narrator
- Ein Schloß am Wörthersee (1990) as Teddy
- Kojak: None So Blind (1990) as Inspector Theo Kojak
- Kojak: Flowers For Matty (1990) as Inspector Theo Kojak
- Kojak: It's Always Something (1990) as Inspector Theo Kojak
- The Hollywood Detective (1989) as Harry Bell
- Kojak : Error Fatal (1989) as Lieutenant Theo Kojak
- Kojak: Ariana (1989) as Lieutenant Theo Kojak
- The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal Mission (1988) as Maj. Wright
- Faceless (1988) as Terry Hallen
- J.J. Starbuck (1987) as The Greek
- The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly Mission (1987) as Maj. Wright
- Kojak: The Price of Justice (1987) as Inspector Theo Kojak
- Return to the Titanic... Live! (1987) as Host
- The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine (1987) as Brother Joseph Heiden
- GoBots: Battle of the Rock Lords (1986) as Magmar (voice)
- The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration (1986)
- The Equalizer (1985) as Brother Joseph Heiden
- Alice in Wonderland (1985) as Cheshire Cat
- Kojak: The Belarus File (1985) as Lieutenant Theo Kojak
- Cannonball Run II (1984) as Hymie
- The Cartier Affair (1984) as Phil Drexler
- Afghanistan For What? (1984)
- American Playhouse (1982) as Peter Panakos
- Beyond Reason (1982) as Dr. Nicholas Mati
- Beyond Reason (1982) Director
- Beyond Reason (1982) Writer
- Fake-Out (1982) as Lt. Thurston
- Silent Rebellion (1982) as Pete
- Hellinger's Law (1981) as Nick Hellinger
- Telly Savalas Looks at Aberdeen (1981) as Narrator
- Telly Savalas Looks at Portsmouth (1981) as Narrator
- Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham (1981) as Narrator
- Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) as Cretzer
- Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980) as Cretzer
- The Border (1980) as Frank Cooper
- Tales of the Unexpected (1979) as Joe Brisson
- Okay (1979) as Self
- The Muppet Movie (1979) as El Sleazo Tough
- The French Atlantic Affair (1979) as Fr. Craig Dunleavy
- Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979) as Captain Stefan Svevo
- Escape to Athena (1979) as Zeno
- The Love Boat (1977) as Dr. Fabian Cain
- Capricorn One (1977) as Albain
- Black Aphrodite (1977) as The Boss (as Aristides T. Savallas)
- Alice (1976)
- Joys (1976) as Self
- Killer Force (1976) as Webb
- Telly... Who Loves Ya, Baby? (1976) as Self
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Midi Première (1975) as Self
- The House of Exorcism (1975) as Leandro (archive footage)
- Inside Out (1975) as Harry Morgan
- Dinah! (1974) as Self - Guest
- Am laufenden Band (1974) as Self - Guest
- Tony Orlando and Dawn (1974) as Self
- Kojak (1973) as Theo Kojak
- Kojak (1973) Director
- The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts (1973) as Self
- Lisa and the Devil (1973) as Leandro
- Redneck (1973) as Memphis
- The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) as Lt. Theo Kojak
- She Cried Murder (1973) as Inspector Joe Brody
- Musikladen (1972) as Self
- Horror Express (1972) as Captain Kazan
- A Reason to Live, a Reason to Die (1972) as Major Ward
- Pancho Villa (1972) as Pancho Villa
- Pancho Villa (1972) Songs
- Sonny and Jed (1972) as Sheriff Franciscus
- The Killer Is on the Phone (1972) as Ranko Drasovic
- Crime Boss (1972) as Don Vincenzo
- Visions... (1972) as Lt. Phil Keegan
- The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour (1971)
- Disco (1971) as Self
- V.I.P. Schaukel (1971) as Self
- Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971) as Captain Sam Surcher
- A Town Called Bastard (1971) as Don Carlos
- Mongo's Back in Town (1971) as Lieutenant Pete Tolstad
- Clay Pigeon (1971) as Redford
- Kelly's Heroes (1970) as Master Sergeant "Big Joe"
- Violent City (1970) as Al Weber
- ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969) as Gregor Antonescu
- On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969) as Ernst Stavro Blofeld
- Mackenna's Gold (1969) as Sergeant Tibbs
- The Assassination Bureau (1969) as Lord Bostwick
- Crooks and Coronets (1969) as Herbie Haseler
- Land Raiders (1969) as Vince Carden
- The Scalphunters (1968) as Jim Howie
- Sol Madrid (1968) as Emil Dietrich
- Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell (1968) as Walter Braddock
- The Carol Burnett Show (1967) as Self - Guest / Various Characters
- The Dirty Dozen (1967) as Archer Maggott
- Cimarron Strip (1967)
- Garrison's Gorillas (1967)
- The Karate Killers (1967) as Count De Fanzini
- Beau Geste (1966) as Sgt. Maj. Dagineau
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Ed Clementi
- Run for Your Life (1965) as Istvan Zabor
- The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) as Pontius Pilate
- Battle of the Bulge (1965) as Sgt. Guffy
- Genghis Khan (1965) as Shan
- The Slender Thread (1965) as Dr. Joe Coburn
- John Goldfarb, Please Come Home! (1965) as Macmuid (uncredited)
- Top of the Pops (1964) as Self
- The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964) as Count Valeriano De Fanzini
- The Rogues (1964)
- Einer wird gewinnen (1964) as Self
- The New Interns (1964) as Dr. Dominic Riccio
- Fanfare for a Death Scene (1964) as Ilchidai Khan
- The Fugitive (1963) as Steve Keller
- The Fugitive (1963) as Victor Leonetti
- The Fugitive (1963) as Dan Polichek
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Mueller
- Burke's Law (1963) as Fakir George O'Shea
- Burke's Law (1963) as Balakirov aka Richard Goldtooth
- Burke's Law (1963) as Charlie Prince
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Beret
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Ramon Castillo / Raymond Castle
- Arrest and Trial (1963) as Frank Santo
- The Dakotas (1963) as Jake Volet
- Grindl (1963)
- Johnny Cool (1963) as Vincenzo 'Vince' Santangelo
- The Man from the Diners' Club (1963) as Foots Pulardos
- Love is a Ball (1963) as Dr. Christian Gump
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self - Guest Host
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Philadelphia Harry
- The Virginian (1962) as 'Colonel' Bliss
- Combat! (1962) as Colonel Kapsalis
- Combat! (1962) as Jon
- Cape Fear (1962) as Private Detective Charles Sievers
- Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) as Feto Gomez
- The Interns (1962) as Dr. Dominic Riccio
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Guest
- Ben Casey (1961)
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Frank Meehan
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Harry Remick
- The New Breed (1961) as Dr. Buel Reed
- The Young Savages (1961) as Detective Lt. Gunderson
- Mad Dog Coll (1961) as Lt. Dawson
- Acapulco (1961) as Mr. Carver
- The Sin of Jesus (1961) as Felix
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Paul Price
- The Dow Hour of Great Mysteries (1960) as Dr. Patterson
- Bonanza (1959) as Charles Augustus Hackett
- The Twilight Zone (1959) as Erich Streator
- The Untouchables (1959) as Leo Stazak
- The Untouchables (1959) as Wally Baltzer
- The Detectives (1959) as Ben
- Naked City (1958) as Gabriel Hody
- 77 Sunset Strip (1958) as Brother Hendricksen
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as Tex
- The Bob Hope Show (1950) as Self
- Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)
- Bambi (1948) as Self
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter