#Fact1He was most widely known to be a social butterfly.2He was known to be a very busy actor.3Daughter Ariana sings and tours with Scott Bradlee's Post Modern Jukebox.4On Kojak (1973), his character was of Greek American heritage, in real-life, Savalas was also of Greek American heritage.5He had performed a voice over for a 70s nature series on Yosemite National Park.6On 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.7He 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).8Singing ran in his family.9[11 December 1993] When Savalas was hospitalized at Huntington Memorial Hospital for bladder cancer, it had already spread to his hip bones and pancreas and was terminal.10His birthplace, Garden City, New York, is 24 miles, west of New York City, New York.11At least nine actors named him as their favorite actor: Bruce Kirby, Catlin Adams, Sally Kirkland, Michael Constantine, Louise Sorel, Ken Kercheval, Tige Andrews, Danny Thomas and Alex Rocco, all nine worked with him on Kojak (1973).12Was always close to his family.13Survived by 5 children, 4 grandchildren, 2 brothers, 1 sister and his wife.14His ex-Kojak (1973) co-star, Kevin Dobson, had said in an interview, he was his best and dearest friend.15Ernest Borgnine and Angie Dickinson attended his funeral.16His ex-girlfriend, Sally Sheridan, filed a $5 million palimony suit against Savalas, eventually settling for a reported $1 million.17Before his death, he was worried about Nick, who had made tabloid headlines with his public spats with his ex-girlfriend Tori Spelling.18Up until his mother's death in 1988, his mother lived in a suite a few floors above his own at the Sheraton-Universal, with the actor paying all the expenses.19Long before Carrie McDowell became a member of the Christian pop/dance duo, 'Two Hearts,' with her husband, Michael Hodge, she once opened a show with him, in Las Vegas, Nevada.20Had 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's sinister demeanor into account and cast him in a character part, which led to other TV assignments and movie roles.21His ex-Kojak (1973) co-star, Kevin Dobson and Savalas's best friend, John Aniston, worked together on Days of Our Lives (1965).22Long lives ran in his family.23Originated the phrase, "Who Loves Ya, Baby?", for Kojak (1973).24Before the Depression era of 1929, his father was a millionaire.25He starred in 56 films, in 21 of them he was cast as a villain.26Also owned a stone ranch house in Rancho Mirage, California and a luxurious four-bedroom apartment in London, England.27Met Angie Dickinson in the movie Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971). They were friends until his death in 1994.28His mother, Christina Kapsalis Savalas, met his father, Nicholas, who had emigrated from the Village of Gerakas, as a youth, in the United States. She was chosen for her beauty to represent Greek women at the 1939 World's Fair.29His mother, Christina Savalas, had left the village of Anogia, three miles from Sparta, as a child.30Was a heavy smoker.31Began his show Kojak (1973) at age 51.32As a philanthropist and philhellene, Savalas supported many Hellenic causes and made friends in major cities around the world. In Chicago, Telly often met with Illinois State Senators Steven G. Nash and Samuel Maragos, also Greeks, as well as Greek millionaire Simeon Frangos, who owned the famous Athens North nightclub and the Flying Carpet Hotel near O'Hare Airport.33His brother, Gus Savalas, was a retired Foreign Service Officer who once served four years at the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece.34Resided 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.35His father, Nick Savalas, was a hard worker, first at odd jobs, then as a businessman in cigarettes, restaurant supplies and general contracting.36Along with Bob Hope and Linda Evans, Savalas participated in the 'World Premiere' Television Ad introducing Diet Coke to Americans.37Acting ran in his family.38His paternal grandfather, Kostas the Painter, lived to age 100 and became one of the area's most famous artists.39His parents, Nick and Christina Savalas, met in the United States and immigrated from Greece in 1915.40Telly Savalas passed away on January 21, 1994. His longtime friend and co-star, Burt Lancaster, passed away 9 months after him.41A 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 1980.42Longtime friend Danny Thomas guest-starred on the last episode of Kojak (1973).43Before he was a successful actor, in the United States Army during World War II, Savalas was working for the US State Department as host of the show, 'Your Voice of America.'.44Appeared on the front cover of TV Guide 5 times.45In Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971), he played a police captain, on Kojak (1973), he played a police lieutenant.46Acting mentor and friend of Kevin Dobson.47Was a spokesperson for the Ford Motor Company in the early 1980s.48Most of his enlistment records were destroyed in a fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1973.49Three of his six children followed in their father's footsteps into acting.50Savalas qualified for the 1992 World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, Nevada, and he finished among the top 25 players in the tournament.51His mother, Christina Kapsalis Savalas, was a New York City artist, and his father, Nick Savalas, was the owner of many Greek restaurants.52Named his son Nick Savalas after his father.53His final films, Mind Twister (1994) and Backfire! (1995), were dedicated to his memory.54Never retired from acting.55Attended the funeral of best friend, Danny Thomas, when the actor passed away in 1991.56Was good friends with producer/director Irwin Allen, appearing in his Beyond the Poseidon Adventure (1979), and Alice in Wonderland (1985).57Lived with Sally Sheridan from 1969 to 1978. Her daughter from a previous relationship is Nicollette Sheridan, who considered Savalas as her father.58His eldest daughter, Christina, was named after his mother.59Was raised nearby the same city as Brian Keith.60Was a spokesperson for the Players' Club Gold Card from 1981 to 1990.61Remained good friends with Kevin Dobson during and after Kojak (1973).62He was an active liberal Democrat.63Worked at the Garden City Theatre Center where he met and fell in love with Marilyn Gardner.64At 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.65He wasn't the first choice to audition for Kojak (1973), when Marlon Brando had been offered the role.66His father, Nick Savalas, died in 1948. His mother, Christina Savalas, died in 1988, at age 84.67Was very good friends with: Julie London, Doug McClure, Dan Frazer, Diana Rigg, Gavin MacLeod, Bernie Kopell, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Dean Martin, Johnny Carson, Robert Conrad, Larry Manetti, George Burns, Karl Malden, Ernest Borgnine, Irwin Allen, Robert Stack, Dinah Shore, Anthony Quinn, Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Angie Dickinson, Danny Thomas, Robert Alda, Jamie Farr, Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Elliott Gould, Ricardo Montalban, Charles Bronson, Roddy McDowall, Don Rickles, Gene Barry, Michael Constantine, Rock Hudson, Shelley Winters, Gregory Peck, Dom DeLuise, Barbara Eden, Omar Sharif, David Janssen, Mickey Rooney, Beverly Garland, Mark Russell and George Savalas.68Best remembered by the public for his starring role as the title character in Kojak (1973).69Did the narration on several tourist information films on British Cities during the 1970s. Apparently he recorded them all during one visit to the UK to promote his Kojak show.70Underwent successful surgery for prostate cancer in 1989, but in 1991 was diagnosed with bladder cancer which spread to his bones and pancreas.71Loved to read historical biographies and, somewhat surprisingly, romance novels.72Enjoyed watching Jeopardy! (1984).73Born on the same day as Benny Hill, who impersonated Savalas's Kojak (1973) character on The Benny Hill Show (1969).74Uncle of Australian-born actor Peter Cavnoudias.75He 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.76His mother, Christina, was a world recognized contemporary of Pablo Picasso, and Savalas himself released several records, the most remembered being his version of "If", that was #1 in Europe for 10 weeks in 1975.77In 1990 the city of New York declared Kojak: 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).78After 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.79Loved gambling and was a very successful gambler, winning many Vegas poker tournaments and losing few.80Owned a wide variety of automobiles, including Cadillacs, Lincolns, Fords, Pontiacs, Mercedes and DeLoreans.81Was the first choice for the role of Harry Orwell in the TV series Harry O (1973). He declined due to filming commitments in Europe. David Janssen was eventually cast in the role.82Has the distinction of playing two Alcatraz prison inmates; Feto Gomez in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962) and Cretzer in Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980).83Had a fear of flying. Ironically, he played a pilot in Capricorn One (1977).84He didn't appear in his first film until he was 37.85Of Greek descent and spoke Greek fluently.86Would always refuse to talk about his service during World War II.87Met his last wife, Julie Hovland, on the set of Kojak (1973) in 1977. She was a travel agent from Minnesota.88Graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, New York, in 1940.89Reason why he sucked on a lollipop during Kojak (1973): to help him to quit smoking.90Left index finger was deformed.91Hosted a popular radio program, "Telly's Coffeehouse," in the early 1950s.92Met his first wife (Katherine) at a Greek dance while attending Columbia University.93Was involved in a serious car accident in Virginia during his hitch in the army.94When he worked as a lifeguard, he failed to save a man from drowning, and was troubled by the memory forever after.95Attended Columbia University in New York, New York.96Interred at the George Washington Section of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, USA.97Purchased a house in the Southern California desert community of Palm Desert because he enjoyed playing golf so much.98He had many hobbies including golfing, swimming, gambling, collecting luxury cars, spending time with his family, horse racing, motorcycle racing, watching football and reading romantic books.99Was the second of 5 children.100Was a member of Company C, 12th Medical Training Battalion, 4th Medical Training Regiment at Camp Pickett, Virginia.101Before becoming an actor, he had many odd jobs, from newspaper vendor to lifeguard.102His 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).103He was an accomplished poker player.104Early in his career, he directed stage plays at a theater in Connecticut.105Was 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.106Was friends with actor John Aniston and named godfather of Jennifer Aniston.107Telly Savalas passed away on January 22, 1994. Just 1 day before his death, he celebrated his 72nd and last birthday with his family, friends and colleagues at the Universal Sheraton Inn in Universal City, California.108Father of Christina Savalas (born 1950) (with Katherine Nicolaides); Candace Savalas (born 1963) and Penelope Savalas (born 1961) (with Marilyn Gardner); Nick Savalas (with Sally Sheridan); and Christian Savalas (born 1985) and Ariana Savalas (with Julie Hovland).109His younger brother, George Savalas, starred in Kojak (1973) with him.110He used off-script phrases and mottoes in Greek during filming.111Early 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 Kojak: The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) and its spin-off series, Kojak (1973).