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Telly Savalas

Actor

Telly Savalas

Born January 21, 1922 in Garden City, Long Island, New York, USADied January 22, 199477 films

Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas (January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an American film and television actor and singer whose career spanned four decades.

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Best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama Kojak, Savalas was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962). His other movie credits include The Young Savages (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Scalphunters (1968), supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971), Inside Out (1975) and Escape to Athena (1979).

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The best way into Telly Savalas's work
The Dirty Dozen posterFirst watchThe Dirty Dozen19677.6as Archer Maggott12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy château and kill the Nazi officers vacationing there.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
On Her Majesty's Secret Service poster6.6On Her Majesty's Secret Service1969Kelly's Heroes poster7.4Kelly's Heroes1970Cape Fear poster7.5Cape Fear1962The Muppet Movie poster7.2The Muppet Movie1979Birdman of Alcatraz poster7.5Birdman of Alcatraz1962Capricorn One poster6.8Capricorn One1977Battle of the Bulge poster6.9Battle of the Bulge1965Horror Express poster6.3Horror Express1972

Filmography

77 films as actor
  1. 1995Backfire!Most Evil Man (Not Really)
  2. 1994Mind TwisterRichard Howland
  3. 1991Rose Against the OddsGeorge Parnassus
  4. 1990Kojak: None So BlindInspector Theo Kojak
  5. 1990Kojak: It's Always SomethingInspector Theo Kojak
  6. 1990Kojak: Flowers For MattyInspector Theo Kojak
  7. 1989Kojak: Fatal FlawLieutenant Theo Kojak
  8. 1989Kojak: ArianaLieutenant Theo Kojak
  9. 1989The Hollywood DetectiveHarry Bell
  10. 1988The Dirty Dozen: The Fatal MissionMaj. Wright
  11. 1988FacelessTerry Hallen
  12. 1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineBrother Joseph Heiden
  13. 1987The Dirty Dozen: The Deadly MissionMaj. Wright
  14. 1987Kojak: The Price of JusticeInspector Theo Kojak
  15. 1986The Flintstones' 25th Anniversary Celebration
  16. 1986GoBots: Battle of the Rock LordsMagmar (voice)
  17. 1985Kojak: The Belarus FileLieutenant Theo Kojak
  18. 1984The Cartier AffairPhil Drexler
  19. 1984Cannonball Run IIHymie
  20. 1984Afghanistan For What?
  21. 1982Fake-OutLt. Thurston
  22. 1982Silent RebellionPete
  23. 1982Beyond ReasonDr. Nicholas Mati
  24. 1981Hellinger's LawNick Hellinger
  25. 1980Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking StoryCretzer
  26. 1980The BorderFrank Cooper
  27. 1979The Muppet MovieEl Sleazo Tough
  28. 1979Escape to AthenaZeno
  29. 1979Beyond the Poseidon AdventureCaptain Stefan Svevo
  30. 1977Capricorn OneAlbain
  31. 1977Black AphroditeThe Boss (as Aristides T. Savallas)
  32. 1976Killer ForceWebb
  33. 1975Inside OutHarry Morgan
  34. 1974Lisa and the DevilLeandro
  35. 1973She Cried MurderInspector Joe Brody
  36. 1973The Marcus-Nelson MurdersLt. Theo Kojak
  37. 1973RedneckMemphis
  38. 1972A Reason to Live, a Reason to DieMajor Ward
  39. 1972Pancho VillaPancho Villa
  40. 1972Visions...Lt. Phil Keegan
  41. 1972The Killer Is on the PhoneRanko Drasovic
  42. 1972Horror ExpressCaptain Kazan
  43. 1972Sonny and JedSheriff Franciscus
  44. 1972Crime BossDon Vincenzo
  45. 1971Mongo's Back in TownLieutenant Pete Tolstad
  46. 1971A Town Called BastardDon Carlos
  47. 1971Clay PigeonRedford
  48. 1971Pretty Maids All in a RowCaptain Sam Surcher
  49. 1970Violent CityAl Weber
  50. 1970Kelly's HeroesMaster Sergeant "Big Joe"
  51. 1969On Her Majesty's Secret ServiceErnst Stavro Blofeld
  52. 1969Land RaidersVince Carden
  53. 1969Crooks and CoronetsHerbie Haseler
  54. 1969Mackenna's GoldSergeant Tibbs
  55. 1969The Assassination BureauLord Bostwick
  56. 1968Buona Sera, Mrs. CampbellWalter Braddock
  57. 1968The ScalphuntersJim Howie
  58. 1968Sol MadridEmil Dietrich
  59. 1967The Dirty DozenArcher Maggott
  60. 1967The Karate KillersCount De Fanzini
  61. 1966Beau GesteSgt. Maj. Dagineau
  62. 1965Battle of the BulgeSgt. Guffy
  63. 1965The Slender ThreadDr. Joe Coburn
  64. 1965Genghis KhanShan
  65. 1965The Greatest Story Ever ToldPontius Pilate
  66. 1965John Goldfarb, Please Come Home!Macmuid (uncredited)
  67. 1964Fanfare for a Death SceneIlchidai Khan
  68. 1964The New InternsDr. Dominic Riccio
  69. 1963Johnny CoolVincenzo 'Vince' Santangelo
  70. 1963Love is a BallDr. Christian Gump
  71. 1963The Man from the Diners' ClubFoots Pulardos
  72. 1962The InternsDr. Dominic Riccio
  73. 1962Birdman of AlcatrazFeto Gomez
  74. 1962Cape FearPrivate Detective Charles Sievers
  75. 1961The Sin of JesusFelix
  76. 1961The Young SavagesDetective Lt. Gunderson
  77. 1961Mad Dog CollLt. Dawson