'Kojak': Inside Telly Savalas' Sad Cause Of Death
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Telly Savalas
Born to Greek parents, artist Christina and restaurant owner Nick, Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas was the second of five siblings. Due to the difficult financial circumstances the family was facing, Telly and his brother Gus used to polish shoes and sell newspapers during their childhood, to help support their parents.
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Telly Savalas
Telly attended Floral Park, New York-based Sewanhaka High School. Being notable for his talent as a swimmer from a very early age, the actor worked as a beach lifeguard after graduating and before pursuing an acting career.
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Telly Savalas
In the early '40s Savalas served in United States Army, at Camp Pickett, Virginia's Company C, 12th Medical Training Battalion, 4th Medical Training Regiment.
He was eventually discharged after being severely wounded in a car accident, eventually recovering from ankle and pelvis injuries.
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Telly Savalas
After his recovery, he attended the Armed Forces Institue, studying TV and radio production. He then went on to receive a bahcelor's degree in psychology from Columbia's School of General Studies, with the intention of continuing his studies in medical school.
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Telly Savalas
Telly never actually planned on becoming an actor. However, everything changed in 1958 when someone asked him if he could recommend a star who was able to do a European accent.
While he did recommend a friend, the latter did not show up to the audition and Telly covered for him. Next thing that happened: Telly ended up being cast on an episode of 'Armstrong Circle Theatre' titled 'And Bring Home a Baby'.
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Telly Savalas
While Telly is best known for his role as "Lieutenant Theo Kojak" in the action crime drama TV series 'Kojak', where he appeared from 1973 to 1978, he also has other notable credits in his fantastic resume.
In television, Telly starred as "Mr. Carver" in 'Acapulco' (1960), appeared in three episodes of 'The Fugitive' playing multiple characters between 1964 and 1966, and played "Charles Augustus Hackett" in a 1965 'Bonanza' episode.
In film, his most notable credits include 'Birdman of Alcatraz' (1962), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as "Feto". He then starred in 'Battle of the Bulge' as "Sergeant Guffy", this time earning a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. Not to mention he played "Ernst Stavro Blofeld", "James Bond" archvillain, in the 1969 film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'.
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Telly Savalas
What about Telly's love life? The 'Kojak' star was married three times and had six children.
Telly and his high-school sweetheart, Katherine Nicolaides, were married from 1948 to 1957. They shared daughter Christina.
In 1960 he married theater teacher Marilyn Gardner, whom with he welcomed daughters Penelope and Candace. The marriage ended in 1974.
In 1969 Savalas met actress Sally Adams, 25 years his junior, on the set of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. They never married, but they had one son together named Nicholas.
In 1977 Telly met travel agent Julie Hovland and by 1984 the pair were ready to walk down the aisle. They welcomed son Christian and daughter Ariana and remained as husband and wife until Telly's death.
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Telly Savalas
Telly did not only have a successful acting career, but also an impressive trajectory in the music industry. Between 1972 and 1980 he released five albums: 'This is Telly Savalas...', 'Telly', Telly Savalas', 'Who Loves Ya Baby' and 'Sweet Surprise'.
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Telly Savalas
Quick facts about Telly:
- Was named godfather of his good friend John Aniston's daughter, 'Friends' actress Jennifer Aniston
- His ex-partner, Sally Adams, had a daughter from a previous relationship, who happens to be 'Desperate Housewives' star Nicollette Sheridan
- Known for using off-script phrases and Greek mottoes on set
- Actor Marlon Brando could have played Telly's 'Kojak' role
- 1995 marked his final film role in 'Backfire!', released posthumously
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Telly Savalas
On January 22, 1994, news on Telly Savalas' death broke. The star died of prostate and bladder cancer complications at Universal City, California-based Sheraton-Universal Hotel, where he had been living for at least two decades.
Telly passed only one day after turning 72 and was interred at Los Angeles Hollywood Hills Cemetery's George Washington section.
The star's three wives, as well as his six children attended his funeral in the Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Church. However, some celebrities also mourned his loss at his final goodbye, including his 'Pretty Maids All in a Row' co-star Angie Dickinson, actress Jennifer Aniston, and singer Frank Sinatra.