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The Eclectic Life and Career of TV’s Famed ‘Kojak’ Star Telly Savalas
From 1973 to 1978 Telly Savalas portrayed the hairless and tough-but-lollipop-loving Lt. Theo Kojak on the CBS TV prime-time detective series, Kojak.
Savalas, who died in 1994 from prostate cancer, ignited his career as the host of ABC’s Your Voice of America for the U.S. State Department while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II (1943–1946). He also worked behind the scenes as an executive-turned-senior director for other ABC News special events.
In 1950 Savalas moderated the New York radio show, The Coffeehouse, and seven years later, made his TV acting debut on an episode of the Armstrong Circle Theatre anthology series, “And Bring Home a Baby.”
Savalas made two additional Armstrong appearances, followed by countless TV guest shots on shows like Naked City, The Untouchables, Burke’s Law, Combat!, The Fugitive, Bonanza, and The F.B.I.
Beyond Kojak, Savalas’ most famous small-screen performance was for a segment of The Twilight Zone called “Talking Doll,” in which he appeared with hair. The actor also had a recurring role as Brother Hendricksen on the cult TV favorite 77 Sunset Strip.
Savalas was born of Greek heritage as Aristotelis Savalas on January 21, 1922, in Garden City, New York.
