Telly Savalas Net Worth

Telly Savalas's Quotes

• We're all born bald, baby.
• Who loves ya, baby?
• [on Clint Eastwood] Off screen Clint is articulate and intelligent, not quiet or laconic like the cowboys and GIs he plays in films.
• [When he was battling prostate cancer]: The challenge is to live long enough to raise my children.
• [on being offered the role of Kojak (1973)]: I'll do The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973), but I don't want to do a series. How can I do the one role? I mean, I have to verify my life. My life is a variety, I can't be stuck with one character. It won't sell.

Interesting Facts about Telly Savalas

1. Early 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 The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) and its spin-off series, Kojak (1973).
2. He used off-script phrases and mottoes in Greek during filming.
3. His younger brother, George Savalas, starred in Kojak (1973) and in three films - "Genghis Khan" (1965), "The Slender Thread" (1965) and "Kelly's Heroes" (1970) - with him.
4. Father 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).
5. Telly Savalas passed away on January 22, 1994, one day after his 72nd birthday, which he celebrated with his family, friends and colleagues at the Universal Sheraton Inn in Universal City, California.
6. Was friends with actor John Aniston and named godfather of Jennifer Aniston.
7. Was 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.
8. Before he was a successful actor, early in his career, he directed stage plays at a theater in Connecticut.
9. His 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).
10. Before he was a successful actor, he had many odd jobs, from newspaper vendor to lifeguard.
11. Was a member of Company C, 12th Medical Training Battalion, 4th Medical Training Regiment at Camp Pickett, Virginia.
12. As he loved spending time with his family, also had many hobbies including golfing, swimming, gambling, collecting luxury cars, horse racing, motorcycle racing, watching football and reading romantic books as well as historical biographies.
13. Purchased a house in the Southern California desert community of Palm Desert because he enjoyed playing golf so much.
14. Interred at the George Washington Section of Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California, USA.
15. When he worked as a lifeguard, he failed to save a man from drowning, and was troubled by the memory forever after.
16. Was involved in a serious car accident in Virginia during his hitch in the army.
17. Before he was a successful actor, he hosted a popular radio program, "Telly's Coffeehouse," in the early 1950s.
18. Left index finger was shorter than his other fingers ending right after the beginning of its second phalanx.
19. Reason why he sucked on a lollipop during Kojak (1973): following Peter Cavnoudias's suggestion while filming Lisa e il diavolo (1973) to help him to quit smoking.
20. Graduated from Sewanhaka High School in Floral Park, New York, in 1940.