Post by teleadm on Jan 28, 2022 21:55:57 GMT
Once upon a time little immigrant boy Aristotelis Savalas couldn't speak English when he started school, only Greek, and ended up winning a spelling bee competition. Through Army radio during WWII he became a familiar voice that lead to hosting radio shows on the big networks and an executive at ABC news events, he hired Howard Cosell. He was asked by a friend if he knew someone who could play a role for live for a Armstrong Circle Theatre episode, he knew someone, but that someone didn't turn up, so he jumped in himself, and suddenly he got offers for more acting roles...
Telly Savalas (1922–1994)
"Who loves ya, baby?"
After many TV roles his Movie debut came in Mad Dog Call 1961
The former role impressed Burt Lancaster who gave him a role in The Young Savages 1961.
Earning his only Oscar Nomination with Birdman of Alcatraz 1962, once again Burt Lancaster was involved in the casting.
He also acted in hospital movies The Interns 1961 and The New Interns 1964 (pic).
He continued supporting roles in films such as The Man from the Diners' Club with Danny Kaye, Love Is a Ball 1964 with Glenn Ford and Johnny Cool with Henry Silva, all in 1963.
Something horrible happens to some middle aged men, balding, and should I shave or should I comb from one side to another?
If Yul could shave it off so could Telly, long before it became popular and common.
The bald Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told 1965, but made in 1963, most of it. It explains the New Interns pic.
As the most unreliable in The Dirty Dozen 1967 (A role Jack Palance turned down).
Re-united with Burt Lancaster in The Scalphunters 1968
A role he personally liked reportedly, as one of the possible husbands in Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell 1968
Memorable as Ernest Blofeld in James Bond action adventure On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969.
Searching for gold and win the war in Kelly's Heroes 1970, with up and coming Clint.
"I had worked my way up to star billing", he later said, "when the bottom dropped out of the movie business. I could have stayed in Europe and made Italian movies but I discovered the big difference between an Italian and American movie is that in the American movie you get paid"
Then came lollipop sucking Theo Kojak, a TV series that swept the world, that started as a composite of several characters on The Marcus-Nelson Murders feature length movie 1973. Telly remembered what Burt Lancaster had once taught him, always give young talents a break, helping young talents to get some exposure on national TV in Guest star roles. He was also Emmy nominated four times (one for directing an episode) and winning one in 1974.
After the cancellation of the original Kojak series, he never got the star status that he might have deserved, though still a name actor in Capricorn One 1977, Escape to Athena 1979, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure 1979 and Cannonball Run II 1984.
In the late 1970's he narrated three UK travelogues titled Telly Savalas Looks at Portsmouth, Telly Savalas Looks at Aberdeen, and Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham.
In 1985 he continued as Kojak in 7 feature length TV-movies starting with The Belarus File 1985 and ending with None so Blind 1990. He also starred in two Dirty Dozen TV.movies, in 1987 and 1988, but not in the role of the original movie.
He also has a popular recording career, at least in Europe
Ouzo on the Rocks!
His last movie, posthumously released Backfire! 1995, that also starred Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters that both had seen better days.
The above mention titles is not a complete filmography!
Thanks for watching!
Opinions of all kinds are welcome!
Telly Savalas (1922–1994)
"Who loves ya, baby?"
After many TV roles his Movie debut came in Mad Dog Call 1961
The former role impressed Burt Lancaster who gave him a role in The Young Savages 1961.
Earning his only Oscar Nomination with Birdman of Alcatraz 1962, once again Burt Lancaster was involved in the casting.
He also acted in hospital movies The Interns 1961 and The New Interns 1964 (pic).
He continued supporting roles in films such as The Man from the Diners' Club with Danny Kaye, Love Is a Ball 1964 with Glenn Ford and Johnny Cool with Henry Silva, all in 1963.
Something horrible happens to some middle aged men, balding, and should I shave or should I comb from one side to another?
If Yul could shave it off so could Telly, long before it became popular and common.
The bald Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told 1965, but made in 1963, most of it. It explains the New Interns pic.
As the most unreliable in The Dirty Dozen 1967 (A role Jack Palance turned down).
Re-united with Burt Lancaster in The Scalphunters 1968
A role he personally liked reportedly, as one of the possible husbands in Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell 1968
Memorable as Ernest Blofeld in James Bond action adventure On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969.
Searching for gold and win the war in Kelly's Heroes 1970, with up and coming Clint.
"I had worked my way up to star billing", he later said, "when the bottom dropped out of the movie business. I could have stayed in Europe and made Italian movies but I discovered the big difference between an Italian and American movie is that in the American movie you get paid"
Then came lollipop sucking Theo Kojak, a TV series that swept the world, that started as a composite of several characters on The Marcus-Nelson Murders feature length movie 1973. Telly remembered what Burt Lancaster had once taught him, always give young talents a break, helping young talents to get some exposure on national TV in Guest star roles. He was also Emmy nominated four times (one for directing an episode) and winning one in 1974.
After the cancellation of the original Kojak series, he never got the star status that he might have deserved, though still a name actor in Capricorn One 1977, Escape to Athena 1979, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure 1979 and Cannonball Run II 1984.
In the late 1970's he narrated three UK travelogues titled Telly Savalas Looks at Portsmouth, Telly Savalas Looks at Aberdeen, and Telly Savalas Looks at Birmingham.
In 1985 he continued as Kojak in 7 feature length TV-movies starting with The Belarus File 1985 and ending with None so Blind 1990. He also starred in two Dirty Dozen TV.movies, in 1987 and 1988, but not in the role of the original movie.
He also has a popular recording career, at least in Europe
Ouzo on the Rocks!
His last movie, posthumously released Backfire! 1995, that also starred Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters that both had seen better days.
The above mention titles is not a complete filmography!
Thanks for watching!
Opinions of all kinds are welcome!