Birthday: 21 January 1922, Garden City, Long Island, New York, USA
Birth Name: Aristotelis Savalas
Height: 180 cm
Son of Greek immigrants. Soldier during World War II. Studied psychology. Worked as journalist for ABC News. The bald-headed actor played character roles, often as sadistic or psychotic types. He became a TV favorite in the 1970s when his role as Det. Theo Kojak in the TV movie Kojak: The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) was expanded into the gritty Ko...
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Son of Greek immigrants. Soldier during World War II. Studied psychology. Worked as journalist for ABC News. The bald-headed actor played character roles, often as sadistic or psychotic types. He became a TV favorite in the 1970s when his role as Det. Theo Kojak in the TV movie Kojak: The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973) was expanded into the gritty Kojak (1973) TV series, lasting from 1973-78. Show less «
[Of his late father, Nick Savalas]: One day he was a millionaire. The next day, with the Depression,...Show more »
[Of his late father, Nick Savalas]: One day he was a millionaire. The next day, with the Depression, not a penny in his pocket. He packs his five kids in the back of a van and goes to New York and begins selling cakes. That's what I call a Greek. Show less «
On 'Kojak,' I improvise a lot of the dialogue. And I've directed five episodes of the series so I've...Show more »
On 'Kojak,' I improvise a lot of the dialogue. And I've directed five episodes of the series so I've had some experience at it...The talent was given me at an early age. What the hell, I've been directing things since I was a year old. Show less «
[Who didn't need to worry so much about the Titanic show, when he agreed to host it]: I didn't need ...Show more »
[Who didn't need to worry so much about the Titanic show, when he agreed to host it]: I didn't need any assurance that there would be anything in the safe. The fact that these guys went down 2 1/2 miles and came up with anything was an achievement in itself. I've been making believe as a detective for so long, that it was very exciting to be involved in something very, very real. Show less «
[on Clint Eastwood] Off screen Clint is articulate and intelligent, not quiet or laconic like the co...Show more »
[on Clint Eastwood] Off screen Clint is articulate and intelligent, not quiet or laconic like the cowboys and GIs he plays in films. Show less «
[In 1975]: Kojak is no supercop. I'm just a neighborhood kid.
[In 1975]: Kojak is no supercop. I'm just a neighborhood kid.
[When he was relaxing, shooting exteriors along with some interior scenes for next season's Kojak (1...Show more »
[When he was relaxing, shooting exteriors along with some interior scenes for next season's Kojak (1973)]: Everybody's always telling me they have an Uncle Harry who looks just like me. That's 90% of my appeal. Show less «
[Of his mother, Christina Savalas]: Mama says to me, 'Being an actor is fine, but what are you going...Show more »
[Of his mother, Christina Savalas]: Mama says to me, 'Being an actor is fine, but what are you going to do for a living?' I took my mother to the premiere of The Dirty Dozen and she said, 'It's disgraceful!' I asked her how she liked my role and she said, 'You were ridiculous!' Show less «
I was born with a romantic nature and I'll carry it to my grave.
I was born with a romantic nature and I'll carry it to my grave.
Proof that diamonds are a girl's best friend, would be displayed only in the most select museums in ...Show more »
Proof that diamonds are a girl's best friend, would be displayed only in the most select museums in the world. Show less «
Who loves ya, baby?
Who loves ya, baby?
[In 1989]: Now, I let someone else do all the running.
[In 1989]: Now, I let someone else do all the running.
[on taking the risk of starring in Kojak (1973)]: If they had told me about the series, I never woul...Show more »
[on taking the risk of starring in Kojak (1973)]: If they had told me about the series, I never would have done the movie, I got aboard this thing by accident. I wasn't emotionally ready for a series. I like to move around, but now at least 98 per cent of my personality is in abeyance. There is the applause; I love it! Show less «
Even with the crazies I've played I've tried to give some dimension to their insanity.
Even with the crazies I've played I've tried to give some dimension to their insanity.
[After he graduated from college who then became disenchanted]: This bastard! This gangster Freud! I...Show more »
[After he graduated from college who then became disenchanted]: This bastard! This gangster Freud! It's all crap-just a language for unemployed actors to amuse themselves with! Show less «
[In 1976]: I'm just a kid from New York who looks like everybody else.
[In 1976]: I'm just a kid from New York who looks like everybody else.
[on his popularity while playing the fifty-something Lt. Theo Kojak on Kojak]: There's no question t...Show more »
[on his popularity while playing the fifty-something Lt. Theo Kojak on Kojak]: There's no question that experience is more important and rewarding to someone who is an actor. My approach to Kojak in any situation would be my own approach. How I would react and respond? That's basically true whether I'm portraying a cop or a candlestick maker. Show less «
I came from a tough neighborhood. I used to be a 'Dirty Greek,' But my father used to say to me, 'Wh...Show more »
I came from a tough neighborhood. I used to be a 'Dirty Greek,' But my father used to say to me, 'When you grow up and realize what your heritage means, then they'll need a permit to speak to you.' He was right. I'm a proud Greek. I carry my Hellenism like a badge of merit. Show less «
[In 1974]: Kojak is the kind of guy who couldn't arrest a hooker, he'd send her home. He operates on...Show more »
[In 1974]: Kojak is the kind of guy who couldn't arrest a hooker, he'd send her home. He operates on instinct and decency, but if you give him any lip he'll throw you out a window. Show less «
[When he was battling prostate cancer]: The challenge is to live long enough to raise my children.
[When he was battling prostate cancer]: The challenge is to live long enough to raise my children.
[In 1973]: The second show I did on TV, I was the lead. I made $900 and I was having fun saying some...Show more »
[In 1973]: The second show I did on TV, I was the lead. I made $900 and I was having fun saying some other guy's words. This is a dangerous profession for the ego. Show less «
[on being offered the role of Kojak (1973)]: I'll do Kojak: The Marcus-Nelson Murders (1973), but I ...Show more »
[on being offered the role of Kojak (1973)]: I'll do Kojak: 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. Show less «
[In 1981]: It was in 1959 I got my first role. I was to play the Greek judge who decides to give a G...Show more »
[In 1981]: It was in 1959 I got my first role. I was to play the Greek judge who decides to give a Greek boy to a visiting American journalist. It was a small role and paid only $200, but I haven't stopped since. Show less «
[Who had been offered a series wasn't getting used to all the police shows on TV that have been aire...Show more »
[Who had been offered a series wasn't getting used to all the police shows on TV that have been aired at the time]: Television doesn't need another cop show, that's for sure. But this is an interesting cop, a real cop from a New York City neighborhood. A basically honest character, tough but with feelings: the kind of guy who might kick a hooker in the tail if he had to, but they'd understand each other because maybe they grew up on the same kind of block. Show less «
[on being a spelling winner]: I'm thrilled that's what I called 'the greatest frustration of my life...Show more »
[on being a spelling winner]: I'm thrilled that's what I called 'the greatest frustration of my life,' will finally be righted. Show less «
I'm a romantic realist. I knew I would become a star, just as I know some day the bubble will burst.
I'm a romantic realist. I knew I would become a star, just as I know some day the bubble will burst.
[In 1987]: I made 60 movies before 'Kojak' with some of the biggest names in the business, and peopl...Show more »
[In 1987]: I made 60 movies before 'Kojak' with some of the biggest names in the business, and people would still say, 'There goes what's-his-name.' Show less «
[When reflected the times he had with his father]: Our happiest times were at the bottom of the ladd...Show more »
[When reflected the times he had with his father]: Our happiest times were at the bottom of the ladder. One day he dragged us out of private schools, and the next day we started peddling cakes out of the back of a truck. Show less «
I don't play that far away from myself because then I think people would say I was acting.
I don't play that far away from myself because then I think people would say I was acting.
We're all born bald, baby.
We're all born bald, baby.
[In 1977]: It will be a sad day when I begin thinking of all this as work. I enjoy every minute of i...Show more »
[In 1977]: It will be a sad day when I begin thinking of all this as work. I enjoy every minute of it. Show less «
[When he became a popular nightclub singer]: I had the No. 1 record in England, knocking Mick Jagger...Show more »
[When he became a popular nightclub singer]: I had the No. 1 record in England, knocking Mick Jagger off the top of the pops. I to close the generation gap. Show less «
[When he was visiting in New York City]: I'm hoping that you're not caught in the layoffs.
[When he was visiting in New York City]: I'm hoping that you're not caught in the layoffs.
