Telly Savalas

[tiffsboys4]

I bought the first season of Kojak when it came out a few years ago. I was just a kid when it originaly aired so didn't get to see it then. Telly was not your typical tv star. He did have a way about him. I always thought it was funny when he would drop a " Who loves ya baby? " on some damsel.
For a man that was bald and had a rather large nose he had loads of confidence with the ladies. Does anyone know what the deal was with his index finger? It was bent and looked to be deformed. Just thought I would ask.

[Rebekah]

Yeah, I liked him as Maggot in "The Dirty Dozen".

[RoRo]

He was sexy in a different kinda way...kinda like Yul Brenner

[firegilnotguns]

I don't know if any of you have ever seen the show Black Books but you should, cause it's really funny! Anyway, there's an episode where Bernard gets really drunk and goes to a dinner party, lifts up his shirt and does his "Belly Savalas" impression - always cracks me up!

[cachluv]

[SIZE=4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J94-_w9ARX0&mode=related&search=telly%20savalas%20sings%20italian%20exploitation%20crime[/SIZE]

[SIZE=4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Brex25R3sEA&mode=related&search=[/SIZE]



[SIZE=4][SIZE=2]I remember this second song being on the radio and seeing him lipsync the song on Carson. Even as a kid, I thought it was the most deliciously schmaltzy thing EVER. [/SIZE][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][/SIZE]
[SIZE=4][SIZE=2]The first one I stumbled across while looking for the second[/SIZE][/SIZE]

[Shes Not There]

I had a huge crush on him when I was a kid. Consequently, I think bald men are sexy !

[tiffsboys4]

I loved that Telly bit you posted. Thats what I meant. You HAVE to have confidence to try and pull that off. Who Loves Ya Baby!!!!

[Lifeisafataldisease]

Anyone heard the "spooky" story about Telly being picked up by a "dead" driver.
When he (Telly)was a young man he was hitchiking and an old guy stopped to pick him up. Telly said his voice was really wierd as he said "I'll give you a ride." Telly hopped in and the man took him to wherever he wanted to go and they chatted along the way Telly noticing the strange way the man spoke.
Afterwards Telly went to thank the man for giving him the ride, and went to the mans house . His wife answered the door and said that it was impossible for Telly to have been in her husbands car as he had been dead for a long time, apparently he had killed himself, shot himself through the throat, hence the weird voice. OOOHHHH spooky.

[PvN73]

Anyone heard the "spooky" story about Telly being picked up by a "dead" driver.
When he (Telly)was a young man he was hitchiking and an old guy stopped to pick him up. Telly said his voice was really wierd as he said "I'll give you a ride." Telly hopped in and the man took him to wherever he wanted to go and they chatted along the way Telly noticing the strange way the man spoke.
Afterwards Telly went to thank the man for giving him the ride, and went to the mans house . His wife answered the door and said that it was impossible for Telly to have been in her husbands car as he had been dead for a long time, apparently he had killed himself, shot himself through the throat, hence the weird voice. OOOHHHH spooky.

OH MY GOD - you saw that on The Extraordinary hosted by Warwick Moss. I loved that show so much (esp the special he did on the town in SA - Australia's most haunted town).
Personally, I am still laughing years later with the reinactment they did of the guy leaning over in his car going "I'llllllll give you a ride". There is NO WAY I would have gotten into that car!

CRAZY

[Lifeisafataldisease]

yeah thats it, thats what I saw it on! Every time my husband and I pass a hitchhiker we put on that creepy voice and say "IIII'll give you a ride". Funny how you pick up sayings like that, we use that one and "Anyone? Anyone?" from Ferris Buellars Day off.

[OBX]

Yeah, I liked him as Maggot in "The Dirty Dozen".

You liked him as Maggot? I hope you mean you liked his acting, because that was one of the most horrible characters on-screen. I had a hard time separating his later characters from that guy. When he stabbed that woman, I felt it. God, I hated that character.

[PvN73]

yeah thats it, thats what I saw it on! Every time my husband and I pass a hitchhiker we put on that creepy voice and say "IIII'll give you a ride". Funny how you pick up sayings like that, we use that one and "Anyone? Anyone?" from Ferris Buellars Day off.

I love using that line - we still use it when offering someone a lift home - and funnily enough people know what I am talking about! Ahhh warwick moss and your gravelly voice. Also still use "Like a Tigerrr" from the late show

[Kathyf]

Hey I found this site with stars with a digit missing. Here is Telly's info.
TELLY SAVALAS will be forever remembered as cool TV detective Kojak, as well as the not-so-cool Maggot in The Dirty Dozen and the nefarious Blofeld in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service. After Kojak, Telly was the prototypical Las Vegas swinger in commercials for Player's Club. Viewers may recall Kojak's lollipops, but few noticed that Savalas was missing part of his left index finger.
According to postings on the family website, nobody knows exactly how Savalas lost his finger; some say it was a grenade during World War II, but an older family story is that the finger was chewed by a rat when Telly was a baby. Also he is Jennifer Anistons Godfather .

[GODDESS6]

wasn't he also nicollette sheridan's stepfather?~

[Rebekah]

I did indeed mean his acting. I hope he wasn't that way in real life which
is why I mentioned his character, not him as a person.

[OBX]

I did indeed mean his acting. I hope he wasn't that way in real life which
is why I mentioned his character, not him as a person.

No, I figured you did and he must have been a great actor, because that character was horrid.

That being said, I think we all have actors that were so defined in our minds as a certain character or character type, we have a hard time seeing them any other way. Maggot was that type for me watching Telly Savalas. He was related somehow to Jennifer Anniston and she says he was a teddy bear, so I know it was just me.

[Cadence71]

He always creeped me out as a kid! I was really little, though.

[Morto]

I met him as a teenager in Vegas,he was playing baccarat for huge money and told me to come stand next to him for good luck.He lost big but signed his autograph and asked me what a nice Italian kid like me was doing in a casino.He was Mr Cool.

[lisalouver]

I loved Kojack. My ex of the last 5 years was/is a bald cop, so yea, I had a thing for Telly!

[Ghoulie Girl]

very smooth actor-despite appearances

[dovescry1999]

From Scott's page, though, everyone who came in to contact with him, thought he was the Biggest Dick in Hollywood, and Las Vegas. Real assholish !

[Morto]

I could see as a 14 year old kid when I met him he was in his prime on TV.I had no doubt he was an arrogant guy,but was great to me maybe because I was a nice kid.

[JestersKiss]

[Guest]

who is buried next to him?

[RainbowBlues13]

I'm so glad there are others that remember the ghost story. That's what got me on here tonight looking for something about it! It's a long time since I saw it, but yes, that "Iii'lll give you a riiiiiide" still stays in my head as well.

The way I remember it, I think he was driving at night out on a road with woods on each side and he ran out of petrol, not that he was hitchhiking. The car came along and the driver said those 5 words that stay with all of us who have heard it, and so he jumped in. They got to a petrol station and Telly realised he didn't have his wallet. He felt really embarrassed about it and because the driver gave him money for the petrol, he got his address so that he could pay him back. When he went to the house and said what had happened and why he was there, the wife was totally shocked and said that it was impossible - as stated by others here, her husband had died a long time earlier. Telly insisted it was true and might have described the car or something, so she knew then that there was something weird going on. Whether she asked him or whether he just came out with it I don't remember, but the clothes the driver was wearing were described to the wife, and I think it turned out that what the driver was wearing was exactly what her husband was wearing when he was buried!

I'm glad that little story is finished now cos I was just getting goosebumps remembering and typing the last part!!

Yes, The Extraordinary definitely was a great show and is very much missed by me. But that is definitely the story that I have never forgotten, and I don't think I ever, ever will.

I was too young when my mum used to watch Kojak, but I know she enjoyed it, and I loved seeing him on The Extraordinary, so RIP Telly, and thanks for a very memorable story!

[erictheking97]

Yes here is a good link to that ghost story
http://www.underworldtales.com/telly.htm

[Nicki]

Hey, Whatever happen to his son Nick? He was seem to be doing fairly well in his career at one time, nice looking woman, the whole shabang! Now he has seemingly dropped off the face of the earth.

[cindyt]

Yes here is a good link to that ghost story
http://www.underworldtales.com/telly.htm

Thanks for sharing that link, Eric! Lots and lots to read there.

[erictheking97]

Your welcome, some good stories on there

[cindyt]

Your welcome, some good stories on there

I know it! I just read the one about the Banshees. Ewwwwwwwwww. LOL.

[stacebabe]

I have been on a Twilight Zone kick and just saw him in the "Living Doll" where "Talking Tina" drove him nuts. He was a bastard in it, but a sexy one!

I bought the first season of Kojak when it came out a few years ago. I was just a kid when it originaly aired so didn't get to see it then. Telly was not your typical tv star. He did have a way about him. I always thought it was funny when he would drop a " Who loves ya baby? " on some damsel.
For a man that was bald and had a rather large nose he had loads of confidence with the ladies. Does anyone know what the deal was with his index finger? It was bent and looked to be deformed. Just thought I would ask.

[DivineDeath]

"Who loves ya baby?"



RIP Telly.

[DivineDeath]

wasn't he also nicollette sheridan's stepfather?~

GODfather, and also Jennifer Aniston's godfather as well.

[Heavenly Tiger]

Telly Savalas and brothers (left to right) Teddy, Telly, Gus & George

[STsFirstmate]

Telly Savalas and brothers (left to right) Teddy, Telly, Gus & George

Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Cheeburger, No pepsi ....coke!
Sorry I couldn't help it. There is a place near our corporate headquarters called Nicks and the entire counter staff looks just like these guys.
I used to love watching Telly.
Regards,
Mary

[DivineDeath]

Telly Savalas and brothers (left to right) Teddy, Telly, Gus & George

Telly's the best-looking, because he had such a way with him...

Then Teddy, then Gus, and THEN George, LOL.

Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Cheeburger, No pepsi ....coke!
Sorry I couldn't help it. There is a place near our corporate headquarters called Nicks and the entire counter staff looks just like these guys.
I used to love watching Telly.
Regards,
Mary

LOL, that's funny, and an SNL reference! Nice!

[Jrwzeigle]

Here's one of Telly's Players Club Commmercials....the first time I went to Vegas, I wanted one, because I remembered this commercial and thought that it was the shit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6FQNPmJFLs

Here's Jim Carrey doing Telly for Player's Club....funny...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg41Cd6lJLA

I just thought he was cool, man. And I remember my great-grandfather telling me when I was 5 that Telly wasn't a pussy because he sucked on Lollipops, he was cool and didn't take shit from no one. It was played (in rerun) on saturday night after wrestling and saturdays were when we hung out. Mind you, I knew what shit was, but the only thing I could think was "well, I know he's not a cat, papa". he just laughed....

[DivineDeath]

Here's one of Telly's Players Club Commmercials....the first time I went to Vegas, I wanted one, because I remembered this commercial and thought that it was the shit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6FQNPmJFLs

Here's Jim Carrey doing Telly for Player's Club....funny...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg41Cd6lJLA

I just thought he was cool, man. And I remember my great-grandfather telling me when I was 5 that Telly wasn't a pussy because he sucked on Lollipops, he was cool and didn't take shit from no one. It was played (in rerun) on saturday night after wrestling and saturdays were when we hung out. Mind you, I knew what shit was, but the only thing I could think was "well, I know he's not a cat, papa". he just laughed....

Nice finds, which reminds me of a sketch from SNL with Phil Hartman, there's no video, but here's a screencap:

[DivineDeath]

Woah there, Telly!

[ChargerBill]

I'm so glad there are others that remember the ghost story. That's what got me on here tonight looking for something about it! It's a long time since I saw it, but yes, that "Iii'lll give you a riiiiiide" still stays in my head as well.

The way I remember it, I think he was driving at night out on a road with woods on each side and he ran out of petrol, not that he was hitchhiking. The car came along and the driver said those 5 words that stay with all of us who have heard it, and so he jumped in. They got to a petrol station and Telly realised he didn't have his wallet. He felt really embarrassed about it and because the driver gave him money for the petrol, he got his address so that he could pay him back. When he went to the house and said what had happened and why he was there, the wife was totally shocked and said that it was impossible - as stated by others here, her husband had died a long time earlier. Telly insisted it was true and might have described the car or something, so she knew then that there was something weird going on. Whether she asked him or whether he just came out with it I don't remember, but the clothes the driver was wearing were described to the wife, and I think it turned out that what the driver was wearing was exactly what her husband was wearing when he was buried!

I'm glad that little story is finished now cos I was just getting goosebumps remembering and typing the last part!!

Yes, The Extraordinary definitely was a great show and is very much missed by me. But that is definitely the story that I have never forgotten, and I don't think I ever, ever will.

I was too young when my mum used to watch Kojak, but I know she enjoyed it, and I loved seeing him on The Extraordinary, so RIP Telly, and thanks for a very memorable story!

Sounds like the Tale of Large Marge



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RryZV8NK9-Q

[salvatore1989]

"Who loves you baby?" Rest In Peace

[Spooky_Stone]

wasn't he also nicollette sheridan's stepfather?~

Yes he was! I just found this out :


In 1969, while working on the movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service Savalas met Sally Adams. Sally gave birth to their son Nicholas Savalas on Feb 24, 1973. Gardner filed for divorce from Savalas in 1974. Although he and Sally never married, he was stepfather to Adams' daughter, actress Nicollette Sheridan, of Knots Landing and Desperate Housewives fame.

[Jack-O-Lantern]

Woah there, Telly!

LOVE it! The guy had "IT"--whatever "IT" is, he had it! Gruff, rough, and sexy as hell!

Check him out playing none other than Satan in Mario Bava's wonderfully bizarre "Lisa and the Devil" with Elke Sommer. The film was edited and released in America as "The House of Exorcism." Very cool movie, and nobody plays the devil like Telly!

---

[orionova]

He had a nice smile, but he just never did anything for me.

[ichabodius]

http://www.mojvideo.com/video-telly-...d4737b9c93f7f1

[ichabodius]

Damn it took me forever to find this. Here is the creepiest nastiest video ever for "If" by Telly Savalas. 70's hookerbots in various stages of dress or undress slowly rubbing Telly as filmed through the bottom of a beer bottle. NASTEE!!!
http://www.scottrobertsweb.com/Telly...s-If-Video.php
Yuck.

[c l p]

boy he could make your motor run he was sexy as hell.

[Bessolo]

Growing up in NY I lucked out and came across them shooting an episode of Kojak in lower Greenwich Village. Got his autograph and we chatted for a bit...he seemed nice enough but his attitude became even nicer when I told him that I was also Greek (part Greek anyway) RIP Telly

[Bessolo]

Well alrighty then....did some research on the ghost story and it seems (as usual) the interweb has mangled things.

Watch Telly talk about the ghost he encountered here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzksX-9vh9s The ghost was not Harry Agganis but Jim Kullen (sp?)

The ghost (Kullen) mentions Harry's passing. Note that Telly doesn't say his actually say his name in the video, but a quick google search verifies who Harry was and when and how he died. The interesting thing on top of this is that Harry was Greek. For some reason I flashed on this very thing although Agganis could be Italian and even a couple other nationalities as well.

Gotta run now, my ride is here.