Scant Memories of Telly Savalas

When I was a kid there was Lt Theo Kojak on an eponymous police show which was widely popular during that time. Such shows didn't really attract me with my penchant for the Astroboy, Batman, Superman, and other super hero and technological fantasy offerings I preferred, but Telly Savalas was certainly a force in which to contend back in those days.

Some of his other exploits as decribed in various fluff pieces of the day were somewhat disconcerting ... but I think that was largely a function of my gender and NO I didn't think his penchant for performing with a sucker in his mouth to be all that.

Born Aristotelis Savalas on January 21, 1922 was an actor and singer whose career spanned four decades. He was totally bald which was uncommon as far as characteristics of actors went in the day. He had a baritone voice which was deep and resonant and this may account for a following of his singing he enjoyed.

He even charted at number 1 in Great Britain with a cover of the Bread song 'IF' in the year 1975.

Still, though he had a wide range of character portrayals over the years, it was Lt Theo Kojak I remember him for, because that was primarily how I encountered his art.

Telly Savalas did a hitch in the army serving from 1941-43 in the 4th Medical Training Regiment during World War II. He was awarded a purple heart medal during that time.

He passed away on January 22, 1994 at age 72 from complications of genitourinary carcinoma.

All in all he deserves a much larger space in my memories and recollections, but his heyday as it were was a most difficult period in my life. Thusly, my memories are much less than they might be otherwise.

Rest in peace.