George Savalas
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Infobox person
| name = George Savalas
| image = Georgesavalas.jpg
| caption = George Savalas
| birth_name = Georgios Demosthenes Savalas
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1924|12|5}}
| birth_place = The Bronx, New York, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|10|2|1924|12|5}}
| death_place = Westwood, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 1962–1985
| spouse = {{marriage|Robin Abber|1968}}
| children = 6
}}
Georgios Demosthenes{{cite news|title= The $50,000 hamburger|first=Dick|last=Kleiner|location=Hollywood|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2512&dat=19760501&id=5s9HAAAAIBAJ&pg=4619,181537&hl=en| work=The Morning Record|agency=Enterprise Features|date=May 1, 1976|accessdate=April 30, 2015}} Savalas ({{langx|el|Γεώργιος Δημοσθένης Σαβάλας}}; December 5, 1924 – October 2, 1985) was an American film and television actor. He was the younger brother of actor Telly Savalas, with whom he acted in the popular 1970s TV crime series Kojak.
Early life
Born in The Bronx, New York City to immigrants from Greece, he was one of five children: brothers Aristotelis (Telly), Gus, and Ted; and sister Katherine.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/04/arts/george-savalas-dead-a-movie-and-tv-actor.html|title=George Savalas Dead; A Movie and TV Actor|work=The New York Times|date=October 4, 1985|agency=Associated Press|location=Los Angeles|accessdate=April 30, 2015}} He attended Holy Cross Institute in Connecticut and Mineola High School (Long Island). He served in the Pacific War as a United States Navy gunner but also acted, produced and directed stage performances on military bases. He studied drama at Columbia University.
Career
Starting out, Savalas worked many jobs, including driving a taxi and waiting tables. Although known primarily as a TV actor, Savalas was originally a stage actor and acting instructor.{{cite news| url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1356&dat=19851003&id=-X5RAAAAIBAJ&pg=5197,2466863&hl=en|title=Telly Savalas' Brother George Dies of Leukemia At Age 58|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=October 3, 1985|accessdate=April 30, 2015}} He taught at the Coliseum Studios for five years. He appeared in off-Broadway productions such as Death of a Salesman and Arms and Man while working with his father in two businesses: a hotel and a heating and air-conditioning company.
He is best known for his role as Sergeant Stavros on the TV series Kojak, which starred his brother Telly.[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1917&dat=19760807&id=aPwtAAAAIBAJ&sjid=cYgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2237,1583730 Demosthenes Savalas, the brother of Telly], Schenectady Gazette, August 7, 1976; accessed March 6, 2014 For the first two seasons, Savalas was credited as "Demosthenes" on screen so as not to create confusion between himself and his brother, although both men were easily distinguishable by sight (George having a full head of hair while Telly shaved his head). George Savalas, under his real name, also received a Production Associate credit during the first season and a Production Assistant credit for the second season.
He appeared in several films such as The Slender Thread (1965), Genghis Khan (1965) and Kelly's Heroes (1970), — all of which also featured his brother Telly.{{cite news |title=George Savalas, Actor on 'Kojak' TV Series |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1985-10-03-0330280295-story.html |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=October 3, 1985 |access-date=March 1, 2018}}{{cite news |last=Richardson |first=Lisa |date=January 23, 1994 |title=From the Archives: 'Kojak' Star Telly Savalas Dies at 70 |url=https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/archives/la-me-telly-savalas-19940123-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 1, 2018}} In the mid-1970s, he appeared in adverts in the United Kingdom for the Wimpy Bar chain.
In his later years, George recorded a popular Greek-language record and toured with his band, appearing at such venues as Carnegie Hall.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1955&dat=20080204&id=fs8vAAAAIBAJ&pg=1881,2666842&hl=en| title= They Really Were Brothers Grimm|first=Gary|last=Clothier|agency=Newspaper Enterprise Association|work=Reading Eagle|date=February 4, 2008|accessdate=April 30, 2015}} He returned to the stage, appearing in a number of off-Broadway productions before illness forced him to retire.
Personal life
Savalas had six children: sons Nicholas George, Leonidas George, and Constantine George with his first wife; and sons Gregory George and Matthew George, and daughter Militza with his second wife Robin.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-10-03-me-698-story.html|title=George Savalas, Telly's Brother, Dies|first=Roxane|last=Arnold|date=3 October 1985|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=16 October 2017}} Later in life, he resided in Reseda, California. He died of leukemia, aged 60, in Los Angeles.
Savalas and his brother Telly were Freemasons.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-16 |title=Famous Freemason - Aristotelis Savalas |url=https://www.fellowshiplodge5797.com/post/famous-freemason-aristotelis-savalas |access-date=2023-05-19 |website=Fellowship Lodge |language=en}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1964
| Truck Driver | Uncredited |
| 1965
| Toktoa | |
| 1965
| Pool Player | |
| 1968
| Workman | Uncredited |
| 1969
| Apollo | |
| 1970
| First Sergeant Mulligan | |
| 1970
| Shapiro | Uncredited |
| 1973
| Kenilworth Finance Employee | Uncredited |
| 1976
| Kravges ston anemo | | |
| 1982
| Fake-Out | The Pit Boss | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1961
| Reveller at party | Episode: "Three Soldiers" |
| 1962
| GE True | Lukas - Grocer | Episode: "V-Victor 5" |
| 1963
| Pope, Bartender | Episode: "A Nice Girl from Goliath" |
| 1963
| Turnkey | Episode: "Ride a Dark Trail" |
| 1963
| Ripcord | Member of Search Party | Episode: "Run, Joby, Run" |
| 1964
| Combat! | Cooper | Episode: "Counter-Punch" |
| 1964
| Lobo | Episode: "Viva Diaz!" |
| 1965
| Aristos | Episode: "With Hellfire and Thunder" |
| 1966
| Prisoner | Episode: "Stroke of Genius" |
| 1966
| The Warden | Episode: "The Accused" |
| 1967
| Greek Merchant | Episode: "The Test Tube Killer Affair" |
| 1968
| Mannix | Sergeant | Episode: "The End of the Rainbow" |
| 1971
| Joe Frouge | Episode: "Success Story" |
| 1973
| The Marcus-Nelson Murders | Jack Deems | Television film |
| 1973–1978
| Kojak | Det. Stavros / Sgt. Stavros / Det. Stravros | 114 episodes |
| 1975
| Kaz | Episode: "The Youth Killer" |
| 1976
| Panellist | Episode: "Dead Grass" |
| 1979
| Alice | Himself | Episode: "Has Anyone Here Seen Telly?" |
| 1985
| Stavros | Television film |
| 1985
| The Courtier | TV mini-series; final on screen appearance |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0767419|George Savalas}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Savalas, George}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Columbia University School of the Arts alumni
Category:Deaths from leukemia in California
Category:American people of Greek descent
Category:United States Navy sailors
Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:People from Reseda, Los Angeles
Category:Male actors from the Bronx