Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (Greek: Αριστοτέλης “Τέλλυ” Σαβάλας; January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was one of the most recognizable Greek-American actors of the 20th century. With his deep gravelly voice, bald head, and unmistakable presence, Savalas built a career that spanned four decades across film, television, and music.
He first appeared in film in 1961 and went on to play memorable roles in The Young Savages, The Greatest Story Ever Told, Battle of the Bulge, The Dirty Dozen, Kelly’s Heroes, and as James Bond villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).
But for most Americans, and especially for Greek Americans, Telly Savalas will always be remembered as Lieutenant Theo Kojak.
“Who loves ya, baby?”
Kojak aired from 1973 to 1978 and turned Savalas into a global television icon. Bald, street-smart, and armed with a steady supply of lollipops, Kojak became one of the most recognizable characters in television history. His catchphrase, “Who loves ya, baby?”, entered popular culture almost overnight.
Savalas himself liked to add, “Everybody should have a little Greek in them.”
The lollipops were originally introduced as a way to help Savalas quit smoking, though he continued to smoke heavily on screen during the early seasons. He later joked that the lollipop habit cost him three cavities. Still, the image stuck, and Kojak became inseparable from the candy and the attitude.
British critic Clive James once captured his appeal perfectly:
“Telly Savalas can make bad slang sound like good slang and good slang sound like lyric poetry. It isn’t what he is, so much as the way he talks, that gets you tuning in.”
Savalas won an Emmy Award in 1974 and two Golden Globes in 1975 and 1976. His younger brother, George Savalas, also appeared regularly on Kojak as Detective Stavros, providing a subtle Greek presence within one of America’s darkest crime dramas.
When Telly came to Cherry Hill
At the height of his fame, on February 24, 1976, Telly Savalas came to perform at the Latin Casino in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The audience was overwhelmingly Greek. As one local newspaper reported, “not a Greek diner was open for 25 miles around.”
After the show, AHEPA presented Savalas with a commemorative plaque and a bronze bust of his famous bald head. For many in the community, it was not just a celebrity appearance, but a moment of collective pride. One of their own had made it.
The Latin Casino years
Before Atlantic City legalized casino gambling, the Latin Casino was one of the premier entertainment venues on the East Coast. Located just down Route 70 from Saint Thomas Greek Orthodox Church, it could seat nearly 2,000 people for dinner and a show.
Often compared to New York’s Copacabana, the Latin Casino hosted legends like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, and countless others. For a generation of Greek Americans in South Jersey and Philadelphia, it was where glamour met community.
So when nearly 2,000 Greeks filled the room to see Telly Savalas, it felt symbolic. For one evening, Cherry Hill was not just a suburb. It was the center of the entertainment world, and it belonged to the Greek community.
Telly Savalas was already a star. But that night, he was also simply our Telly.