George Savalas

• Name — George Savalas • Birth Name — Georgios Demosthenes Savalas • Born — 5 December 1924 • Birthplace — New York City, U.S. • Died — 2 October 1985 • Place of death — Los Angeles, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1962–1985 • Relatives — * Telly Savalas (brother) • Ariana Savalas (niece) • Children — 6

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. 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.

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. 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 Detective Sergeant Demosthenes Stavros on the TV series Kojak, which starred his brother Telly. 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 balding head and was noticeably thinner). 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. In the mid-1970s, he appeared in adverts in the United Kingdom for the Wimpy Bar chain. In his later years, George recorded songs in Greek and toured with his band, appearing at such venues as Carnegie Hall. He returned to the stage, appearing in a number of off-Broadway productions before illness forced him to retire.

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. Later in life, he lived in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles. He died of leukemia, aged 60, in Los Angeles. Savalas and his brother Telly were Freemasons.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1961 — The Dick Powell Show — Reveller at party — Episode: "Three Soldiers" • 1962 — GE True — Lukas - Grocer — Episode: "V-Victor 5" • 1963 — The Dakotas — Pope, Bartender — Episode: "A Nice Girl from Goliath" • 1963 — The Virginian — Turnkey — Episode: "Ride a Dark Trail" • 1963 — Ripcord — Member of Search Party — Episode: "Run, Joby, Run" • 1964 — Combat! — Cooper — Episode: "Counter-Punch" • 1964 — The Rogues — Lobo — Episode: "Viva Diaz!" • 1965 — Dr. Kildare — Aristos — Episode: "With Hellfire and Thunder" • 1966 — The Fugitive — Prisoner — Episode: "Stroke of Genius" • 1966 — Daniel Boone — The Warden — Episode: "The Accused" • 1967 — The Man from U.N.C.L.E. — Greek Merchant — Episode: "The Test Tube Killer Affair" • 1968 — Mannix — Sergeant — Episode: "The End of the Rainbow" • 1971 — All in the Family — 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 — Kolchak: The Night Stalker — Kaz — Episode: "The Youth Killer" • 1976 — Whodunnit? — Panellist — Episode: "Dead Grass" • 1979 — Alice — Himself — Episode: "Has Anyone Here Seen Telly?" • 1985 — Kojak: The Belarus File — Stavros — Television film • 1985 — Alice in Wonderland — The Courtier — TV mini-series; final on screen appearance