Aristotelis "
Telly"
Savalas (; January 21, 1922January 22, 1994) was an American film and television actor and singer, whose career spanned four decades. He was perhaps best known for playing the title role in the 1970s crime drama
Kojak, co-starring his real-life brother
George Savalas. He was nominated for an
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in
Birdman of Alcatraz (1962).