Telly Savalas already was an established film actor in the early 1970s, yet his fame skyrocketed thanks to his star-turning performance on Kojak.
Savalas played Lieutenant Theo Kojak, a no-nonsense New York police officer. He didn’t put up with a bunch of junk. Kojak made sure his other cops followed suit. He took Detective Bobby Crocker (Kevin Dobson) under his wing from the get-go. Murders, suicides, rapes, criminal corruption, and other numerous cases provided episodic themes for Kojak.
CBS slotted this series on its schedule in a spot held down by Cannon. This was another popular crime drama in the 1970s, starring William Conrad in the lead role. Television viewers had plenty of cop show choices across ABC, NBC, and CBS.
Yet Kojak provided a strong lead character in the lieutenant. As he moved, so did the cast and storylines. It had its fair share of name guest stars showing up across its five seasons. Among them were Hector Elizondo (with a toupee), Jackie Cooper, Bruno Kirby, James Keach, Paul Anka, and, in the series’ last episode, Danny Thomas.
‘Kojak’ Went Through Changes Over The Seasons
Telly Savalas is shown with actor Eli Wallach from an episode of ‘Kojak.’ (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images)Longtime fans might take note about how the series’ episodes changed a bit. In the first two seasons, Kojak was, at times, a real hothead with his cops. He’d rant and rave about getting out on the streets. It was important for the cops under his guidance to stay focused. Kojak often ripped the Daily Racing Form out of Rizzo’s (Vince Conti) hands. He was letting him know that there’s a time for fun and a time for work.
A couple of notable traits endeared the lead character to viewers. Kojak became known for catchphrases. His most famous one? “Who loves ya, baby?” But, do you remember the first time he kind of uttered this phrase on the show? Kojak, in his 1973 Buick Century, said, “Who loves ya?” to a woman helping him on a case. In time, fans also watched Theo become a fan of Tootsie Pops. His lollipop love grew out of Telly Savalas’ smoking habit. Sure, Kojak popped in a cigarette or cigarillo. Yet, to curb his habit, Savalas started using lollipops.
As the show went on, Savalas grew to love his stardom. Kojak not only aired on American television but overseas as well. Clothesmaker Botany 500 worked with Savalas to create his line of clothing. He wore these suits on TV, giving credit to Botany 500 for the company’s work.
Disco music was big in the ’70s. Savalas, who could sing a bit, didn’t let this slip by. In 1976, Telly… Who Loves Ya, Baby?, a one-hour special, aired without commercials on CBS. Cloris Leachman, Barbara Eden, and Diahann Carroll were among Savalas’ co-stars. In this special’s opening, Savalas embodies his Kojak role for a couple of minutes.
He goes inside, sheds his overcoat and Fedora, and grabs a microphone. He finds space among a bevy of female dancers and welcomes viewers to the show. Savalas’ opening song? Who Loves Ya, Baby? Evidence of this Telly Savalas TV special lives on thanks to the miracle of YouTube.
1970s Were Really Sweet To Telly Savalas
At the height of his show’s popularity, Savalas was a must-get interview. He loved to gamble, which he wasn’t exactly great at doing. Savalas found time to show up on a Battle of the Network Stars special on ABC. Yes, Telly chatted it up with ABC sportscaster Howard Cosell. Talk about a 1970s mashup!
Millions of people tuned in each week to see Kojak. Yet, like a lot of shows, the stories or cast started to wear thin. Ratings began going down. CBS also moved the show ar0und to different time slots on its primetime schedule. Viewers might have grown tired of Kojak. CBS canceled it when the fifth season ended.
But Savalas wasn’t totally through with his iconic role. In 1985, he put on the Fedora and overcoat for some TV movies. They aired on CBS and ABC during their run. Andre Braugher appeared in some of these as Detective Winston Blake. Dobson even popped up on one TV movie, now playing assistant district attorney Bobby Crocker. Original cast members Dan Frazer, George Savalas (Telly’s real-life brother), Mark Russell, and Conti made their final appearances in their roles for the first TV movie.
Kojak has been shown in syndication for decades. It ran for a time during the late-night hours on WGN out of Chicago. These days, you can find reruns on getTV. PlutoTV has recently been running a lot of crime shows produced by Universal Studios. Kojak is among those popping up on the Universal Crime channel.
Telly Savalas remains a fan favorite thanks to his TV work. But he also appeared in a number of notable movies. They included Birdman of Alcatraz, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Dirty Dozen, and the James Bond thriller On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Yes, There’s A Story Behind Telly’s Baldness
In his life, Savalas served in the United States Army between 1941 and 1943. He eventually worked as senior director of news special events for ABC. That led him to become executive producer for Gillette’s Cavalcade of Sports. Telly Savalas gave Cosell his first job in television. Seeing them together years later, both highly successful, was a throwback to their earlier days.
That shaved head came about as a result of Savalas playing Pontius Pilate in The Greatest Story Ever Told. You can find Savalas with some hair on his head before this flick. Once he went bald, though, he stayed that way. It, too, added to his mystique and aura. Here’s a little more current pop culture fact: Savalas was the godfather of Friends star Jennifer Aniston. He was close friends with Jennifer’s father, actor John Aniston.
His health, though, took a turn for the worse. In 1989, Telly Savalas was diagnosed with bladder cancer. He died on January 22, 1994, from prostate and bladder cancer complications. Savalas was 70 years old. Mourners at his funeral included Frank Sinatra, Don Rickles, Angie Dickinson, Dobson, and Frazer, among others.
Looking back on Kojak these days, it might appear to be a bit misplaced among modern police dramas. Yet it harkens back to a day when TV cop shows filled network schedules. Telly Savalas remains beloved with classic TV viewers all over the world.
Who loves ya, baby?
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