The Savalas enigma

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34008, 24 November 1975, Page 4

The Savalas enigma

There is no logical way to explain the succes of Telly “Kojak” Savalas. He has never had an acting lesson, yet was nominated for an Academy Award in his first good-sized film role, in “The Birdman of Alcatraz.” He avoided television series work, yet won 5 an Emmy Award last year r before a full season as t ; Kojak. He’s bald, he’s , j known to eat lollipops, he’s big-nosed, yet a fan magazine names him as its No. 1 sex symbol on the air. X I ' I Perhaps that record be’’comes less surprising when . one considers the singiel minded commitment that in ! Savalas’s pre - acting days made him a graduate in . psychology, an executive director in the information branch of the United States (State Service, and an A.B.C. isenior director, of news and 'special events. in the last post he created (“Your Voice Of America,” ; which won both Freedom Foundation and Peabody [awards for A.B.C. LANCASTER’S PRAISE ! “The Birdman of Alcatraz” , is as close as Savalas has i come to an Academy Award Jin more than 20 films since—(“Beau Geste,” “The Dirty [Dozen” and “Kelly’s Heroes” ! among them —and that first ’big part remains his faviourite. “After he appeared in ‘'Birdman,’ Burt Lancaster, said of him, “He’s one of the (finest actors I’ve ever met. I ’wish 1 were one-tenth the' [actor he 45.” ] Such praise, even when 'endorsed by millions of I “Kojak” fans world-wide,. ;seems to roll off Savalas. “I was prepared for the; applause,” he says. "Just as 1 am prepared for the applause to stop. That is my security. If I believed all this nonsense, I’d be in trouble. Any day stow I expect to [be exposed as a fraud. I (enjoy success, but I also’ (enjoy failure." LARGE FAMILY He talks fast, with an un-l mistakable underlying Greek accent, though he was born’ in New York. He grew up I in a lively tribe that included innumerable uncles, a’ grandmother who lived to! 105, four brothers and a ’sister. His mother was once Miss; Greece, and is now a success-, ful painter, with several! shows to her credit. His! father, Nicholas, twice made! and lost fortunes. Nicholas’s sons drove the family trucks, to Manhattan, and he had an axiom Telly still lives by — “think big.” “My father was the original; I Big Think man. Sometimes'

.if I needed money. I'd ask |him for a dollar,” said Savalas. “ A dollar?’ he'd ’sneer. ‘Don’t be a cheapskate. Take two. ’’ Savalas says he used to dream of making $30,000 a month. Now he earns this in a week and spends it all. "I am my father's son. He blew’ it ail. 1 blow' it all. 1 , find security anathema—that’s a good Greek word” Certainly he seems io tail | into success rather than direct himself towards it. He got his start in acting when, [as an A.B.C. executive, he “was unable to help a theatri--1 cal agent find an actor who ■ could imitate a certain 1 European accent. Telly went 5 along to auditions on a > whim, and to his surprise = got the part, in a live tele--1 vision production called s “Bring Home a Baby.” He • ■’went straight to films after i’that. avoiding television until “Kojak.” 1 He bent his rule for that ’ series through “trickery,” he t says. "I avoid being drawn ' into it for five or six months, and then when I started I ; found I was stuck. I also - discovered the power of tele- . vision. You are suddenly j[ famous. Millions all over the .[world get to see you J Extraordinary.” ■ “Kotak” has kept him from , making features for a couple •of years, but at present he Jis involved with co-stars .[Peter Fonda and Jack , Balance, in filming “The I Diamond Mercenaries," the , I story of a successful diamond, robber.-, on location in South Africa. SINGER J This year he has also hit J the pop chart s wuth a single ! record, “If.” He started 1 singing, he says, “because [ Sinatra dared me and I told him I was not afraid. I am 1 never afraid of trying anything.” He is even planning Las Vegas nightclub appearances. Probably nearing 50 years [ !(.nobody is saying), Savalas’ recently married for the third [time. He draws upon his re- ; markable family history to (prove his life is only start-' ling. “My grandfather.” he says I “married at 53, and 24 kids later, my father was born INobodv should marrv before 50.”

k; With his present w-ife, dj Sally Adams, he has a twod year-old son "I adore >- women. I am their total slave, up to a point I o pamper them, cater ■ them, a.but when it is '.nu slhave to bop them I. Of “Kojak” and its futme, ehe says, "if they kt. ; . p it 1 elastic. I’ll stav If they - make me a supercop. I'll quit. I won’t stay one minute after 11. becomes boring. I hate n monotony This season is e.better than the first. I !ik» i. the notion of a sex symbol e at my age '’