George Savalas

GreekAmerican actor George Savalas is best remembered for costarring on his elder brother Telly Savalass popular television detective show Kojak 1973 197378 He played Detective Stavros to Tellys Kojak changed his middle name later in life from Nicholas to Demosthenes and was billed as simply Demosthenes in the end credits to avoid confusion with the elder Savalas George Savalas served in the Pacific during WWII and was a decorated US Navy gunner He learned his craft at Columbia Universitys School of Drama Before making it to the small screen he was an accomplished stage actor and acting instructor He was briefly the drummer for the Clyde McCoy Big Band He got his start on the Dick Powell Theater and went on to guest star on other series He appeared in several films including Genghis Khan 1965 and Kellys Heroes 1970 After Kojak ended he recorded a Top10 Greek language record and toured with his band at many major venues including Carnegie Hall Savalas later returned to his first love the stage and appeared in many offBroadway plays He died of leukemia in 1985 aged 60 and was survived by his wife and their six children five sons and one daughter