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Savalas

Savalas is a Greek surname. It is most commonly associated with Aristotelis “Telly” Savalas (1922–1994), a Greek-American actor whose career brought him international recognition in film and television. Savalas is best known for portraying Detective Theo Kojak in the television series Kojak (1974–1978), a role that made him a prominent figure in 1970s popular culture and contributed to the era’s crime drama style. In cinema, he appeared in a variety of genres and is notably remembered for playing Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969).

The surname Savalas originates from Greece and is encountered primarily among Greek Americans and people of

Greek
descent.
It
is
less
common
as
a
given
name
or
in
contexts
outside
of
personal
names.
In
biographical
and
cultural
references,
the
name
is
frequently
linked
to
Telly
Savalas
due
to
his
prominence
in
American
entertainment,
where
he
is
remembered
for
his
distinctive
presence,
deep
voice,
and
the
enduring
association
with
Kojak’s
catchphrase
“Who
loves
ya,
baby?”
The
name,
while
strongly
tied
to
this
individual,
remains
a
family
name
that
spans
generations
and
various
diasporic
communities.