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).