The Extraordinary was an Australian television documentary series that gripped viewers in the mid-1990s with stories of the paranormal and supernatural, and in which Telly Savalas also appeared. In fact, on the show's premiere, he recounted his encounter with a ghost.
See the video about the other-worldly experience that haunted him throughout his life.
Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas was a Greek-American actor and singer who was born on January 21, 1922, in New York.
Noted for his bald head and deep, resonant voice, he is perhaps best known for portraying Lt. Theo Kojak on the crime drama series Kojak (1973–1978) and James Bond archvillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969).
Telly was the second of five children born to Greek parents Christina (née Kapsalis), an artist who was a native of Sparta, and Nick Savalas, a restaurant owner. His paternal grandparents came from the Greek village of Ierakas.
He initially spoke only Greek when he entered grade school, but later learned English.
Telly's other roles include Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Horror Express (1972), Lisa and the Devil (1974) and Escape to Athena (1979).
For Birdman of Alcatraz, he was nominated for the Academy Award and Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.
As a singer, Telly released a cover of the Bread song "If", which became a UK No. 1 single in 1975.[5] The song also peaked at number 12 in Australia.
He died on January 22, 1994, just one day after his 72nd birthday, of prostate cancer at the Sheraton-Universal Hotel in Universal City, California.
Telly Savalas was married three times and had five children. He was also the Godfather of famous Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston.
READ MORE: Emotional last farewell to Stamatis Kokotas - "You were an amazing father" (PHOTOS)
