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Tal vez no era lo que hacía o decía, sino como. No es lo que es, sino su forma de hablar, lo que despertaba la atención y obligaba a sintonizar y adoptar el eslogan de uno de los detectives ficticios más famosos de la historia: Su frase “¿Quién te ama, cariño?” se convirtió en parte de la lengua vernácula estadounidense.

Telly Savalas interpretó a Kojak, un policía neoyorquino chupa-chupa-chups que puntuó su charla de tipo duro con la sorprendente frase “¿Quién te ama, cariño?” Eso requiere algo de arrogancia, una cualidad que el difunto Savalas, quien murió en 1994, tenía en abundancia. En la televisión, vestía trajes de tres piezas y pronunció el diálogo del teniente Kojak con una sonrisa siniestra: Kojak era un buen tipo que dejó en claro que jugaría duro. Fuera de la pantalla, este hijo de inmigrantes griegos era un hombre machista de los 70 por excelencia, lucía ostentosos, grandes lentes de sol y camisas con solapas grandes desabrochadas hasta el ombligo. Era un personaje, con un mojo que lo convertía en la estrella calva más sexy desde Yul Brynner.

“El hombre más interesante del mundo” puede haberle dado “la charla” a su padre y haber acudido a un psíquico para advertirle, pero no podría contra el único Telly Savalas. El hombre que hizo de Kojak “¿quién te ama bebé?” icónico, también poseía un disco número 1 en el Reino Unido, e incluso fue el padrino de Jennifer Aniston. Sin mencionar que Savalas le dio a Howard Cosell su comienzo en la televisión, se instaló en el top 20 en la Serie Mundial de Póquer de 1992 y dejó la imagen de un calvo genial. Muchas estrellas de Hollywood han logrado una letanía de hazañas, pero hacer que la calva sea hermosa tiene que ser el triunfo más inconcebible de cualquier persona famosa.

Como dijo el propio Savalas, “¿Cómo podría mejorar? Solo soy un chico de Nueva York interpretando a un chico de Nueva York”. Su carisma e ingenio naturales encajaban perfectamente con el discurso del policía de Nueva York: “¿Quién te ama, cariño?” ofrendádolo a todos, desde prostitutas hasta matones. A diferencia de muchos actores que se desilusionaron con ser conocidos únicamente por un solo papel, Savalas se deleitó con él. “Hice 60 películas antes de ‘Kojak’ con algunos de los nombres más importantes del negocio, y la gente todavía decía: ‘Ahí va ese actor, de aquella película” “.

Los setenta fueron una década de espectáculos policiales y Kojak ayudó a allanar el camino. Junto con Starsky y Hutch, CHiPS y The Rockford Files, Kojak abrió la puerta a programas como NYPD Blue y The Wire. Como lo vio Savalas, “Kojak es el tipo de hombre que no podría arrestar a una prostituta, la enviaría a casa. Opera por instinto y decencia, pero si le das motivo, te arrojará por la ventana “. ¿Y quién más podría hacer que un chupetín se vea genial?

Obviamente, Savalas disfrutó de una increíble carrera como actor que le valió múltiples premios Emmy y Globos de Oro, todos notablemente para Kojak. Sin embargo, Savalas fue un verdadero erudito con un camino diverso e inusual hacia Hollywood. Como muchos hombres de su edad, Savalas fue reclutado para la Segunda Guerra Mundial. Luego asistió a la Universidad de Columbia, donde se licenció en psicología. Escribió para el Servicio de Información del Departamento de Estado de EE. UU., produjo transmisiones en ABC (donde contrató a Cosell) e incluso enseñó educación para adultos.

En “Al Servicio de su Majestad”
En “Los heroes de Kelly”
En “La historia más grande jamás contada”

En películas y en televisión, Savalas comenzó a interpretar a antagonistas. Finalmente, su interpretación de un convicto sádico en Birdman of Alcatraz le valió una nominación al Oscar. A pesar de interpretar a algunos psicópatas, Savalas siempre intentó darles profundidad. “Incluso con los locos a los que he jugado, he tratado de darle alguna dimensión a su locura”.

Probablemente también lo puso en la lista de llamadas de uno de los villanos Bond más infames de todos los tiempos, Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Savalas es uno de los pocos actores que interpretaron a Blofeld (siguió a Donald Pleasence), haciendo todo lo posible para frustrar a 007 en On Her Majesty’s Secret Service de 1969.

El encanto de Kojak era que era un policía heroico que hablaba como un sabio. En The Dirty Dozen (1968), Savalas retrató a un psicópata que cita la Biblia en el personaje de Archer Maggott.

No querrías pasar el rato con Blofeld o Maggot, ni tampoco querrías pasar tiempo con los personajes de Savalas en las películas de 1968 The Scalphunters o Sol Madrid. Pero escapó del infierno encasillado de villano con Kelly’s Heroes (1970), en la que interpretó al buen Big Joe junto a Clint Eastwood, Donald Sutherland y Don Rickles.

Sí, los Globos de Oro, los Emmy y los personajes de televisión icónicos son agradables y están bien. Pero el acto más impresionante de Savalas tuvo que ser hacer que la calva sea sexy. Savalas encontró su nicho por accidente. Cuando fue elegido para interpretar a Poncio Pilato en la película de 1965 La historia más grande jamás contada, el director George Stevens le ordenó que se afeitara la cabeza. Aparentemente, el gobernador de Judea que ordenó que crucificaran a Jesús necesitaba ese toque extra de maldad, así que di adiós al cabello. Le gustó tanto el look que lo mantuvo hasta el día de su muerte. Como dijo, “Todos nacemos calvos, cariño”.

PrisioneroEnArgentina.com

Junio 4, 2021

 

81 thoughts on “El Sex-Symbol calvo libador de chupetines”

  1. Pingback: El Secreto del Chupetín - Prisionero en Argentina

    • Dinerillo
    • posted on June 6, 2021
    Reply

    Kojak era unico.

    • Tamara Sheldon
    • posted on June 5, 2021
    Reply

    He was really sexy.

    • humillated@gmail.com
    • posted on June 5, 2021
    Reply

    KOJAK was the man
    Who loves ya, baby?

    • Lynn Newsom
    • posted on June 5, 2021
    Reply

    I love telly savalas, I remember watching kojak with my grandmother. Kelly’s Heroes and The dirty Dozen are my favorite Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin movies respectively, and Telly was great in both of them. thanks for helping me to remember the happiness his work has brought me over the years.

    • Leonor
    • posted on June 5, 2021
    Reply

    Telly Savalas desde que lo vi en su serie Koyak siempre lo seguí viendo y también sus películas de cualquier género excelente maravilloso y gran actor el segundo pelon más sexy después de Yul Brayner y ahora Vin Disel ok saludos buenos días para todos ustedes sean felices como yo ahora mismo

    • Patricio
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Su personaje encajaría muy bien en el Comisario Evaristo Meneses.

  8. Reply

    Yul Brynner and Telly Savalas they are the first bald men in Hollywood
    They both are classic stars

      • elsie kindermann
      • posted on June 5, 2021
      Reply

      Jason Statham nowadays

  9. Reply

    loved Telly Savalas when kojak came on TV. Good 4 u 2 remember him.
    My childhood is back.
    Theo was one of the sharpest cops of all time
    🙂 🙂 :P♥

    • Cinema Guerrilla
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    OH TELLY , YOU ARE STILL MISSED TODAY BABY !!

  11. Reply

    My grandad was the spit of Telly but he had a very welsh accent
    Loved watching Kojak with him as a kid

  12. Reply

    What a fellow Greek he was, tough but such a naturally funny guy, super humor and was a passionate actor!!!

    • allie
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    There will never EVER be anyone who could play this role ever… he was only one. Loved that show.

    • Eli
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    So charismatic, and that voice he could read out a KFC menu and make hearts melt.

  15. Reply

    Jennifer Aniston’s grandfather? I did not know that

    1. Reply

      Yes. Her father was also Greek

    • Stealing cocks
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    If anyone likes horror movies, check out Horror Express, with Telly

  17. Reply

    I was so heart broken when Telly died. He was my favorite actor and my dream man.
    Will love him forever!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

    • Catinga
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Kojak era una masa!¡

  19. Reply

    HE WAS THE BEST
    WHO LOVES YA BABY?

    • Freddie15
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Not many guys can pull off the total bald look, but TS was one of them. I remember the Kojak TV show and he was very good in it. I’d say that my favorite movie that he was in has to be Kelly’s Heroes, with Clint Eastwood and Donald Sutherland.

  21. Reply

    I saw Telly Savalas in The Scalp hunters with Burt Lancaster (1968)He was such a gifted actor. One of the best. My all time favorite was Big Joe in Kelly’s Heroes.

    • Natural Woman
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Testosterone and charisma for dayzzz, this guy! ❤️

    • alex chen
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    I have a unreleased Elvis Presley concert in Las Vegas and he introduces Telly Savalas to the audience and says this is my favourite TV cop

    • C.L. Moss
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    There will NEVER BE ANOTHER TELLY SAVALAS NEVER!!! Loved him.

  25. Reply

    He was a natural. And it’s odd to me how they keep saying “he wasn’t good looking”. That man was unquestionably Gorgeous.

    • Xander Samms
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    This guy was great in THE KING AND I 😛

    • john michael hessemann
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Telly Savalas was the biggest TV icon ever

    • sandy coppa
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    TELLY WAS THE BEST NYC POLICEMAN ON ANY TV SHOWS

    • Pete Diamond
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    who loves you baby? Best of the best

    • Effie Dimopoulos
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Telly and his lollipops were so famous in Greece that a company sold Kojak lollipops

    1. Reply

      Over here too

  31. Reply

    I am not old by any means believe me (very early 40’s) but iconic actors like Telly Savalas, Marlon Brando, Richard Burton, Laurence Olivier, etc … All of these Movie icons were unforgettable as actors, had a powerful screen presence, instantly recognizable and possessed depth of character. Today, most actors do not possess these attributes and are forgettable. R.I.P Telly.

  32. Reply

    That is one of the best versions of “She’s lost that loving feeling” ever

  33. Reply

    Kojak was showing that he could do or say anything he wanted, he looked at everyone in order to let them know he was aware they were there and did not care. from here to white plains. How great Telly was !

    • Ollie
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Columbo was the smartest..️
    Kojak the coolest.

  35. Reply

    My favorite Kojak quote was when he called heroin “the sweet packet of Manhattan satin”

  36. Reply

    Not too many actors hold their own on the screen with Clint Eastwood. Watch Kelly’s Heroes…

    • Michael Gentile
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Who loves ya, baby?

      • monty cleland
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      A classy cool guy. I just love the New York scenes of the 1970’s. I loved those years.

    • shoshandra james
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Kojak was the only tv cop that had a gangster persona.

    • Paige Shellman
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    You do not get acting quality like that anymore. Kojak- classy and very masculine.
    I am a fan of rebroadcast TV

      • Birgitt Bronwen
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      And he was sexy as hell

    • jay robles
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Such a good man. I did not know He was teaching adults

      • cma
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      That was remarkable

        • Fulton's Blues
        • posted on June 4, 2021
        Reply

        He was a great guy. When he lived in Garden City on Long Island, I got to know him slightly. I ran into him many many times at Roosevelt Field shopping center. On one particular instance, he asked me to help him pick out a puppy at a local animal shelter. Really nice guy! We spent an hour or so together during that escapade.

          • Anonymous
          • posted on June 4, 2021
          Reply

          I was born in Garden City. I wish I woulda run into him

    • sharly
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Ten years ago I bought the whole Kojak DVD collection as a gift for my dad
    I remember him watching those all the time

    • Frank Andolini
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Baldy guy has dominated the table!!!

  43. Reply

    Who loves ya, baby…?
    He was awesome. 🙂
    Rest in eace, Tely….you wont be forgotten 🙂

  44. Reply

    I was watching Kojak re runs just last night!!! Thank you for posting this.

  45. Reply

    Who loves ya, baby? my favorite line R.I.P Telly Savalas

  46. Reply

    CLASSIC KOJAK…..TV the way it use to be
    R.I.P, TELLY,…..we all miss and love ya baby!!

  47. Reply

    Loved him in the Dirty Dozen

    • pedri
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Yo no me le ponia enfrente ni mamado a Kojak

      • Juanro
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      Nunca ahi

      • jennifer oshima
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      I MUST watch all those great movies… I think I will have a Telly Savalas marathon this week end.

    • Lewis
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    It would be almost impossible to have a drink with Theo
    back in the day . Always on edge …

      • DJ
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      LOl yes. true that

    • Musty Johnson
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Who loves ya baby?
    I love ya KOJAK; my favorite TV cop of the 70’s.

  51. Reply

    Ήταν ένας από τους εθνικούς μας ήρωες

    • Anonymous
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Kojak was a cool and smooth guy

      • Craig XVI
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      Telly was old school cool without even trying. Cool has now become a thing of the past.

        • Anonymous
        • posted on June 4, 2021
        Reply

        That was his thing

        1. Reply

          Kojak… Kojak… remember Kolchak, the night stalker?

      • General Monday
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      This man was smooth as silk

  53. Reply

    Oh I love these shows reminds of my childhood . ” WHO’S LOVES YA BABY ”
    This Wonderful , Thank you.

      • Tobby J.
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      And I love you… 🙂

    • claudio fernandez
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    La verdad no sabia que cantaba

  55. Reply

    I loved Kojak when I was a little girl. Lollipops and Who loves ya baby. Now it’s on TV again. It’s even better now.

    • juan carlos mastrangelo
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    KOJAK ERA “CUESTION DE ESTADO” EN CASA. NO NOS PERDIAMOS KOJAK NUNCA

    • Bern Klipp
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    One of my favorite detective shows of the past

      • bobby jean nash
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      He was ‘the’ detective of the 70s

        • Sweet Frankie Frank
        • posted on June 4, 2021
        Reply

        Kojak was so cool and brutal at the same time

          • Ben Horowitz
          • posted on June 4, 2021
          Reply

          He was a great actor. Dirty Dozen’s Big Joe was paramount acting

    • Mark Jones
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Kojak always sounded like Rodney Dangerfield to me lol

    • patty muller1111
    • posted on June 4, 2021
    Reply

    Who loves you, baby?
    That made Telly immortal.

      • robert pinklon
      • posted on June 4, 2021
      Reply

      Kojak was the ultimate badass.

      1. Reply

        He was the man

          • Bad Mint
          • posted on June 4, 2021
          Reply

          Who loves ya, baby? So cool.

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