He became widely recognized for his bald head and his catchphrase, "Who loves ya, baby?". Savalas was also known for his roles as the villain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), as the detective Frank Cannon in the television series Cannon (1971–1976), and as the voice of the Hulk in the 1970s animated series The Incredible Hulk.
Savalas was born in Garden City, New York, to Greek immigrant parents. He studied at Columbia University and served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. After the war, he began his career as an actor, appearing in small roles in films and television shows.
Savalas's big break came in 1962 when he was cast as the villain Phil Boule in the war film The Battle of the Bulge. He went on to appear in a number of successful films, including Birdman of Alcatraz (1962), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), and The Dirty Dozen (1967).
In 1973, Savalas was cast in the role of Lt. Theo Kojak in the television series Kojak. The show was a critical and commercial success, and it made Savalas a household name. He starred in Kojak for five seasons, and he returned to the role for several television movies and specials in the 1980s and 1990s.
In addition to his acting career, Savalas was also a successful singer. He released several albums, including Telly (1974), Who Loves Ya, Baby (1975), and You Don't Have to Say You Love Me (1977). He also had a successful career as a television personality, appearing on numerous talk shows and game shows.
Savalas died of prostate cancer in 1994. He was 72 years old.