Telly Savalas became unforgettable to television fans through his role as Lt. Theo Kojak in Kojak, where his sharp presence and signature style made him one of the most recognizable stars of his era. He also gained attention on the big screen as James Bond’s enemy, Ernest Stavro Blofeld, in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
Away from Hollywood, however, Savalas lived another important role as a father. According to Hello! Magazine, Telly Savalas’s children came from different chapters of his life, with the Greek-born actor welcoming six children with four mothers before his death in 1994.
Telly Savalas Welcomed Six Children During His Lifetime
Savalas first became a father in 1950, when he welcomed his eldest daughter, Christina, with Katherine Nicolaides. Christina was named after the actor’s mother and later had a brief connection to the entertainment world, working as a crew member on Beyond Reason, a 1977 film independently produced by her father.
With his second wife, Marilyn Gardner, Savalas welcomed two more daughters, Penelope in 1961 and Candace in 1963. Penelope has mostly lived outside the public spotlight, while Candace briefly pursued acting between 1985 and 1993. She appeared in some Kojak television movies and earned credits in projects such as You Again, J.J. Starbuck, and The Hollywood Detective.
His Younger Children Followed Creative Paths Of Their Own
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Savalas became a father again in 1973 when he welcomed his first son, Nicholas, with actress Sally Adams, whom he met on the set of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Nicholas also had a small acting career, appearing with his father in Beyond All Reason and a Kojak television movie. He also worked as a voice actor on Superman: The Animated Series. That same year, Savalas welcomed Christian with Julie Hovland, who later became his third wife. Christian went on to build a creative career as a musician and tech designer, developing apps for singers and pet owners.
The youngest of Telly Savalas’s children, Ariana, was born in 1987 and later became a singer, a performer, and one of the original members of Postmodern Jukebox. She also worked as an emcee and singer for Dita Von Teese and at the Wild Horse Cabaret in Paris. Ariana was only seven when her father died, but she has spoken warmly about the memories she still carries, recalling him as a loving, joyful man who wanted his children close wherever he went.
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