Telly Savalas He attribute his success to "his complete ability to be himself." Savalas had his first lead role in a film in "Crooks and Coronets" (1969), a British crime comedy. More widely seen was the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969), where Savalas played Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Savalas had the lead in a Western shot in Spain, "Land Raiders" (1970), then was second-billed to Clint Eastwood in the war-heist film "Kelly's Heroes" (1970), shot in Yugoslavia, directed by Hutton. He was second-billed to Charles Bronson in an Italian–French crime film, "Violent City" (1970), then went to Hollywood to
Telly Savalas Cop" (1980). Savalas returned to Alcatraz in "" (1980) and starred in a pilot for a TV series "Hellinger's Law" (1981). He did "My Pallikar" for "American Playhouse" (1982), "Fake-Out" (1982) with Pia Zadora, "Cannonball Run II" (1984), "The Cartier Affair" (1984), and an episode of "The Love Boat." Savalas reprised his role of Kojak in a TV movie, "" (1985). Savalas was one of many names in "Alice in Wonderland" (1985), then did "Kojak: The Price of Justice" (1987). He did a "Dirty Dozen" sequel, "" (1987), playing an entirely new character. Savalas guest-starred in "The Equalizer" and "J.J.