Dan Frazer

Daniel Thomas "Dan" Frazer (November 20, 1921 – December 16, 2011) was an American actor, born in a West Side neighborhood (formerly known Hell's Kitchen) of Manhattan in New York City. He was probably best known for his role as Captain Frank McNeil, the former partner turned supervisor of Theo Kojak, Telly Savalas's character, in the 1970s TV police drama Kojak. His screen career started in 1950.

His TV appearances include The Phil Silvers Show, Car 54, Where Are You?, The Untouchables, Route 66, Blue Light, The F.B.I., Barney Miller, The Eddie Capra Mysteries, and Law & Order. His first film role was in 1963's Lilies of the Field, playing Father Murphy. In his later years, Frazer appeared as detective Dan McCloskey on the daytime soap As the World Turns.

He died of cardiac arrest on December 16, 2011, at his home in Manhattan.

Filmography

Kevin Dobson

Kevin Patrick Dobson (born March 18, 1943) is an American film and television actor, who is primarily known for his roles on television. His most prominent roles were as Detective Bobby Crocker, the trusted partner of Lt. Theo Kojak (played by Telly Savalas) on the popular 1970s CBS crime drama Kojak, and as M. Patrick "Mack" MacKenzie on the 1980s soap opera Knots Landing — a role he played from 1982 until the series ended in 1993. On April 1, 2008, Dobson premiered on the daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives in the role of Mickey Horton.

Life and career

Dobson was born in Jackson Heights, New York, of Irish descent. He is one of seven children born to the janitor of a grammar school (Our Lady of Fatima, Jackson Heights, NY) and a stay-at-home mom. Before embarking on an acting career, Dobson worked as a trainman, brakeman and conductor for the Long Island Rail Road, followed by a few years as a waiter, then bartender, at Manhattan restaurant Brew's, owned by relatives.

After a brief appearance in the 1971 film Klute and small acting roles on TV series such as The Mod Squad, Emergency! and Cannon, Dobson won the role of Lt. Theo Kojak's young partner, Det. Bobby Crocker, on the TV series Kojak, opposite Telly Savalas, after he signed a contract with Universal Studios in 1972. He remained with Kojak for its entire run from 1973 to 1978, and later reunited with Savalas for the 1990 TV movie, Kojak: It's Always Something, his character having become an assistant district attorney.

George Savalas

Georgios Demosthenes "George" Savalas (Greek: Γεώργιος Δημοσθένης Σαβάλας) (December 5, 1924 – October 2, 1985) was a Greek-American actor. He was the younger brother of the (better-known) actor Telly Savalas, with whom he acted in the popular 1970s TV crime series Kojak.

Early life

Born in the Bronx, New York City, New York, to immigrants from Greece, he was one of five children: brothers Telly, Gus and Ted; and sister Katherine. He attended Holy Cross Institute in Connecticut and Mineola High School in Garden City Park, New York (on Long Island). He served in the Pacific War as a United States Navy gunner but also acted, produced and directed stage performances on military bases. He studied drama at Columbia University.

Career

Starting out, Savalas worked many jobs, including driving a taxi and waiting tables. Although known primarily as an actor, Savalas was originally a stage actor and acting instructor. He taught at the Coliseum Studios for five years. He appeared in off-Broadway productions such as Death of a Salesman and Arms and Man as well working with his father in two businesses, a hotel and a heating and air-conditioning company.

Kojak (2005 TV series)

Kojak is an American television series starring Ving Rhames. It aired on the USA Network cable channel and on ITV4 in the United Kingdom. It was a remake of the 1973–1978 series starring Telly Savalas.

Rhames portrays Lieutenant Theo Kojak of the New York City Police Department, a skilled plain clothes detective with a shaved head and an affinity for jazz, fine clothing, and lollipops. As with the original series, he is fond of the catchphrase "Who loves ya, baby?" The series lasted for one season.

Cast

Episodes

External links

Telly Savalas

Aristotelis "Telly" Savalas (Greek: Αριστοτέλης "Τέλλυ" Σαβάλας; January 21, 1922 – January 22, 1994) was an American singer, film, television and character actor, whose career spanned four decades of television. He was noted for his deep, gravelly voice and his bald head. He also released the one-hit wonder song, "If?," which he introduced in the UK in 1975. He had also appeared as a guest on several talk and variety shows.

Savalas's 33-year career began in films in 1961, whose movie credits include: The Young Savages (1961), The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), Battle of the Bulge (1965), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Scalphunters (1968), supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld in the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Kelly's Heroes (1970), Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971), Inside Out (1975), and Escape to Athena (1979). He then continued achieving success in the television crime drama Kojak (1973–1978), co-starring his real-life brother George Savalas, in which Savalas played the title role. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Birdman of Alcatraz (1962).