Is there a Savalas family website?

Answer 1

---- Excellent response. I have been trying to figure out what a "Savalas" is for decades. Is it from Fotos Tzavelas, son of Hellenic icon Lambros Tzavelas, who himself was a Greek patriot, backgammon champion and distant great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather of TV star Telly Savalas? Fotos' 1814 murder at the historic "Mavros Gatos" ('Le Chat Noir' or 'Black Cat') cafe after triple-gammoning the proud Ali Pasha was the incident that began the Greek struggle for independence. Perhaps the answer can be found in reading about the heroic life of Kitsos Tzavelas, Greek fighter and Prime Minister? Tzavelas was born in Souli, Epirus in 1800, the son of Fotos Tzavelas and grandson of Lambros Tzavelas, both of whom were famous for their roles in the Souliot struggles against Ali Pasha, the Turkish governor of Epirus. He grew up in exile in Kerkyra. Tzavelas played a leading role in the Greek War of Independence in 1821, distinguishing himself especially during the siege of Messolonghi. After the arrival in Greece of Ioannis Kapodistrias, during the latter part of the war, Tzavelas was responsible for liberating a large part of Central Greece. After indepedence, Tzavelas became a supporter of Kapodistria and eventually a leader in the Russian Party which was the conservative and arch-Orthodox political faction in the period of King Otto. Accused of planning a revolt against the king in 1834, Tzavelas was imprisoned by the Regency Council head by von Armansperg along with other politicians of the Russian Party. When King Otto reached the age of majority and took over the reigns of government, Tzavelas was released and later was named aide-de-camp to the king. He was subsequently appointed Minister of War in 1844 and, in 1847-1848, Prime Minister. Kitsos Tzavelas died on March 21, 1855. Generations later, while becoming United States citizens in the early 1900's via Ellis Island, the family name, 'Tsavelas' (and the variant 'Tsavalas' - it doesn't really translate well into English) was simplified to 'Savalas'. The offspring of that American lineage includes Decorated Soldiers, Diplomats, Architects, Producers, Doctors, Teachers, Artists, etc., and, of course, Actors. The official Savalas family website is at: http://savalas.tv - if you'd like more information, please contact me using the contact area there. Until I hear from you, I remain, Sincerely, Nicholas Savalas - http://savalas.tv