| Best known for his iconic TV portrayal of the | | | | back at his car. |
| lollipop-loving detective Theo Kojak, the late, great | | | | The following day, Savalas received a big surprise |
| Greek-born actor Telly Savalas had a real ghostly | | | | when he read in a newspaper that the baseball player |
| experience whilst driving home on Long Island at 3 a.m. | | | | Agannis had died suddenly at the age of 24. |
| one summer morning in 1954, when he ran out of | | | | Apparently he had died around about the same time |
| petrol and decided to walk to a nearby freeway | | | | that his name had been mentioned by the stranger in |
| where he knew there would be a petrol station still | | | | the car. |
| open for service. | | | | At first, Savalas attributed this to just pure coincidence. |
| He walked through a wooded park, as a shortcut, | | | | However, when he tried to phone the guy to give him |
| when suddenly this man called out: "I'll give you a lift!" | | | | his money back, a woman answered and Savalas |
| Savalas admitted to being quite shaken by the voice, | | | | explained why he was ringing. The woman sounded a |
| as he hadn't heard the big black Cadillac pull up beside | | | | little strange, and asked what car the guy had been |
| him. But the man, who was dressed all in white, looked | | | | driving and what he had been wearing. When Savalas |
| okay, and he took Telly to the service station. Once | | | | told her, the woman began to cry, saying that Savalas |
| there, Savalas became instantly embarrassed on | | | | had just described her husband - who'd died three |
| finding that he did not have enough change for the | | | | years earlier. |
| petrol. However, the stranger didn't seem bothered by | | | | Stunned by what the woman had told him, Savalas |
| this, and just handed over some notes and said it was | | | | began to speculate on all kinds of possible |
| OK, as he could pay him back later. | | | | explanations, but couldn't really think of anything logical |
| Whilst they were driving back to the car, the stranger | | | | that would definitely account for what he had |
| remarked to Savalas that he knew Harry Agannis. | | | | experienced on that lonely road in the early hours of |
| When Savalas asked who he was, the man said he | | | | the morning. Thus, Savalas eventually came to accept |
| was a baseball player with the Boston Red Sox. But | | | | that, apparently, he'd taken a ride in a car with a dead |
| Savalas had never heard of him. That was the extent | | | | man. |
| of the conversation, and the man dropped Savalas | | | | |