Film and television actor Telly Savalas starred in dozens of TV shows and movies through his long and successful career. But he was most famous for his role as ‘Kojak’, the bald New York City detective who sucked on lollipops and popularized the catchphrase “Who loves you, baby?”

       However, years before his role as ‘Kojak’, in fact years before his acting career really took off, a young Savalas had a paranormal experience that he spoke about on several occasions. It all took place one night back in 1957. Savalas was driving home from his cousin’s house on Long Island when his car ran out of gas. It was pouring rain outside but he could see the neon sign of a road side diner down the road. With no such modern devices like cell phones available, Savalas set off walking through the bad weather to see if he could find a gas station. Soak and wet, he finally reached the diner where an employee gave him directions to the nearest gas station some distance away down the road. As he set out into the rain again a man in a black Cadillac pulled up behind him. The driver rolled down his window and asked “Can I give you a lift?” In those days it wasn’t uncommon for people to stop for hitch hikers or for people to take rides from strangers. In a cold and dark rain storm, Savalas quickly accepted the man’s offer and got in the car.

       Savalas explained his situation as they drove down the road but the man was silent. He was a middle-aged man, nicely dressed in a black tuxedo with white shirt and bowtie. His hair was dark and slicked back and he had a neatly trimmed moustache; a trustworthy guy from his appearance. As the silence continued, Savalas tried to make conversation, “Where are you going, Sir?” Slowly the man turned and finally spoke “To the crossroads, to meet my destiny.” The strange response left Savalas a little uneasy but the gas station was in sight and the ride was just about over.

       As he was leaving the car Savalas thanked the man and reached for his wallet to offer him some money for his kindness. But as he checked his pocket he realized that he had forgotten his wallet at his cousin’s house. However he insisted on rewarding the man for his help and asked for his name and address so that he might send him a check later that week. Reluctantly the strange man wrote down his name, Harry Agannis, along with his address and gave Savalas a dollar so he could purchase some gas for his car (gas was much cheaper in those days). Overwhelmed with gratitude and a bit embarrassed, Savalas accepted the money and put the man’s address into his pocket. As he went into the gas station he turned back to look at the man one final time, but he was already gone.

       The next day Savalas decided to look up the man’s phone number and call him to express his appreciation once again. However a woman answered when he called, “Hello, this is Jan Agannis…” she said. “Can I speak to Harry, please?” Savalas replied. After a brief silence the woman angrily asked, “Is this some kind of joke? Who are you?” Savalas tried to calm the woman and explained that he had met Harry the night before and how he had been extremely kind in helping him out. “This is the right number?” Savalas asked. Bursting out in tears the women answered, “My husband Harry has been dead for three years!” “That’s impossible!” Savalas said, “He wrote his name and address on a piece of paper and…” Before he could finish the women shouted “Harry Agannis! That was my husband, and he’s dead!” and hung up the phone.

       Frustrated by the phone call Savalas traveled to the address and knocked on the door meeting Mrs. Agannis in person. He explained who he was and the situation again and showed her the piece of paper Harry had given him. Mrs. Agannis trembled as she recognized the handwriting and let Savalas in. He described Harry perfectly and pointed him out in photos Mrs. Agannis showed him. She went on to explain that her husband had died in a tragic car accident three years ago. It was 3:00am on a rainy night and he was returning home from a high school reunion when he was involved in a fatal accident at the ‘crossroads’ less than half a mile away from the gas station. A trailer truck had slammed into the Cadillac and Harry died from the resulting fire despite the truck driver’s efforts to save him. Savalas was haunted by the memory of this ghostly encounter for the rest of his life, despite how kind Harry Agannis had been, and he never traveled down that road again.