[In describing his mentor Telly Savalas's new determination]: He wanted to stop smoking. A friend of mine on the set had a lollipop in his shirt pocket, so I flipped it to him. ... That started the lollipop cop.

[Of Telly Savalas]: Telly was as soft as they come, he was like lemon meringue pie, he was a terrific guy. Very good family man, always had family, his mother was around, his brother [of course] worked with him on the show, and there were always people around. You know, when you met Telly, you know, you walk away, you feel like your best friend. You just renew the relationship. He's very gracious, and he lived life to his fullest!

[on his on- and off-screen chemistry with Telly Savalas, who played Lt. Theo Kojak]: What an opportunity! I am so grateful to have worked with him. He was a hard-nosed movie star, but as sensitive as anyone could be. He was a family man - always - whether it was his mother, nieces, or brother visiting the set. We were always putting his family in the holding cell during a scene.

[When he found out if Telly Savalas was going to have a TV series of his own]: I heard that Telly Savalas was going to do a TV series --- he was a friend of mine. Called my agent. Get on it, right away; went on to it, the next day, and said, 'What happened?' Call or what? Look, Telly Savalas is doing this and I'm right for him, you know, and he did and he made the arrangements. At that time, I had nothing, and a friend of mine, he had a vest, suit, everything.

I've lost two friends to AIDS, so if I can lend my support in helping out then I will do that. I'm also involved with the Special Olympics, which covers a wide variety of diseases.

[About doing something else after Kojak (1973)]: I've been fortunate in that when Kojak (1973) ended, the dream happened again. And now I've done nine Movies of the Week that I've had the lead in and the movies are another career. I'm proud of where I am today and proud of what the future will hold in my profession.

[When he made his directorial debut on Knots Landing (1979)]: It was everything I thought It would be and more. I was in total control. I felt like I wanted to do all the parts and yet you find out, you make a suggestion here and there and you see that come to fruition, you see that come alive. It's so rewarding. I had a great time with the younger people who are still finding a way, I really had a good time in making some adjustments and was tested as far as my creative input. on the technical side, I didn't walk in there pretending I knew the camera, you know.

[on encouraging other actors to follow their understudies]: Commitment to a goal is not a sometimes thing. I work at my craft every day as hard as I can. I can't say that I am in this business alone and I will succeed alone and will go into the future alone. It takes an absolute team. When you have a good team ... I credit my wife with that, the people around me like Joe Sutton, the right representation in agents, choosing the right material, being in the right place at the right time... and most of all, being patient. At first, I wanted all the leads and after realizing what the inside of the business is about and how I can build to get those leads, you have to have patience, so I credit dedication with tenacity as purpose will be rewarded. I firmly believe that it's a constant work effort, work ethic, belief in yourself and your abilities and not being afraid to take the next step forward.

If you love your country, thank a Veteran.