Ving Rhames Is The New Kojak
Posted by Nick Sellers on 01.11.2003
He's gonna get medieval on your ass with that lollipop
Character actor Ving Rhames has agreed to star in a Kojak made-for-tv movie. Kojak was originally a television series from 1973-78, and was played by the late Telly Savalas.
USA Network President Doug Herzog had been looking through Universal's old titles and Rhames immediately came to mind as Kojak. Says Herzog, "We went right to him and he immediately responded to the idea. We are feeling like we are really lucky to have him now."
Herzog went on to say that whether Rhames decides to adopt the trademark lollipop and phrase "Who loves ya, baby?" is up to the star and the writers.
Filmgoers may remember Rhames as Marcellus Wallace in "Pulp Fiction", Omar in the 1994 remake of "Kiss of Death", and as Luther Stickell in the "Mission: Impossible" films. He also won a Golden Globe Award in 1997 for his portrayal as Don King in the HBO film "Don King: Made In America." Incidentally, he would not accept the award and instead gave it to Jack Lemmon.
