You know it’s a sad state of affairs when the Sweathogs start dying.
Robert Hegyes, the actor who played Jewish Puerto Rican student Juan Epstein on the ’70s sitcom Welcome Back Kotter has died. He was 60 years old.
Hegyes was appearing on Broadway in 1975 when he auditioned for Welcome Back Kotter, a show about a teacher who heads back to the New York City school he attended as a youth to teach a group of outcasts nicknamed the “Sweathogs”.
The band of misfits included the character Vinnie Barbarino, who was played by John Travolta.
The show’s theme song, by John Sebastian, became a pop hit.
Hegyes also appeared on other TV series, including Cagney & Lacey.
On his official website, Hegyes says he was inspired by Chico Marx, whom he had once portrayed in a show production of a show about the Marx Bros.
Related articles
- Robert Hegyes of ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Dead at 60 (celebs.gather.com)
- Robert Hegyes, Welcome Back Kotter Star, Dies at 60 (thehollywoodgossip.com)
- Robert Hegyes, played Epstein on ‘Kotter,’ dies (pbpulse.com)
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