(Edison, NJ) — The Sweathogs are in mourning. Robert Hegyes, best known for playing Juan Epstein on TV’s “Welcome Back Kotter,” has died.
The New Jersey “Star Ledger” says Hegyes passed away after suffering a heart attack Thursday. He was 60. Playing proud “Puerto Rican-Jew” Juan Epstein in “Kotter,” Hegyes was a member of James Buchanan High School’s misfit class known as the Sweathogs. The primary group also included Sweathog heartthrob and leader Vinnie Barbarino, played by a young John Travolta; basketball rep and bass pretender Freddie “Boom Boom” Washington, played by Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs; and class clown Arnold Horshack, played by Ron Palillo. Gabe Kaplan played the Sweathogs’ teacher Gabe Kotter for whom the show was titled.
“Welcome Back Kotter” aired from 1975 to 1979 on ABC. Hegyes also directed several of the show’s episodes. His later acting credits included TV’s “Cagney & Lacey.”
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Suzanne Wilson/jql
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Metro Networks Inc.
01-27-2012 01:13:40
