By April MacIntyre Jan 27, 2012, 14:07 GMT
This news is hard to process, but Robert Hegyes, who starred in my favorite '70s hit comedy that was never missed in my home, "Welcome Back Kotter," has died.
The classic TV show featured the antics of a group of less-than-stellar New York city high school kids, starring Hegyes, John Travolta, Ron Palillo, Gabe Kaplan and Lawrence-Hilton Jacobs.
Hegyes portrayed Epstein, aka Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein, the Jewish Puerto Rican fast-talker with a heart of gold.
Hegyes died from an apparent heart attack after suffering chest pains at his Metuchen home. He was 60.
The group, known as the Sweathogs, reunited last year at the TV Land Awards to recognize the show's 35th anniversary.
On his website, Hegyes wrote that he was influenced for his role by Chico Marx, and he was on record as being a big fan of the Marx Brothers: "They were immigrant Jews, and I was an immigrant Italian. Groucho, Harpo, Chico, Gummo, and Zeppo were intellectuals ... They all played the piano and took music lessons, and they were all juvenile delinquents; I could definitely relate."
According to CNN, Hegyes was experiencing chest pains and was taken to JFK Medical Center in Edison, police said. By the time he arrived at the emergency room at 9:40 a.m., he was in full cardiac arrest and died, according to hospital spokesman Steven Weiss.
His visitation reportedly is scheduled at Flynn & Son Funeral Home at 23 Ford Ave., Fords, on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The funeral will take place during the evening visiting hours.
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