Robert Hegyes, Epstein of ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Fame, Dead at 60

[The Straight Story]

Robert Hegyes, Epstein of ‘Welcome Back Kotter’ Fame, Dead at 60



Robert “Bobby” Hegyes, best known for playing Juan Epstein on “Welcome Back Kotter,” died in his Metuchen, N.J. home today.

He was 60.

Hegyes’ brother told New Jersey’s Star-Ledger that Hegyes, who also starred on “Cagney and Lacey,” had suffered a heart attack a few years ago and was in poor health.

Police responded to a call for assistance at his home this morning.

They found Hegyes suffering from chest pains; he was taken to a hospital in Edison, N. J., but by the time he reached the emergency room, he went into full cardiac arrest and died, a hospital spokesman told the paper.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2012/01/robert-hegyes-epstein-of-welcome-back-kotter-fame-dead-at-60/

[BeyondGeography]

1. Loved him in that role

RIP

[demtenjeep]

2. awww

Loved that show!

[Archae]

3. Juan Epstein is dead, that's why he can't come to school today.

-Signed, Epstein's Mother.

[thelordofhell]

4. Please excuse Epstein from this mortal coil

Signed,
Epstein's Mother

R.I.P. Robert Hegyes

[Liberal_in_LA]

5. That was one of my fav shows. RIP Epstein

[joeybee12]

6. Aw, that's too young...RIP

[Ruby the Liberal]

7. Wow. RIP Epstein.

{Insert note from Epstein's mother}

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Juan Epstein was 60???

Shit. I'm getting old.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

9. Sometimes I feel like I've missed out on some big stuff

I have no idea who this gentleman was, his character or the show but everybody else remembers him so fondly.

[The Straight Story]

10. It's an old people thing. My mom used to talk about movie stars dying I never heard of

Now I am the old timer

[Nuclear Unicorn]

12. It's a good thing I'm not getting older!

[karynnj]

13. So true for me too

I remember my parents once commenting how it was strange that it was their "young" heroes in movies, sports, politics etc were dying. That comment somehow stuck in my mind - and I guess first really hit when George Harrison died.

[KatyaR]

15. Here's a good clip to give you an idea...

these days it reminds me of the Three Stooges....

(note James Woods as the other teacher and, of course, John Travolta)

[link:

|

[The Straight Story]

16. lol classic

I miss the sweat hogs

[NoGOPZone]

17. Funny video. Both Debralee Scott and John Sylvester White, the cheerleader and the principal

have also passed. RIP Robert.

[powergirl]

11. Peace Be With You

I loved your show so much.

[niyad]

14. requiescat in pacem.

last week, I caught a few minutes of a biography of john travolta, which happened to be a segment on the "welcome back, kotter" cast, including hegyes.

[Tx4obama]

18. R.I.P. :(

[TwilightGardener]

19. Wow, that's too bad. I can't believe he was 60.

[zappaman]

20. He was a Venice guy.

RIP.

Venice resident Robert Hegyes passed on this morning of an apparent heart attack at his home in Metuchen, N.J.. The actor and director, best known for his role as Juan Epstein on Welcome Back Kotter, also had a residence for many years in Venice where he was friends to many. Epstein was 60.

In 2007, Epstein was often seen around town shooting his webisode “The Venice Walk”, a series about “the lives and adventures of a retired NYPD Gang cop turned Venice Beach Juvenile Probation Officer, and the seven Venice High School delinquents who must report to him in the fabled high-crime, high-drama, high-energy world of Venice Beach.”

http://www.yovenice.com/2012/01/26/rip-robert-hegyes/

[napkinz]

21. I saw him on TV Land awards show a few months back

He didn't look well then.