Welcome Back, Kotter's Robert Hegyes, Who Played Epstein, Dies

Robert Hegyes, best known for playing Juan Epstein on Welcome Back, Kotter, died Thursday from an apparent heart attack, The Star-Ledger reports. He was 60.

A New Jersey native, Hegyes studied speech and theater at Rowan University (where he taught later in his career) before finding stage work in New York both on and off Broadway.  In 1975, Hegyes was cast on...  read full article

Paid | iTunes Aired: 6/8/1979

Season 4, Episode 21
Epstein goes to interview for a new job and discovers that it's already been taken -- by Washington.

Full Episode
Paid | iTunes Aired: 6/1/1979

Season 4, Episode 20
Beau's sweet-talking to Mr. Woodman backfires when the guys accuse him of bad-mouthing them.

Full Episode
Paid | iTunes Aired: 3/3/1979

Season 4, Episode 17
Epstein is assigned to the school paper and changes it from a dull, lifeless weekly to a gossipy, sensationalist money-maker -- almost losing his friends in the process.

Full Episode
Paid | iTunes Aired: 1/13/1979

Season 4, Episode 13
Barbarino's wedding is coming up very soon and he's getting cold feet.

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Welcome Back, Kotter's Robert Hegyes, Who Played Epstein, Dies

Robert Hegyes, best known for playing Juan Epstein on Welcome Back, Kotter, died Thursday from an apparent heart attack, The Star-Ledger reports. He was 60.

A New Jersey native, Hegyes studied speech and theater at Rowan University (where he taught later in his career) before finding stage work in New York both on and off Broadway.  In 1975, Hegyes was cast on... read more

Keck's Exclusives: Who's In and Who's Out at the TV Land Awards Reunions

Last year, Kate Jackson refused to join her fellow Charlie's Angels at the TV Land Awards' tribute to Farrah Fawcett. But this year's ceremony — airing April 17 and reuniting the casts of Family Ties, The Facts of Life, The Cosby Show and Welcome Back, Kotter — is shaping up ...
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Keck's Exclusives: John Travolta To Be a Sweathog Again

After years of sending his regrets, John Travolta has finally agreed to reunite with his fellow Sweathogs for a Welcome Back, Kotter 35th anniversary reunion at April's TV Land Awards. (Perhaps Tom Hanks reconnecting with his former Bosom Buddies costars at last year's show had a little something to do with convincing him!)

Good for Travolta for hopping on board, considering he... read more

Are Fans Ready for Glee 2.0?

Imagine Glee without attention hog Rachel Berry, outspoken Kurt or ditzy Brittany. Well, a new crop of McKinley High students may be infiltrating New Directions sooner than you'd think.

Less than halfway through its sophomore season, series co-creator Ryan Murphy is already looking to the future of the popular musical comedy. He says he plans to replace the current cast with new actors once their characters graduate at the end of 2012.

Watch full episodes of Glee in our Online Video Guide

"Every year we're going to... read more

Ooh-ooh-ooh! "Horshack" Talks Up the Kotter DVD

From Mr. Peepers to Mr. Cooper, classrooms and comedy comprise a favorite TV pairing, but no show combined the two with its era better than Welcome Back, Kotter. From floppy hats and bell-bottoms to the slightly stoned-out look on the students' faces, Kotter became the 1970s for most kids. Products such as lunch boxes, board games and dolls (including a perfectly coifed John Travolta) solidified the iconic stature of the series and its cast. Ron Palillo, who played lovable schnook Horshack, took some time to raise his hand (with a quick, "Ooh-ooh-ooh!") and answer a few questions about Kotter's new Season 1 DVD (available now; read more

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Premiered: September 09, 1975, on ABC
Rating: None
User Rating: (9 ratings)
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Premise: An Emmy-nominated hit about a high-school teacher who returns to his Brooklyn alma mater, James Buchanan High, and is saddled with a class of misfits known as the Sweathogs. The series was based on the real-life experiences and stand-up of Gabe Kaplan, who was the show's cocreator. The theme song, written and performed by John Sebastian, topped the charts in 1976. The series was a star-making vehicle for John Travolta, who, during its run, did `Saturday Night Fever' and `Grease.'

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