Robert Hegyes, Juan Epstein of 'Welcome Back Kotter' dead at 60

The Star-Ledger ^ | January 26, 2012 | Vicki Hyman

[vetvetdoug]

RIP Juan. Interesting link provided. The sequence provided from Welcome Back Kotter highlighted the group with Juan but the debate teacher from the other side was James Woods!

[Tanniker Smith]

He died. Did he have a note?

[righttackle44]

Ellen is his sister. In Saturday Night Fever, she was the gal in the pizza shop who says, "How many, Tony? One or two?" at the opening when he's coming back to the paint shop.

[Tanniker Smith]

You can look it up but I believe Ellen in John’s sister, and she played (IIRC) Horshack’s mother in a few episode that would have set up a spin-off series for Horshack.

[dfwgator]

The Death Certificate was signed, “Epstein’s Mother”.

[Hunton Peck]

“That ‘Ellen Travolta’”

Thank goodness. If it had turned out to be “Hotsie” Totsie, I might have lost my will to live.

[rabidralph]

Vernee Watson played Freddie's girlfriend on the show. She still looks good after all these years. I've seen her in a few commercials recently.

[dfwgator]

I seem to recall the Hotsie Totsie actress passed on awhile back.

[Zionist Conspirator]

Very sorry to hear this.

[Zionist Conspirator]

What? No Horshack?

[Hunton Peck]

I just looked it up and you’re right! In 2005, of unknown causes.

There’s other strange trivia about her (Debralee Scott) in her IMDB profile.

[Vendome]

Damn it!

Too young.

Rest in Peace.

I’d send a note but....

[Old Sarge]

So long, Robert, and thank you for the memories. You went far too young.

[Vendome]

Yes. His Mom wrote a note excusing him from living.

[Vendome]

I’ll remember his tomorrow for Shabot.

Then I will do a Shiva for a couple of minutes.

[GreenHornet]

I seem to recall the Hotsie Totsie actress passed on awhile back.

Unfortunately, that's true. Debra Lee Scott passed away about 7 years ago. I believe she was in her early 50s. She was engaged to a police officer who was killed in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center.

[Vendome]

1st Puerto Rican Jew

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

Ah, Marcia Strassman. One of the TV crushes of my youth. I think it was the glasses.

[Dysart]

OH DAMN

I used to tote this to skrool everyday Man, I thought I was badass. It was a walk of about 3 miles(at least--and it snowed often), and that little lunchbox survived not only all manner of foul weather but the abuse of crystalized rock samples (I thought they held magical properties and I still haven't seen evidence that they don't) I gathered on the journey homeward. Epstein was by far my favorite Sweathog...he was the tough one, with whom I, as a metal lunchbox brandishing urchin with ragged, sleeveless T's, could readily identify. RIP

[Scoutmaster]

Welcome back; your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back to the same old place you laughed about...

Ah. The theme song by John Sebastian. Formerly of the Lovin' Spoonful (Zal Yanovsky's the only other member I remember).