Robert Hegyes, one of the Sweathogs on the immortal New York high school comedy “Welcome Back, Kotter,” died Thursday after suffering apparent heart failure at his Metuchen, N.J., home.He was taken to JFK Hospital in Edison, where he was pronounced dead. He was 60 and had been in poor health since a heart attack several years ago.
On “Kotter,” Hegyes played Juan Luis Pedro Philippo DeHuevos Epstein, a Puerto Rican Jew who was known for his tall hair, short stature, big mouth and large attitude.
His signatures on the show included a large red handkerchief in his rear pocket. He also wrote regular notes to the teacher, Gabe KaplanÂ’s Mr. Kotter, that asked he be excused from various activities, including his classes.
They were always signed, “Epstein’s Mother,” and when Kotter read them aloud, Epstein would mouth the words.
Born in Perth Amboy, N.J., Hegyes graduated from Metuchen High School and Glassboro State College, now Rowan University, before moving to New York to join a childrenÂ’s acting company, Theater in a Trunk.
He auditioned for the Epstein role and landed it, playing alongside John TravoltaÂ’s Vinnie Barbarino, Ron PalilloÂ’s Arnold Horshak and Lawrence Hilton-JacobsÂ’ Boom Boom Washington.
Most of the cast reunited last year at the TV Land Awards to mark the showÂ’s 35th anniversary.
After “Kotter” he stayed in acting, guesting on shows like “NewsRadio,” “Drew Carey” and “Saturday Night Live.”
He became a regular as Detective Manny Epstein on “Cagney and Lacey.”
He always said his acting idol was Chico Marx, whom he would occasionally imitate on “Kotter,” and he played Chico in a stage production of “An Evening With Groucho.”