Sad news. One of the original Sweathogs from the 1970's hot TV series Welcome Back Kotter has died. Robert Hegyes, known to most people as Juan Epstein, the student who always seemed to be cutting class due to a note signed from "Epstein's mother" explaining his absences, died of an apparent heart attack. He had been in ailing health for several years prior to his death. He was 60.

http://tv.msn.com/tv/arti...ews=698890

I loved that show when I was a kid.

R.I.P.

My sister just called and told me.

damn... rip

Dayum!! I grew up with that show. RIP

RIP.

Aww man, not Epstein.

Up your nose with a rubber hose! I loved the Sweathogs. My mother would tell us not to say those things.

He provided lots of laughs for me in the 70's

as a kid. R.I.P

luv4u said:

Dayum!! I grew up with that show. RIP

RIP.

read about this today n felt some breath leave me for a minute, i teared up.

[Edited 1/26/12 21:14pm]

I remember when the show used to air at Nick at Nite when I was 11 and it continued until 13 I believe. Epstein was great as were the other characters on the show.

Aside from the show's theme song (...which was a huge hit that constantly played on the radio), I don't remember ever being much of a fan of "Welcome Back Kotter". I think it was because my family must have been watching "The Walton's" instead during that time slot. Just the same, you couldn't be living in the 70's without knowing about The Sweathogs, and all their various catch-phrases. May Robert Hegyes be resting peacefully - he was definitely an icon of my time.

Awww...RIP Epstein! I just found out. That was my show and theme song growing up. I have the first season on dvd. Glad he attended the reunion at the TV Land awards last year.

RIP Epstein

I'll steal this pic from the other thread which was locked.Looks like it's from a recent reunion of the cast....

I'm a huge fan of this show.I have Season One on DVD and I'm waiting for them to finally release the other seasons.Back in 1976,I even had a 'Welcome Back Kotter' lunchbox!

RIP

PDogz said:

Aside from the show's theme song (...which was a huge hit that constantly played on the radio), I don't remember ever being much of a fan of "Welcome Back Kotter". I think it was because my family must have been watching "The Walton's" instead during that time slot. Just the same, you couldn't be living in the 70's without knowing about The Sweathogs, and all their various catch-phrases. May Robert Hegyes be resting peacefully - he was definitely an icon of my time.

Loved the Waltons. Looved Welcome Back Kotter. Bits of my childhood just keeps slippin away.

Juan Luis Pedro Phillipo de Huevos Epstein

oh Nooooooooooooooooooo

RiP

imago said:

Wow ...Look at him he was handsome 60 years old that's way too young. RIP

SoulAlive said:

I'm a huge fan of this show.I have Season One on DVD and I'm waiting for them to finally release the other seasons.Back in 1976,I even had a 'Welcome Back Kotter' lunchbox!

That is so . If we'd kept half the shit from our youth we'd have fortune.

My father now has an opportunity to meet one of the Sweathogs. I already know he is hanging out with Elvis, Charles Bronson, and Grandpa Walton. Epstein would surely be welcome to join them in a game of cellestial Texas Hold'Em.

RIP

Juan, for me, you were an excellent flim-flam artist, a consummate sweathog, & the world's foremost Puerto Rican Jew.

"Today you are excused from class due to illness.
Signed: Epstein's Mother's Doctor."

R.I.P.

SoulAlive said:

I'll steal this pic from the other thread which was locked.Looks like it's from a recent reunion of the cast....

No horseshack?? and why is Lily Tomlin there?

>>> <<< Rest In Peace >>> <<<

MadamGoodnight said:

Aww man, not Epstein.

Up your nose with a rubber hose! I loved the Sweathogs. My mother would tell us not to say those things.

And twice as far with a chocolate bar