'Welcome Back, Kotter's' Horshack, Ron Palillo, dies

[rug]

By Claudine Zap | Yahoo! TV – 1 hour 12 minutes ago

Ron Palillo, the class clown from "Welcome Back, Kotter," has died. The actor best known as Arnold Horshack from the 1970s sitcom was 63. TMZ reports the cause of death was a heart attack.

According to TMZ, the actor was having difficulty early in the morning. His longtime partner, Joseph Gramm, a retired actor, called 911. The star was rushed to Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center by ambulance where he was pronounced dead.

Palillo was best known for his role as a "Sweathog" at the remedial high school in the comedy. The University of Connecticut grad spent the last three years of his life teaching acting at the charter school G-Star Academy.

The site Gossip Extra notes that Palillo moved to the gated community of Mirasol when he started teaching at the West Palm Beach charter school for students interested in TV and movies. The site adds that the star fell in love with the area after he performed in a play.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/-welcome-back--kotter-s--horshack--ron-palillo--dies.html

Do not ask what his last words were.

R.I.P.

[OriginalGeek]

1. Well that sucks

Lotsa good laughs from him and Mr. Kotter.

I know a lot of my teachers were totally over "OH OH OH, MR. _______" (whatever their name was). but it cracked me and my Jr High friends up.

[beknighted]

2. 2012 has not been kind to the Sweathogs

RIP