Ron Palillo of "Welcome Back, Kotter" dead at 63

Ron Palillo arrives at the TV Land Awards on June 8, 2008, in Santa Monica, Calif.

/ Getty

(CBS News) Actor Ron Palillo, who played Arnold Horshack on the 1970s TV series "Welcome Back, Kotter," died Tuesday morning. He was 63.

Pictures: Ron Palillo

Officer Lovejoy of the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department confirmed Palillo's death to CBS News, noting that Palillo was transported from his Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. home to a nearby hospital, where he died.

Although the police department offered no further details, Palillo's friend, Karen Poindexter, told The Associated Press that Palillo died of an apparent heart attack.

Born on April 2, 1949 in Cheshire, Conn., Palillo graduated high school and went on to study at the University of Connecticut, where he starred in various plays.

Palillo starred as the Brooklyn, N.Y. teenager in ABC's "Welcome Back, Kotter" from 1975 to 1979. His class clown character used to shout out a series of "Ooohs" when a teacher asked a question. The show also featured break-out star John Travolta as Vinny Barbarino. The Associated Press reports that Palillo once spoke about playing Horshack to the Birmingham News. "While I loved him, I really loved him, I didn't want to do him forever," he said.

After the series ended, Palillo made appearances on "Alice," Laverne & Shirley" and "The A-Team." In 1996, he guest-starred as himself on the TV series, "Ellen." Four years later, he was defeated by "Saved By the Bell" star Dustin Diamond on Fox's "Celebrity Boxing 2."

Most recently, Palillo taught acting classes at the Palm Springs-based G-Star School of the Arts.

According to The Palm Beach Post, Palillo is survived by Joseph Gramm, his partner of 41 years.

"Welcome Back, Kotter" lost another cast member this year. Actor Robert Hegyes, who played Juan Epstein on the sitcom, died in January at 60.

11 Photos

Ron Palillo: 1949-2012

[Transatlantique]

Wow, he had a partner of 41 years. That means they were together when "WBK" was being filmed. I hadn't been made aware that he was gay.

[honestabe8]

Does it matter?

I was not aware the Billy Preston was gay until I read Keith Richards' book LIFE

[Bojax39]

by honestabe8: "I was not aware the Billy Preston was gay until I read Keith Richards' book LIFE"

Does it matter?

[Mr_WangChung]

Wow, unbelievable. Another wonderful childhood memory - Welcome Back Kotter was one of my all-time favorites and Horshack and Epstein were my two favorite characters....It's a shame, a real shame.

[honestabe8]

what is shameful about it?

[Valhalla0907]

Loved the show! I had a crush on Robert Hegyes, sorry to hear he passed. RIP Horshack, you were the original nerd.

[honestabe8]

I did not have a crush on Robert Hegyes, but when I was in high school I had a thing for Marcia Brady. Luckily, I was always able to keep a book in front of it so no one noticed

[johngarvey]

The art of acting is portraying the role that is written on the script, regardless of who you actually are. As a matter of fact, how do you think most Americans select and choo se their next president.
His appearance or his policy ?

[skeezix06]

He'd appear on the screen and I'd start laughing. RIP.

[credibility2]

God bless him...thanks for all of the laughs...

[marine1957]

newster90210:
It appears credibility2 specified which God by capitalizing His name.
Merriam-Webster: 1 capitalized : the supreme or ultimate reality: as a : the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe

[Philaman01]

Thanks for the laughs, Ron! RIP.

[jgnv]

Third celebrity we've lost this year who died from a heart attack in their sixties. Let's all try to be a little kinder to one another and realize that we should treasure whatever time we have to spend with loved ones.

[ralphing]

He was gay?

Confirms what I suspected when the show was on the air back in the 70's.

[thatchmo62]

Up your nose with a rubber hose. Who cares. He was great at his role as were the rest of the cast. They personified the 70's perfectly. RIP Horshack.

[honestabe8]

why does it matter?

[honestabe8]

26 to 30 years old. Did you really think he was a teenager on the show?