From TMZ:
Ron Palillo — the actor who played Horshack on “Welcome Back, Kotter” — died this morning at his home near Palm Beach, FL from an apparent heart attack … this according to someone close to the actor.
We’re told Palillo was found by his partner of many years Joseph Gramm around 4:00 AM. Gramm called an ambulance and Palillo was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
We’re told the heart attack was very unexpected. Palillo was 63.
According to one of Palillo’s colleagues at G-Star School of the Arts, Palillo had appeared to be in good health … but was a heavy smoker. We’re told he had been suffering from a bad cough and had even scheduled a doctor’s appointment for today.
Sad. Especially sad that he was allegedly pretty healthy, despite the smoking-and-cold thing. I’ll always remember this scene most of all:
He was definitely my fave Sweathog.
RIP