Ronald Gabriel Palillo(April 2, 1949 – August 14, 2012) was an American actor and teacher.[3][4]He was best known for his role as the endearingly dim-witted characterArnold Horshackon theABCsitcomWelcome Back, Kotter(1975–1979).[5][6]
Ron Palillo | |
|---|---|
 Ron Palillo in 1975 | |
| Born | Ronald Gabriel Paolillo[1] April 2, 1949 |
| Died | August 14, 2012(aged 63) |
| Resting place | St. Lawrence Cemetery |
| Other names | Ronald G. Paolillo (as illustrator) |
| Alma mater | University of Connecticut |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1975–2012 |
| Partner | Joseph Gramm (1971–2012; Palillo's death)[2] |
Early life and education
editRonald Gabriel Paolillo was born inNew Haven, Connecticut,to Italian-Americans[7]Gabriel and Carmel Paolillo, and raised in nearbyCheshire.His father died of lung cancer when he was 10 years old.[8]He graduated fromCheshire High School[9]and theUniversity of ConnecticutatStorrs,where he would teach in the 1990s.[4]He attendedFairfield Universitywhile pursuing a postgraduate degree. He adopted the last namePalillofor his acting career.
Career
edit
In 1975, Palillo was cast as Arnold Horshack, one of the misfit "sweathogs" in the high school sitcomWelcome Back, Kotter,whose antics made him one of the standout characters of the series. In the last season of the series, a backdoor pilot episode for a spin-off series featuring Horshack was produced, but the series was not developed.[10][11]
FollowingKotter,Palillo appeared in leading and supporting roles in various television series and films. He voiced characters on such animated series asLaverne & Shirley in the Army,Darkwing Duck,andRubik, the Amazing Cube,in which he played the lead character. In 1996, Palillo played himself in several episodes of the television sitcomEllen,playing the love interest of Ellen's friend Audrey. Palillo also spent a year on the daytime showOne Life to Liveand also acted inFriday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives(1986), and the lead inThe Curse of Micah Rood.[12][better source needed]
He returned to New York in 1991, and played such stage roles as Mozart inAmadeusand regionally as George inWho's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?,Arthur inCamelotand Nathan Detroit inGuys and Dolls.He appeared on Broadway in 2008 inBroadway Backwards 4,a charity event benefitingBroadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDSand The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center. Among his other New York City credits were a one-person show in 2000 where he portrayed Nazi criminalAdolf EichmanninThe Diary of Adolf Eichmannoff-Broadway.[13]Palillo, in a newspaper interview in 1997, said he lamented his role as Horshack as he was permanently typecast, which he believed had damaged his career.[14]The following year Palillo starred inThe Fourposterat theWayside Theatrein Middletown, Virginia.[15][16]
As a director, Palillo directed successful productions of the musicalThree Guys Naked From The Waist Downin Los Angeles,A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline,and a new edition ofPhantom of the Operaat the Cuillo Center for the Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.[17]In 2007, he introduced a clothing line specializing in limited-edition T-shirts produced by Rotter and Friends. Palillo was also an artist, providing artwork for two children's books:The Red Wings of ChristmasandA Gift for the Contessa.[18]
In 2006, his first full-length play,The Lost Boy,the true story ofPeter PanauthorJ. M. Barrie,[19]premiered at the Helen Hayes Theatre inNyack, New York,and later played at theQueens Theatre in the Parkin Queens, New York, and at El Dorado Springs High School inEl Dorado Springs, Missouri.[18]
He taught freshman drama atG-Star School of the Artsfor Motion Pictures and Broadcasting inPalm Springs, Florida.[20][21]
Personal life and death
editPalillo and his partner of 41 years, Joseph Gramm, lived inPalm Beach Gardens, Florida.[22][23]On August 14, 2012, Palillo suffered a heart attack at his home and was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. He died seven months after co-starRobert Hegyes,who also died from a heart attack.[23][24][25]
Palillo's funeral service was held in Palm Beach Gardens on August 22, 2012.[26]He is buried at St. Lawrence Cemetery inWest Haven, Connecticut.[27]A memorial tribute, directed byLawrence Leritzand hosted byTyne Daly,was held to honor and celebrate Palillo's life and career at New York City'sTriad Theatreon October 3, 2012.[18]
Filmography
edit| Film and television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975–1979 | Welcome Back, Kotter | Arnold Horshack | 94 episodes |
| 1976 | Mr. T and Tina | Arnold Horshack | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1979 | The Love Boat | Al Breyer | Episode: "Gopher's Opportunity / The Switch / Home Sweet Home" S2 E15 |
| 1979 | $weepstake$ | Harold | Episode: "Dewey and Harold and Sarah and Maggie" |
| 1979 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible | Hevet | Episode: "The Tower of Babel" |
| 1979 | Skatetown, U.S.A. | Frankey | Feature film |
| 1981 | The Love Boat | Casper Martin | Episode: "Lose One, Win One / The $10,000 Lover/Mind My Wife" |
| 1981–1982 | Laverne & Shirley in the Army | Sgt. Squealy | Voice, 13 episodes |
| 1981 | Alice | Mutner | Episode: "The Wild One" |
| 1982 | Mork & Mindy/Laverne & Shirley/Fonz Hour | Sgt. Squealy | Voice, 8 episodes (Laverne & Shirley with the Fonzsegment) |
| 1983 | Rubik, the Amazing Cube | Rubik | Voice, 13 episodes |
| 1983 | The A-Team | Zack | Episode: "Mexican Slayride" |
| 1983 | CHiPs | Nick | Episode: "Journey to a Spacecraft" |
| 1983 | The Invisible Woman | Spike Mitchell | TV film |
| 1983 | Matt Houston | Charley Arbis | Episode: "The Beverly Woods Social Club" |
| 1984 | Surf II | Inspector Underpants | Feature film |
| 1984 | Murder, She Wrote | Norman Lester, Esq. | Episode: "Hooray for Homicide" |
| 1985 | Doin' Time | Pappion | Feature film |
| 1985 | Pound Puppies | Scrounger | Voice, TV special |
| 1986 | Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives | Allen Hawes | Feature film |
| 1986 | Trapper John, M.D. | Kussman | Episode: "Elusive Butterfly" |
| 1986 | Cagney & Lacey | Mr. Larkin | Episode: "Rites of Passage" |
| 1987–1988 | Little Clowns of Happytown | Whiner | Voice, 18 episodes |
| 1988 | Superman | Additional voices | Episode: "Night of the Living Shadows / Graduation" |
| 1989 | Snake Eater | Torchy | Feature film |
| 1989 | Hellgate | Matt | Feature film |
| 1989 | Snake Eater II: The Drug Buster | Torchy | Feature film |
| 1990 | The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda | Additional voices | Episode: "Pity the Poor Pirate" |
| 1990 | Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone | Additional voices | 13 episodes; akaPotsworth & Co. |
| 1991 | Committed | Ronnie | Feature film |
| 1991 | Darkwing Duck | Ordinary Guy | Voice, Episode: "Planet of the Capes" |
| 1992 | Wind | Tony | Feature film |
| 1992 | Phil Donahue Show | Himself | Famous Past Celebrities |
| 1994 | One Life to Live | Gary Warren | Daytime drama |
| 1996 | Ellen | Himself | Sitcom, 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Mr. Rhodes | Arnold Horshack | Episode: "The Welcome Back Show" |
| 1997 | Duckman | Himself | Episode: "Westward, No!" |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star | Himself | Cameo, Feature film |
| 2003 | Style Court | Juror | Episode #2.26 |
| 2004 | Trees 2: The Root of All Evil | Dougie Styles | Feature film |
| 2008 | The Curse of Micah Rood | Micah Rood | Short film |
| 2010 | The Guardians | Professor Walker | Feature film |
| 2010 | It's a Dog Gone Tale: Destiny's Stand | Randolph Baines | Feature film (final film role) |
References
edit- ^Diaz, Johnny (August 14, 2012)."Ron Palillo, of 'Welcome Back, Kotter' fame, 63".South Florida Sun-Sentinel.Fort Lauderdale. Archived fromthe originalon February 3, 2013.
- ^Kinser, Jeremy (August 14, 2012)."Welcome Back Kotter's Ron Palillo Dies".The Advocate.
- ^"Ron Palillo".Movies & TV Dept.The New York Times.2012. Archived fromthe originalon August 18, 2012 – viaBaseline&All Movie Guide.
- ^abVitello, Paul (August 14, 2012)."Ron Palillo Dies at 63; Played Horshack on TV".The New York Times.
- ^"So Soon, Another Sweathog Is Gone".The New York Times.August 14, 2012.
- ^Hinckley, David (August 14, 2012)."Ron Palillo dead at 63: Actor best known to TV audiences as Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter'".Daily News.New York.
- ^Erstein, Hap (May 7, 1996)."Ron Palillo's Welcome Back".The Palm Beach Post.
- ^"Welcome back, Kotter actor Ron Palillo dead at 63".Associated Press. August 14, 2012.
- ^"Cheshire's 'Kotter' connection now a teacher".Republican-American.November 26, 2010.RetrievedApril 25,2021.
- ^"7 potential spinoffs that never saw the light of day".Me-TV Network.September 2, 2016.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
- ^"Ooh-ooh-ooh!" Horshack "Talks Up the Kotter DVD".TV Guide.June 12, 2007.RetrievedJanuary 19,2019.
- ^"The Curse of Micah Rood (Short 2008)".IMDb.
- ^Rizzo, Frank."Connecticut's Ron Palillo, Horshack in" Kotter ", Dead at 63".Hartford Courant.RetrievedJanuary 10,2022.
- ^"Ron Palillo hurt by Arnold Horshack role in Kotter series".Big News Network.United Press International.Archived fromthe originalon November 9, 2013.RetrievedAugust 23,2012.
- ^Horan Jr., John (May 22, 1998). "Palillo, Moran lack required chemistry in 'The Fourposter'".The Northern Virginia Daily.pp. D-1.
- ^Laster, James H."Owens: Production Chronology".allaboutwayside.RetrievedMay 26,2023.
- ^"Ron Palillo".ronpalillo.
- ^abc"Ron Palillo Tribute to be Held at the Triad, 10/3".BroadwayWorld.September 3, 2012.
- ^Simonson, Robert."Ron Palillo, Horshack of" Welcome Back, Kotter ", Dies at 63".Playbill.Archived fromthe originalon October 6, 2012.RetrievedJanuary 25,2021.
- ^"'Welcome Back, Kotter' actor teaches drama in Fla ".USA Today.Associated Press.October 19, 2009.
- ^Freeman, Marc (September 5, 2009)."Former Sweathog, actor Ron Palillo, now a teacher in Palm Beach County".South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
- ^Streeter, Leslie Gray (August 14, 2012)."Obituary: Ron Palillo, 63, 'Kotter' star, G-star teacher".The Palm Beach Post.RetrievedJanuary 28,2021.
- ^abSilverman, Stephen (August 14, 2012)."Welcome Back, Kotter Actor Ron Palillo Dies".People.RetrievedAugust 14,2012.
- ^Moore, Frazier(August 14, 2012)."Ron Palillo, actor who played nerdy teen Arnold Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter' dies at 63".The Washington Post.Associated Press. Archived fromthe originalon April 28, 2018.
- ^"Ron Palillo, TV's Horshack, dies at 63".Variety.August 14, 2012.
- ^Streeter, Leslie Gray (August 20, 2012)."Service for actor, teacher Ron Palillo".The Palm Beach Post.RetrievedAugust 21,2012.
- ^Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016).Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons(3d ed.). McFarland.ISBN978-1-4766-2599-7.
