Robert Hegyes as Juan Epstein on 'Welcome Back, Kotter,' 1975

NJ.com (New Jersey On-Line) is reporting that actor Robert Hegyes, of Welcome Back, Kotter fame, has died of an apparent heart attack at age 60. Mr. Hegyes passed away “after suffering chest pains at his Metuchen home this morning.”

Hegyes, who said he modeled the character of Juan Luis Pedro Philippo DeHuevos Epstein after Chico Marx, suffered a heart attack a number of years back and was in failing health. We’ll miss you, Robert. Thanks for the laughs.

Enjoy a nice, long segment from the first episode of Kotter, featuring Epstein and fellow Sweathogs, below.

*Note: The original video we linked to has been taken down. Enjoy this substitute.