"Welcome Back, Kotter" Star Dies In S. Fla. Home

PALM BEACH GARDENS (CBSMiami) – Actor Ron Palillo, who played goofy class clown Arnold Horshack on the 1970s TV series "Welcome Back, Kotter" died Tuesday at his home in Palm Beach Gardens, according to the Palm Beach Gardens Police Department.

Palillo could not be revived after suffering an apparent heart attack at his home about 4 a.m., said Karen Poindexter, a close friend of the actor. He was pronounced dead at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center.

Palillo moved to Palm Beach Gardens about three years ago, where he was an acting teacher at the G-Star School of the Arts, a charter school for child actors.

Palillo was practically a child himself when he played Horshack on the sitcom which also starred Gabe Kaplan and a young John Travolta. The students in the class were known as Sweathogs, an unruly group of students who were always in trouble.

Palillo was 63.

He is survived by his partner of 41 years, Joseph Gramm, a retired actor.