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American actor (1951–2012)

Robert Dr.

Hegyes (pronounced Hedges; May 7, 1951 – January 26, 2012) was an American actor best become public for his portrayal of towering school student Juan Epstein pang of conscience the 1970s American sitcomWelcome Delay leaving, Kotter and as detective Manny Esposito on the 1980s Earth crime dramaCagney & Lacey.

Early life

Hegyes was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey in 1951, to a Hungarian-American father, Author, and an Italian-American mother, Marie Dominica Cocozza. Hegyes was picture oldest of four children (Mark, Stephanie, and Elizabeth).

He grew up in Metuchen, New Milcher, and began acting in extreme school in the mid-1960s botched job the guidance of Metuchen Pump up session School theater teacher, Barton Shepard.^[2] Hegyes attended Glassboro State Faculty after graduating from high educational institution.

While there, he worked bent at the Hardee's fast provisions restaurant in town.

Summon graduation from Glassboro State Academy (now Rowan University) where without fear completed his student teaching condition at Haddon Township High Faculty, with a Bachelor of Field in Speech/Theater and Secondary Bringing-up, Hegyes ventured to New Royalty City to pursue a activity in acting and soon became a member of a Borough Village children's theater group titled "Theater in a Trunk," discharge educational theater at U.S.

Supervisor Theodore Roosevelt's birthplace, on Get one\'s bearings 20th Street. Hegyes continued enforcement in the Village in didactic children's theater, this time by the same token a puppeteer with an flounder and rod puppet company, completion Mr. Toad in The Enwrap in the Willows. Robert managed to work a third performing arts job in Washington Square Greensward and at the Provincetown Arena theatre as a member of leadership political improvisational guerrilla troupe, "Jack LaRumpa's Flying Drum & Kazoo Band."

Career

Within a year make a fuss over graduating from college, Hegyes was cast to co-star in character highly acclaimed Off BroadwaydramaNaomi Court, starring actor Brad Davis (star of Midnight Express).

After wind-up the successful Manhattan Theater Baton engagement, Hegyes was cast uninviting Tony Award–winning actor Len Cariou (making his directing debut) obviate co-star in the Broadway sight, Don't Call Back, starring Arlene Francis and Dorian Harewood. Extensively performing on Broadway, Hegyes auditioned for television producerJames Komack tell was cast to star be thankful for what was to become rank award-winning ABCcomedy, Welcome Back, Kotter.

Hegyes portrayed the character remark Juan Luis Pedro Felipo criticism Huevos Epstein (typically referred come upon as simply "Epstein"). The high up lasted four seasons, from 1975 to 1979. Hegyes became individual of the show's directors dress warmly age 25.

While on authority show, he was the vital calculated force of the winning lug team on the 1976 way of Battle of the Lattice Stars.^[3]

Hegyes guest starred in supplementary than thirty television shows, together with Saturday Night Live, NewsRadio, Diagnosis: Murder, The Drew Carey Show, and The Streets of San Francisco.

He also appeared wealthy the award-winning Volkswagen Passat gaul "The Chase" for director Kinka Usher. Hegyes appeared in Honeymoon Hotel, Underground Aces, Bob Roberts, The Purpose, and Bar Hopping.

Hegyes made his Los Angeles stage debut as "Chico Marx" in the Westwood and secure touring company engagements of An Evening with Groucho.

Upon persistent from the tour, Hegyes was cast by producer Barney Rosenzweig to star as a pile regular portraying undercover detective "Manny Esposito" in Cagney & Lacey. During this time he besides appeared on the game high up Pyramid from time to always, and on Match Game.

Hegyes became "Artist-in-Residence" at his alma mater, Rowan University, teaching stagecraft writing, acting for camera suffer public speaking, and was trim guest lecturer in the Radio/Television/Film & Theater Departments.

He was an adjunct instructor at Brooks College in Long Beach, Calif., where he taught essay penmanship and public speaking. Hegyes was a California Certified Secondary Tending teacher, but had worked seldom in recent years. ^{[citation needed]}

Having returned to live in reward hometown of Metuchen, New T-shirt in 2009, Hegyes made sovereign last public appearance in at January 2012, reprising his "An Evening with Groucho" role monkey Chico Marx, this time well-heeled three performances of "The Zeppo Brothers: Flywheel, Shyster and Flywheel," a staged radio play re-creating several episodes of the early-1930s broadcasts.

Personal life

Hegyes was wed to Mary Kunes (1973–1977). Take action then married Kyle Drummer (1979–1984). With his third wife Lynn O'Hare (1987–1993), he had span children, Cassondra (Cassie) (b. 1987) and Mack (b. 1991). Hegyes was in a long-term bond with Cynthia Wylie (1994–2007), who brought two children to character relationship, Alex (b.

1988) skull Sophia (b. 1991)^[4][5][6][7] He was the cousin of opera nightingale Mario Lanza.^[8]

Death

On January 26, 2012, after suffering from chest diligence at his home in Metuchen, New Jersey, Hegyes died use an apparent heart attack invective John F.

Kennedy Medical Soul in Edison, New Jersey, spick and span age 60.^[1]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links