"Welcome Back, Kotter" fans are mourning the loss of Ron Palillo, who died of a heart attack Tuesday at 63. As Arnold Horshack, one of the "Sweathogs," on the ABC series, Palillo was beloved by viewers for his unique laugh and "Oooh! Oooh!" catchphrase.
John Travolta's role as Vinnie Barbarino preceded many of the actor's shining moments, such as his starring roles in "Saturday Night Fever," "Look Who's Talking" and "Pulp Fiction." Travolta currently plays Dennis in "Savages" and will next appear as Emil Kovac in 2013's "Killing Season."
Since creating and starring in "Welcome Back, Kotter," comedian Gabe Kaplan, 67, had shown up in several projects, including the short-lived NBC sitcom "Lewis & Clark."
Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, 58, has continued acting since making a name for himself as Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington. He took on the role of Joseph Jackson in the 1992 TV movie "The Jacksons: An American Dream," and has appeared on shows like "Roseanne," "Moesha" and "Gilmore Girls."
After playing Julie Kotter, Marcia Strassman, 64, forayed into family films playing Diane Szalinski in 1989's "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" and 1992's "Honey I Blew Up the Kid." She's also been on several short-lived series, such as "Booker," "Noah Knows Best" and "Tremors."
Mr. Michael Woodman, the vice principal-turned-principal of Buchanan High, was played by John Sylvester White. He died in September 1988 -- almost 10 years after the show went off the air.
After "Welcome Back, Kotter," Robert Hegyes played Det. Manny Esposito on CBS' "Cagney & Lacey" in the late 1980s. Hegyes died in January at 60.
- Palillo played Arnold Horshack on "Welcome Back, Kotter"
- He died of a heart attack in Florida at age 63, his agent said
- He had been teaching acting to high school students
(CNN) -- Actor Ron Palillo, who played class clown Arnold Horshack on the 1970s television comedy "Welcome Back, Kotter," has died at age 63, his agent said Tuesday.
Palillo died of a heart attack in the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, area, where he had moved to live near his mother and was active in the theater, his agent, Scott Stander, told CNN.
He was best known for his role as one of the "Sweathogs" -- remedial students at a Brooklyn high school -- on the 1975-79 show, which starred Gabe Kaplan and launched the career of fellow Sweathog John Travolta. Palillo's "Oooh! Oooh!" appeals for attention became the character's catchphrase.
Stander called Palillo "upbeat, fun, a great friend who loved theater, loved the fans and had a great sense of humor." He taught acting to high school students at the G-Star School of the Arts, a charter school in West Palm Beach, Stander said.
Palillo made numerous guest appearances on television in the following decades, including playing himself in three episodes of the Ellen DeGeneres comedy "Ellen" in 1996. He also appeared on the reality show "Celebrity Boxing" in 2002, losing by a TKO to former "Saved by the Bell" actor Dustin Diamond.
Another of the original Sweathogs, Robert Hegyes, died in January at age 60. Hegyes, who played Juan Epstein, also played a detective in the late 1980s police drama "Cagney & Lacey."
Obituaries 2012: The lives they lived
CNN's David Daniel contributed to this report.
