Former Sweathog, actor Ron Palillo, now a teacher himself! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 09-07-2009, 11:27 PM

Arnold Horshack is back, this time as a high school teacher.

Fans of the popular 1970s TV sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter” may be surprised to learn the latest role for the actor who played the goofball student is that of a serious educator in Palm Beach County.

Ron Palillo, whose Horshack character brought laughter to millions of viewers, is starting his fourth week teaching freshmen acting classes at G-STAR School of the Arts for Motion Pictures and Broadcasting in Palm Springs.

None of his 110 students resemble the unruly students called the Sweathogs, who carried on at the fictional Brooklyn high school setting for four seasons of Kotter.

“These kids want to be here,” Palillo said during a campus interview. “You don’t have to fight to jam something down their throats. They want to know and it shows.”

During a recent class held in a black box theater, he led a discussion of the acclaimed Tennessee Williams play, “The Glass Menagerie.”

Wearing a purple shirt and khaki pants on his still-slender 5-foot-7-inch frame, Palillo paced back and forth, asking students to appreciate the clever dialogue in the first act.

“That’s why you like doing theater, because you can say some really terrific words,” said Palillo, who wrote, produced and acted in several plays since “Kotter” ended in 1979.

Palillo -- at school he uses his birth name Paolillo -- says he is moving permanently to the county from his longtime residence in New York City.

The gray-haired teacher declines to confirm his age, listed as 60 on several Web sites, because he says actors don’t reveal such details. Palillo said he’d prefer to avoid media attention today, but agreed to a round of publicity because of the attention his celebrity status could bring to G-STAR.

The six-year-old charter school, with 880 students in grades 9-12, bills itself as the largest film, TV and acting high school in the nation. Palillo, who has coached actors over the years, said he became enamored with G-STAR and its students after recently performing in the school’s latest feature film, It’s a Dog Gone Tale: Destiny’s Stand.

“It’s been exciting having him here,” Greg Hauptner, the school’s founder and chief executive officer, said of his star teacher.

A University of Connecticut graduate, Palillo says his acting and stage projects will continue when classes are not in session.

“I love to teach, that’s paramount,” said Palillo, who signed on to teach the school year at a beginning teacher’s salary.

Xavier Turner, 15, said he’s enjoyed the class so far.

“I didn’t even know he was on the show,” Turner said. “I was very impressed and honored to have him in our class. It’s better to know an actor is teaching us.”

While Palillo is best known for “Welcome Back, Kotter,” he later appeared in numerous television pilots, shows and movies, and he has illustrated children’s books. His resume includes guest stints on episodes of One Life to Live, “Murder, She Wrote,” and “Ellen.”

He also was in the last production, a comedy titled “Breaking Legs,” of the Jupiter Theatre before the theater, then run by Richard Akins, closed in May of 1996.

Palillo says he’s happy that Arnold Horshack lives on in “Kotter” YouTube clips and DVDs. And he doesn’t mind when his students quote his nasally voiced lines or raise their arms with “Ooooh! Ooooh! Ooooh!”

“It’s history,” he said. “It’s flattering.”

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/sep/...now-a-teacher/

Retro4Life · 09-07-2009, 11:38 PM

"Ooooh! Ooooh!! Oooo!! MIS-TARE Pa-LILL-OOO!!"

catlover79 · 09-07-2009, 11:38 PM

That is so awesome!! God bless him and I wish him nothing but the best as he pursues a teaching career.

Marvo301 · 09-07-2009, 11:38 PM

Welcome Back Horshack! It's nice to see that Ron is passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation.

Schmoopie · 09-08-2009, 01:57 AM

Well at least if he has any students like the Sweathogs, he'll know how to handle them!! It's great that he's found a career that he loves!!!

Schmoopie · 09-08-2009, 02:02 AM

Well I found this site with a current picture of him but this article was obviously written way before Ron started his teaching career. It's kind of insulting to him, really; putting him in the same league as Dustin Diamond, but I just wanted to show you guys the picture. I don't know if there are more recent ones around, nor do I know how accurate this article is.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...KpSMtAPLwJj0DQ

catlover79 · 09-08-2009, 12:56 PM

Here's a fairly recent pic:

Scoobiedoo30 · 09-08-2009, 01:15 PM

Good Luck Ron

MickeyMac · 09-09-2009, 06:25 PM

Thats awesome.

steevo · 09-16-2009, 05:45 PM

Wow, talk about going full circle. Once a sweathog, now a teacher himself.

Congratulations, Ron.

catlover79 · 01-30-2010, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

"Ooooh! Ooooh!! Oooo!! MIS-TARE Pa-LILL-OOO!!"

09-07-2009, 11:27 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Former Sweathog, actor Ron Palillo, now a teacher himself! Arnold Horshack is back, this time as a high school teacher. Fans of the popular 1970s TV sitcom “Welcome Back, Kotter” may be surprised to learn the latest role for the actor who played the goofball student is that of a serious educator in Palm Beach County. Ron Palillo, whose Horshack character brought laughter to millions of viewers, is starting his fourth week teaching freshmen acting classes at G-STAR School of the Arts for Motion Pictures and Broadcasting in Palm Springs. None of his 110 students resemble the unruly students called the Sweathogs, who carried on at the fictional Brooklyn high school setting for four seasons of Kotter. “These kids want to be here,” Palillo said during a campus interview. “You don’t have to fight to jam something down their throats. They want to know and it shows.” During a recent class held in a black box theater, he led a discussion of the acclaimed Tennessee Williams play, “The Glass Menagerie.” Wearing a purple shirt and khaki pants on his still-slender 5-foot-7-inch frame, Palillo paced back and forth, asking students to appreciate the clever dialogue in the first act. “That’s why you like doing theater, because you can say some really terrific words,” said Palillo, who wrote, produced and acted in several plays since “Kotter” ended in 1979. Palillo -- at school he uses his birth name Paolillo -- says he is moving permanently to the county from his longtime residence in New York City. The gray-haired teacher declines to confirm his age, listed as 60 on several Web sites, because he says actors don’t reveal such details. Palillo said he’d prefer to avoid media attention today, but agreed to a round of publicity because of the attention his celebrity status could bring to G-STAR. The six-year-old charter school, with 880 students in grades 9-12, bills itself as the largest film, TV and acting high school in the nation. Palillo, who has coached actors over the years, said he became enamored with G-STAR and its students after recently performing in the school’s latest feature film, It’s a Dog Gone Tale: Destiny’s Stand. “It’s been exciting having him here,” Greg Hauptner, the school’s founder and chief executive officer, said of his star teacher. A University of Connecticut graduate, Palillo says his acting and stage projects will continue when classes are not in session. “I love to teach, that’s paramount,” said Palillo, who signed on to teach the school year at a beginning teacher’s salary. Xavier Turner, 15, said he’s enjoyed the class so far. “I didn’t even know he was on the show,” Turner said. “I was very impressed and honored to have him in our class. It’s better to know an actor is teaching us.” While Palillo is best known for “Welcome Back, Kotter,” he later appeared in numerous television pilots, shows and movies, and he has illustrated children’s books. His resume includes guest stints on episodes of One Life to Live, “Murder, She Wrote,” and “Ellen.” He also was in the last production, a comedy titled “Breaking Legs,” of the Jupiter Theatre before the theater, then run by Richard Akins, closed in May of 1996. Palillo says he’s happy that Arnold Horshack lives on in “Kotter” YouTube clips and DVDs. And he doesn’t mind when his students quote his nasally voiced lines or raise their arms with “Ooooh! Ooooh! Ooooh!” “It’s history,” he said. “It’s flattering.” http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/sep/...now-a-teacher/
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09-07-2009, 11:38 PM	#2
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	"Ooooh! Ooooh!! Oooo!! MIS-TARE Pa-LILL-OOO!!"
	__________________ Alex Reiger :[Trying to convince Louie not to antagonize Bobby] "It's not hard to make people feel bad about their lives. What's hard is making people feel good about their lives."

09-07-2009, 11:38 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	That is so awesome!! God bless him and I wish him nothing but the best as he pursues a teaching career.
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09-07-2009, 11:38 PM	#4
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	Welcome Back Horshack! It's nice to see that Ron is passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

09-08-2009, 01:57 AM	#5
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Well at least if he has any students like the Sweathogs, he'll know how to handle them!! It's great that he's found a career that he loves!!!
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

09-08-2009, 02:02 AM	#6
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Well I found this site with a current picture of him but this article was obviously written way before Ron started his teaching career. It's kind of insulting to him, really; putting him in the same league as Dustin Diamond, but I just wanted to show you guys the picture. I don't know if there are more recent ones around, nor do I know how accurate this article is. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...KpSMtAPLwJj0DQ

09-08-2009, 12:56 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Here's a fairly recent pic: Attached Images

09-08-2009, 01:15 PM	#8
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	Good Luck Ron
	__________________ Who Dat

09-09-2009, 06:25 PM	#9
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,006	Thats awesome.

09-16-2009, 05:45 PM	#10
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,475	Wow, talk about going full circle. Once a sweathog, now a teacher himself. Congratulations, Ron.
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