Robert Heyges' (Welcome Back, Kotter) Tribute to Freddie - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 04-30-2011, 04:33 PM

http://roberthegyes.com/guest7a.html

"The day before Freddie died, Jimmy Komack gave him back his gun. (Please forgive me Jimmy, G_d rest your soul, you weren't too stable either). I saw him the week before at the studio (where he talked mostly about Racquel Welch).

Freddie used to drive a 1975 blue Corvette and park next to Johnny Carson at the NBC studios. He had completed a Movie of the Week for NBC, and had confided in me that he was dissatisfied with the film, and that no one was giving him movie offers. He also said he couldn't come up with any new material for his standup act in Vegas. He handed me his album and autographed it, "From one Hungarican to another... Love, Freddie."

Dusty Synder, our mutual accountant, had received a call that night from Freddie, from the hotel he was staying in, saying that he wanted to kill himself. Freddie was estranged from his wife, who had just had his son, Freddie Jr. He had married young, he acknowledged that he had drug problems, and all these woman were throwing themselves at him. He didn't have a long-range goal, and everything that happened to him was dissatisfying. He wasn't getting good financial advice from Dusty... we all weren't! Freddie's concerns were monetary. He was concerned about his wife wiping him out financially. My dear friend, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs when bankrupt as soon as Kotter was over. Ron Pallilo had to sell everything just to move to New York. And I owed $75,000 to the IRS. All from Marvin Dusty Snyder... Jimmy Komack's personal accountant.

From my understanding, when Dusty arrived at his hotel (after the phone call), Freddie had consumed mass quantities of cocaine and prescription Qualudes. Obviously, he was not in complete control of his motor skills. Again, Freddie was frustrated by his lack of future work... movies, standup and pending financial difficulties. The poor guy was living in a hotel. He pulled his gun out from under a cushion on the couch and put it to his head. Dusty claimed the gun went off by accident. Somewhere along the line, I have to believe that. I think Freddie was just crying for help. But you had an executive producer who was nuts, and an accountant who couldn't be trusted. His number was up.

My mother called me at 5 a.m. and woke me up with the news. I knew that Lisa Mordenta (Chita Rivera's daughter who had performed in Kotter) and Liza Minelli were at the emergency room. I called Lisa and she told me he was on life support. By that morning it was announced that Freddie was dead. Rehearsals were cancelled that day at Welcome Back, Kotter (since it was one of Jimmy's shows). The next day, John, Larry, Ron, and I had our own private breakfast (that was instigated by John), and we pledged that if any of us would ever get suicidal in our lives... we would call the other person... and never let what happened to Freddie, happen to us. Quite frankly, we were all overwhelmed by fame, drugs and sex.

Dear Freddie Jr. (If you should ever read this)... Your dad was one of my mentors when I moved here from New Jersey in 1975. He was very loving and sweet to my mom and dad and my siblings. He went out of his way to constantly check on me and make sure I was okay. I wish you nothing but the best. You deserve it."

Marvo301 · 04-30-2011, 05:11 PM

It's very sad what happened to Freddie Prinz. I'm glad the Kotter cast did what they had to to make sure it didn't happen to them.

catlover79 · 04-30-2011, 05:35 PM

Yup - and they all turned out just fine. Sad, though, that it took the tragedy of Freddie's death to instigate their pact.

Cheryl Harrell · 05-01-2011, 02:05 AM

Thanks for sharing that. It was very interesting. So sad...

catlover79 · 05-01-2011, 02:13 AM

You're welcome! I found it a very loving tribute...and from the interviews I've seen him give over the years, Bobby Hegyes doesn't mince words. He also has a strong sense of right and wrong, but a soft, compassionate heart. I wonder if Freddie Jr. ever DID read that tribute...

megamanj2004 · 05-03-2011, 12:38 AM

To this day, Freddie's death still leaves a profound impact on many.

catlover79 · 05-03-2011, 02:45 AM

That is so true.

Prince · 06-11-2011, 11:01 PM

It is very disheartening to think about Freddie's death. That's why I prefer to focus on his body of work. He was a comic genius and could have been a great dramatic actor if given the opportunity. I hope Freddie Jr realizes what a great man his father was and what heart he had. Unfortunately he was surrounded by business idiots. So glad Jack was there for him and they were close.

Cheryl Harrell · 06-12-2011, 11:06 PM

Sadly, folks pay more attention to Freddies death than the work he did while he was living.

04-30-2011, 04:33 PM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	Robert Heyges' (Welcome Back, Kotter) Tribute to Freddie http://roberthegyes.com/guest7a.html "The day before Freddie died, Jimmy Komack gave him back his gun. (Please forgive me Jimmy, G_d rest your soul, you weren't too stable either). I saw him the week before at the studio (where he talked mostly about Racquel Welch). Freddie used to drive a 1975 blue Corvette and park next to Johnny Carson at the NBC studios. He had completed a Movie of the Week for NBC, and had confided in me that he was dissatisfied with the film, and that no one was giving him movie offers. He also said he couldn't come up with any new material for his standup act in Vegas. He handed me his album and autographed it, "From one Hungarican to another... Love, Freddie." Dusty Synder, our mutual accountant, had received a call that night from Freddie, from the hotel he was staying in, saying that he wanted to kill himself. Freddie was estranged from his wife, who had just had his son, Freddie Jr. He had married young, he acknowledged that he had drug problems, and all these woman were throwing themselves at him. He didn't have a long-range goal, and everything that happened to him was dissatisfying. He wasn't getting good financial advice from Dusty... we all weren't! Freddie's concerns were monetary. He was concerned about his wife wiping him out financially. My dear friend, Lawrence Hilton Jacobs when bankrupt as soon as Kotter was over. Ron Pallilo had to sell everything just to move to New York. And I owed $75,000 to the IRS. All from Marvin Dusty Snyder... Jimmy Komack's personal accountant. From my understanding, when Dusty arrived at his hotel (after the phone call), Freddie had consumed mass quantities of cocaine and prescription Qualudes. Obviously, he was not in complete control of his motor skills. Again, Freddie was frustrated by his lack of future work... movies, standup and pending financial difficulties. The poor guy was living in a hotel. He pulled his gun out from under a cushion on the couch and put it to his head. Dusty claimed the gun went off by accident. Somewhere along the line, I have to believe that. I think Freddie was just crying for help. But you had an executive producer who was nuts, and an accountant who couldn't be trusted. His number was up. My mother called me at 5 a.m. and woke me up with the news. I knew that Lisa Mordenta (Chita Rivera's daughter who had performed in Kotter) and Liza Minelli were at the emergency room. I called Lisa and she told me he was on life support. By that morning it was announced that Freddie was dead. Rehearsals were cancelled that day at Welcome Back, Kotter (since it was one of Jimmy's shows). The next day, John, Larry, Ron, and I had our own private breakfast (that was instigated by John), and we pledged that if any of us would ever get suicidal in our lives... we would call the other person... and never let what happened to Freddie, happen to us. Quite frankly, we were all overwhelmed by fame, drugs and sex. Dear Freddie Jr. (If you should ever read this)... Your dad was one of my mentors when I moved here from New Jersey in 1975. He was very loving and sweet to my mom and dad and my siblings. He went out of his way to constantly check on me and make sure I was okay. I wish you nothing but the best. You deserve it." Attached Images
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

04-30-2011, 05:11 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,465	It's very sad what happened to Freddie Prinz. I'm glad the Kotter cast did what they had to to make sure it didn't happen to them.
	__________________ 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

05-01-2011, 02:05 AM	#4
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	Thanks for sharing that. It was very interesting. So sad...
	__________________ RIP darling Mike. I love you forever... You are with Freddie Prinze & Jesus now. 1951-2009 "Make it your way, who can beat the Lord, the Son of God. Dear Lord, help me be strong where I am weak, if it be your will"-- The Late Freddie Prinze Sr

05-03-2011, 12:38 AM	#6
megamanj2004 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2004 Posts: 2,361	To this day, Freddie's death still leaves a profound impact on many.
	__________________ 10 AND A HALF YEARS GOING STRONG!!!

06-11-2011, 11:01 PM	#8
Prince Prince of Peace Senior Member Join Date: Jan 26, 2001 Posts: 1,137	It is very disheartening to think about Freddie's death. That's why I prefer to focus on his body of work. He was a comic genius and could have been a great dramatic actor if given the opportunity. I hope Freddie Jr realizes what a great man his father was and what heart he had. Unfortunately he was surrounded by business idiots. So glad Jack was there for him and they were close.
	__________________ A friend is faithful, trusting and helpful…someone that realizes your imperfections and stands by you--Freddie Prinze "Come here to me" --- Freddie Prinze "Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful...Beautiful Boy" When I watched Freddie Prinze perform...his future was so bright that it burned my eyes. Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly and Leave the rest to God. "Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle."

04-30-2011, 05:35 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	Yup - and they all turned out just fine. Sad, though, that it took the tragedy of Freddie's death to instigate their pact.

05-01-2011, 02:13 AM	#5
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	You're welcome! I found it a very loving tribute...and from the interviews I've seen him give over the years, Bobby Hegyes doesn't mince words. He also has a strong sense of right and wrong, but a soft, compassionate heart. I wonder if Freddie Jr. ever DID read that tribute...

05-03-2011, 02:45 AM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,396	That is so true.

06-12-2011, 11:06 PM	#9
Cheryl Harrell I Love You Mike 4-Ever Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Location: Pixley!!!! Actually VA--USA LOL! Posts: 6,192	Sadly, folks pay more attention to Freddies death than the work he did while he was living.