Robert Hegyes facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Hegyes
Robert Hegyes in October 2008
Born	Robert Bruce Hegyes (1951-05-07)May 7, 1951 Perth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	January 26, 2012(2012-01-26) (aged 60) Edison, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1975–2012
Spouse(s)	Mary Kunes ​ ​ (m. 1973; div. 1977)​ Kyle Drummer ​ ​ (m. 1979; div. 1984)​ Lynn O'Hare ​ ​ (m. 1987; div. 1993)​
Partner(s)	Cynthia Wylie (1994–2007)
Children	4
Relatives	Jon Bon Jovi (cousin)

Robert Bruce Hegyes (pronounced Hedyesh; May 7, 1951 – January 26, 2012) was an American actor. He was best known for playing the high school student Juan Epstein on the 1970s TV show Welcome Back, Kotter. He also played detective Manny Esposito on the 1980s TV crime drama Cagney & Lacey. Robert Hegyes was the cousin of famous rock musician Jon Bon Jovi.

Early Life and Education

Robert Hegyes was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. His father, Stephen, was Hungarian-American, and his mother, Marie Dominica Cocozza, was Italian-American. Robert was the oldest of four children.

He grew up in Metuchen, New Jersey. He started acting in high school in the mid-1960s. His theater teacher, Barton Shepard, helped him a lot. After high school, Robert went to Glassboro State College (now called Rowan University). He studied Speech/Theater and Secondary Education. While in college, he worked part-time at a Hardee's restaurant.

After graduating, Robert moved to New York City to become an actor. He joined a children's theater group called "Theater in a Trunk." They performed educational plays at President Theodore Roosevelt's birthplace. Robert also worked as a puppeteer and performed in a political comedy group.

Acting Career

Hegyes as Juan Epstein in Welcome Back, Kotter, 1976

Within a year of finishing college, Robert Hegyes got a role in a play called Naomi Court. Soon after, he was cast in a Broadway play called Don't Call Back. While performing on Broadway, Robert auditioned for TV producer James Komack. He was chosen to star in the new ABC comedy show, Welcome Back, Kotter.

On Welcome Back, Kotter, Robert played a character named Juan Luis Pedro Felipo de Huevos Epstein, usually called "Epstein." The show was very popular and ran for four seasons, from 1975 to 1979. Robert even became one of the show's directors when he was only 25 years old!

In 1976, he was part of the winning tug-of-war team on the TV special Battle of the Network Stars.

Robert Hegyes appeared as a guest star in more than thirty other TV shows. These included Saturday Night Live, NewsRadio, Diagnosis: Murder, The Drew Carey Show, and The Streets of San Francisco. He also appeared in a well-known Volkswagen Passat car commercial. Robert acted in several movies too, like Underground Aces and Bob Roberts.

He later played "Chico Marx" in a stage show called An Evening with Groucho. After touring with that show, Robert was cast as undercover detective "Manny Esposito" in the TV series Cagney & Lacey. He also appeared on game shows like Pyramid and Match Game.

Robert Hegyes also taught at his old college, Rowan University. He taught screenplay writing, acting for camera, and public speaking. He also taught essay writing at Brooks College in Long Beach, California.

His last public performance was in January 2012. He played Chico Marx again in a staged radio play about the Marx Brothers.

Family Life

Robert Hegyes had two children, Cassondra (born 1987) and Mack (born 1991). He was also a step-parent to Alex (born 1988) and Sophia (born 1991). As mentioned before, he was the cousin of rock singer Jon Bon Jovi. He was also related to opera singer Mario Lanza.

Death

On January 26, 2012, Robert Hegyes passed away at age 60. He had chest pains at his home in Metuchen, New Jersey. He died from what appeared to be a heart attack at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey.

Filmography

Film

Television