Venice resident Robert Hegyes passed on this morning of an apparent heart attack at his home in Metuchen, N.J.. The actor and director, best known for his role as Juan Epstein on Welcome Back Kotter, also had a residence for many years in Venice where he was friends to many. Epstein was 60.
In 2007, Epstein was often seen around town shooting his webisode “The Venice Walk”, a series about “the lives and adventures of a retired NYPD Gang cop turned Venice Beach Juvenile Probation Officer, and the seven Venice High School delinquents who must report to him in the fabled high-crime, high-drama, high-energy world of Venice Beach.”
RIP Robert.