Ron Palillo (born Ronald Gabriel Paolillo, 2 April 1949 – 14 August 2012) was an American comic actor. He is best known for his role as Arnold Horshack in Welcome Back, Kotter.
He was the voice of Sgt. Squealy in Laverne & Shirley in the Army.
Biography[]
At fourteen, Ron Palillo started his own summer theater in Cheshire, Connecticut. His parents, Gabriel and Carmel Palillo, were surprised when the summer theater actually made money. After graduating from high school, Ron went to the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where he majored in drama. He appeared in many school plays in college.
After graduation, Ron got a job with a touring company which performed Shakespeare's plays. He received invaluable drama training during that tour, acting in Shakespearean masterpieces like Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. After his Shakespearean tour, Ron became a member of a repertory company in Miami.
Shortly after arriving in New York, Ron got a role in the off-Broadway success Hot L Baltimore. He stayed with the show for over a year. Because of his work in Hot L Baltimore. Ron was given a lead role in a musical TV special, The Last Sweet Days of Isaac. After Isaac, he once again went on tour and appeared with Mickey Rooney in A Midsummer Night's Dream and with Jan Sterling in a serious play, Summer Brave.
Ron had two brothers and a sister. His elder brother, Richard, is an eye surgeon, and his younger brother, Robert, is a salesman. His sister, Ann, became a teacher.
External Links[]
- Ron Palillo at the Internet Movie Database