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At 14, Ron Palillo (born Ronald Gabriel Paolillo) started his own summer theater in Cheshire, Connecticut. His parents, Gabriel and Carmel Paolillo, 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 in Shakespearean plays. He claimed to have 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, Florida. 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 special, "The Last Sweet Days of Isaac", on television. 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". He has two brothers and a sister. His elder brother, Richard Paolillo, is an eye surgeon, his brother Robert Paolillo, is a salesman and his sister Ann, became a teacher.

Ron did the illustrations for two of his children&#39;s books.<br/><br/>Ron also appeared in operas and other stage performances.

Was the second of two main cast members of <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0072582/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)</a> to pass away in 2012. The first was <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0373811/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Robert Hegyes</a>, who coincidentally also passed away from a heart attack.

(June 1999-February 2000) Currently directing and co-starring in the
stage musical A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline in West Palm Beach, FL.

Palillo and his partner of 41 years, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm1129444/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Joseph Graham</a>, lived in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.

He attended Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, after receiving his bachelor&#39;s degree.

In August 2009, Ron was teaching freshman drama at G-STAR School of the Arts for Motion Pictures and Broadcasting, in Palm Beach, Florida.

In August 2008, Ron starred in the independent short film The Curse of Micah Rood, which was shown at the New London Film Festival.

In November 2004, Ron appeared in The Ivoryton Playhouse&#39;s
production of Inherit the Wind, which ran &#39;til 21 November, 2004.

Palillo, came out of the closet after &quot;Welcome Back, Kotter&quot; was canceled.

Was defeated by <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0224616/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Dustin Diamond</a> (&quot;Screech&quot; from <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0096694/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Saved by the Bell (1989)</a>) in Fox&#39;s <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0321624/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Celebrity Boxing 2 (2002)</a>.

Shared a birthday with fellow <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/title/tt0072582/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Welcome Back, Kotter (1975)</a> cast member, <a class="ipc-md-link ipc-md-link--entity" href="/name/nm0779047/?ref_=nmtrv_trv">Debralee Scott</a>.

Trivia

Ron Palillo

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