Ron Palillo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ron Palillo (born April 2, 1949) is an American television and film actor best known for his role as high school student Arnold Horshack on the ABC sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, which aired from 1975 to 1979. He was born in Cheshire, Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut where he later taught during the late 1990s.

After Welcome Back, Kotter, Ron appeared in supporting roles in various television series as well as performing the voice in various animated series such as Laverne and Shirley in the Army, Darkwing Duck, and Rubik, the Amazing Cube where he played the lead character. On an episode of Celebrity Boxing he was soundly defeated by Dustin Diamond aka Screech from Saved by the Bell.

Outside of acting, Ron is also an artist, having provided the art for two children's books: The Red Wings of Christmas and A Gift for the Contessa. He is credited on these as "Ronald G. Paolillo", his given name, which he uses in memory of his father.

In 1996, Ron hosted a promotional event in New York City's Grand Central Terminal, where he and actors dressed in 1970s clothing distributed special Metrocards publicizing a week of 1970s programming on VH1 to passing commuters. These Metrocards are very rare today and have sold for as much as $300-$400 on eBay.