5 Years Ago Today ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ and ‘Friday the 13th Part VI’ Star Ron Palillo Died

Ron Palillo earned plenty of fame after working on hit series’ like Welcome Back, Kotter, Laverne & Shirley and Mork & Mindy, but he also popped up in a handful of horror films, and may have continued to do so, had he not died as the result of a heart attack, five years ago today, in 2012.

Palillo was great, bringing an endearing personality to just about every role he portrayed. And whether you realized it or not, he actually surfaced in the horror genre on more than one occasion.

Palillo portrayed Hawes, one of the unfortunate gents who goes digging around in the wrong box (watch it below) in Friday the 13^th Part VI. He also popped up in Hellgate, and Trees 2: The Root of All Evil.

We miss that natural Palillo comedy, and the loving characters he brought to the screen, small and big, so we’re taking a moment to remember the man today.

Here’s hoping phase two is being as kind to you as phase one.