
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
May 7, 1951
Died
January 26, 2012 (age 60)
Place of Birth
Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA
Robert Hegyes
Biography
Robert Hegyes was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to an Hungarian-American father, Stephen, and an Italian-American mother, Marie Dominica (Cocozza). He is the eldest of their children. The others are: Mark Hegyes, MD - Billings, Montana, Ms. Stephanie Hegyes - Princeton, New Jersey, and Ms. Elizabeth Cocozza - Los Angeles, California.
Robert began studying acting in earnest at Metuchen High School under the direction of Dr. Barton Shepard, Ph.D, in the mid-1960s. He was accepted into the Theater Program at Rown University of New Jersey (formerly Glassboro State College) and, in the early 1970s, graduated with a BA in Theater & Secondary Education. Hegyes then ventured into New York City to practice his trade, immediately taking up with the "Greenwich Village Children's Repertory Companies", "Theater in a Trunk", and "The NYC Children's Puppet Ensemble". In short order Robert hooked up with his third Greenwhich Village troupe, "Jack LaRumpa's Flying Drum & Kazoo Band", performing improvisational anti-war comedy in Washington Square and the Provincetown Playhouse.
Within a year of graduating from Rowan, Hegyes was cast to co-star in the Manhattan Theater Club Emsmble's highly-acclaimed drama, "Naomi Court", which starred another young actor, Brad Davis (of Midnight Express (1978)). After completing that successful engagement Robert was tapped to co-star for Tony Award-winning actor/director Len Cariou, A Little Night Music (1977) & Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1982), in the Broadway drama, "Don't Call Back", starring Arlene Francis at the Helen Hayes Theater. It was during the run of that Broadway drama that he was cast by producer James Komack to star in the award-winning comedy series, Welcome Back, Kotter (1975) and, at the age of twenty-five, became one of the show's directors.
Robert has guest-starred in over thirty episodic series, including Saturday Night Live (1975) with host Quentin Tarantino, Diagnosis Murder (1993) with Dick Van Dyke and The Drew Carey Show (1995). He has starred in the award-nominated "Passat" commercial, "The Chase", for director Kinka Usher and in the feature films, Honeymoon Hotel (2004) opposite Jane Kaczmarek, Underground Aces (1981) with Melanie Griffith, Bob Roberts (1992) for director Tim Robbins, Purpose (2002) starring Mia Farrow, and Bar Hopping (2000) alongside Kevin Nealon.
Hegyes made his Los Angeles stage debut to rave notices as Chico Marx in Arthur Marx's play, "An Evening with Groucho", and was shortly thereafter cast as a series regular starring in the award-winning drama, Cagney & Lacey (1981). Robert has been awarded a lifetime artist-in-residence status at his alma mater and has taught there and continues to guest lecture regularly. He is also a California Certified Secondary Education Teacher and teaches for the Los Angeles Unified School District at Venice High School.
As a long-time resident of Venice, California, Robert and partner Craig Titley, (Cheaper by the Dozen (2003)) developed the original Internet series, "The Venice Walk".
Known For

TV
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975

TV
The Mike Douglas Show
Self - Guest
1961

TV
NewsRadio
Al
1995

TV
Diagnosis: Murder
Mr. Wolf
1993

TV
The Love Boat
Danny
1977

TV
The Drew Carey Show
Robert Hegyes
1995

TV
Cagney & Lacey
Manny Esposito
1982

TV
The Streets of San Francisco
1972

TV
Donny & Marie
Self
1976

TV
CHiPs
1977

TV
Battle of the Network Stars
1976

TV
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest
Self
1972

TV
L.A. Heat
1999
TV
Lewis & Clark
1981
TV
$weepstake$
1979

TV
So Little Time
Vice Principal Connor
2001

TV
Welcome Back, Kotter
Juan Epstein
1975

TV
The Brady Bunch Hour
1977
TV
Living in TV Land
2004

Film
Bob Roberts
Ernesto Galleano
1992
Filmography
2004TVLiving in TV Land2003FilmABC's 50th Anniversary Celebrationas Self2001TVSo Little Timeas Vice Principal Connor2000FilmBar Hoppingas Unseen Customer1999TVL.A. Heat1998FilmThe Pandora Projectas Enrique Gutierrez1995TVThe Drew Carey Showas Robert Hegyes1995TVNewsRadioas Al1994FilmCagney & Lacey: The Returnas Esposito1993TVDiagnosis: Murderas Mr. Wolf1992FilmBob Robertsas Ernesto Galleano1991FilmMemorial: Letters from American Soldiersas Reader1990FilmKill Crazyas Harry Durosa1984FilmE. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mindas Raoul1982FilmFor Lovers Onlyas Frankie Spoleto1982TVCagney & Laceyas Manny Esposito1981TVLewis & Clark1981FilmUnderground Acesas Tico1980FilmA Cry for Loveas Pizza Counterman1979TV$weepstake$1978FilmJust Tell Me You Love Meas Ricky1977TVThe Love Boatas Danny1977TVCHiPs1977TVThe Brady Bunch Hour1976TVBattle of the Network Stars1976TVCos1976FilmLaw and Orderas Angelo1976TVDonny & Marieas Self1975TVSaturday Night Liveas Self - Cameo (uncredited)1975TVWelcome Back, Kotteras Juan Epstein1972TVDick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrestas Self1972TVThe Streets of San Francisco1961TVThe Mike Douglas Showas Self - Guest