Ron Palillo (born April 2, 1949) is an American television and film actor, perhaps best known for his role as high school student Arnold Horshack on the ABC sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, which aired from 1975 to 1979.
Palillo was born in Cheshire, Connecticut and graduated from the University of Connecticut (where he would return to teach during the late 1990s). He attended Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut after receiving his bachelor's degree. After Welcome Back, Kotter, Palillo appeared in supporting roles in various television series and performed 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 (who portrayed "Screech" on Saved by the Bell).
In 1996, Palillo played himself in several episodes of Ellen, where he became the love interest of Ellen's friend Audrey. Outside of acting, Palillo 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, Palillo 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.
In 2007, Ron introduced a new clothing line specializing in limited-edition t-shirts produced by Rotter and Friends. News broke from a press release from moli.com and was picked up by GQ's Style magazine.
At 14, 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 says 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, 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 is an eye surgeon, his brother Robert, is a salesman and his sister Ann, became a teacher.
