<Tr> <Th> Years active </Th> <Td> 1975--2012 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Spouse (s) </Th> <Td> Mary Kunes (m . 1973 - 1977) Kyle Drummer (m . 1979 - 1984) Lynn O'Hare (m . 1987 - 1993, 2 children) Cynthia Wylie (1994 - 2007, 2 children) </Td> </Tr> <P> Robert Hegyes (pronounced Hedges; May 7, 1951--January 26, 2012) was an American actor best known for his portrayal of high school student Juan Epstein on the 1970s American sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter and as detective Manny Esposito on the 1980s American crime drama Cagney & Lacey . </P> <P> Hegyes was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, to a Hungarian - American father, Stephen, and an Italian - American mother, Marie Dominica Cocozza . Hegyes was the oldest and had three siblings (Mark, Stephanie, and Elizabeth). </P>

Who played juan epstein in welcome back kotter