<P> Vinnie Barbarino is a cocky Italian - American, the "unofficial official" leader and resident heartthrob of the Sweathogs . He has a need to be the center of attention, as seen when he admits to making it rain in the school gymnasium . In the two - episode "Follow the Leader", Barbarino quits the Sweathogs and drops out of school in anger when Freddy Washington is chosen as the "leader" of the group, though he returns as leader at the finish of the story . Barbarino's prowess with women is sometimes a source of envy (and more often amusement) among his classmates . On occasion, he breaks out in song about his last name sung to the tune of "Barbara Ann". He was the first of the Sweathogs to move out on his own when he got a job as a hospital orderly . In the first episode of the series and fourth season, he has a girlfriend, Sally . Vinnie is Catholic (often describing his mother as a saint), and, as shown in "I'm Having Their Baby", is a Star Trek fan . Little is known about Vinnie's home life other than that his parents argue a lot ("Follow the Leader (part 2)") and take turns beating him when in a mutual rage . His mother's name is Margie ("The Great Debate"), and he shares a bed with his brother . The episode "Don't Come Up And See Me Sometime" implies that Vinnie is the older of the two . Travolta himself was a high school drop - out . </P> <P> The character is seen less frequently in season 4, appearing in only 8 of the first 15 episodes of the season, before leaving the series entirely . </P> <Ul> <Li> Played by Ron Palillo </Li> </Ul> <Li> Played by Ron Palillo </Li>

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