Throwback!See the Cast of ‘Welcome Back, Kotter’ Then and Now!

Reality TV

Dec 10, 2015 3:55 pm·

By Samantha Faragalli

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Can you believe it's been nearly 40 years since the first episode of Welcome Back, Kotter hit the small screen? Neither can we!

Click through the gallery to see what the iconic cast — including Gabe Kaplan, John Travolta and more! — of this hit sitcom is up to today.

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Gabe Kaplan (Gabe Kotter)

After his lead role on Welcome Back, Kotter, Gabe, now 71, appeared on the television series Lewis & Clark , as well as in films Fast Break, Nobody's Perfekt and The Grand. He is now a champion poker player.

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Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs (Freddie "Boom Boom" Washington)

After the show, the 62-year-old actor went on to appear in a number of films including The Jacksons: An American Dream, as well as on television shows Lewis & Clark and Alien Nation. He most recently portrayed Johnson in the TV Movie The Christmas Gift.

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John Travolta (Vinnie Barbarino)

After moving on from his role in Welcome Back, Kotter, John, now 62, went on to have an extremely successful acting career starring in hit films including Grease, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction and Hairspray. John's next project is portraying Robert Shapiro in the highly-anticipated television series, American Crime Story.

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Marcia Strassman (Julie Kotter)

After playing Julie Kotter on the sitcom, the actress appeared in television series' Noah Knows Best, Providence and Tremors. Marcia also starred in well-known films Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Honey, I Blew Up the Baby. She sadly died of breast cancer in October 2014 at age 66.

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Robert Hegyes (Juan Epstein)

After starring in Welcome Back, Kotter, Robert appeared on the show Cagney and Lacey as well as in the film The Pandora Project. The actor sadly died from a heart attack at age 60 in January 2012.

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John Sylvester White (Mr. Michael Woodman)

Following his memorable role as Mr. Michael Woodman on the hit sitcom, John appeared in TV movies The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Last Song. The actor sadly died of pancreatic cancer in September 1988 at 68-years-old.

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Ron Palillo ( Arnold Horshack)

Ron — who was most known for uttering the phrase, "Ooh! Ooh! Mr. Kotter!," in the sitcom — later appeared on television series' including Laverne & Shirley in the Army and Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone, as well as in the film Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star. He sadly died of a heart attack in August 2012 at age 63.

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The End!

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