Robert Hegyes

Robert Hegyes

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".

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Known For

Filmography

2004

TV
Living in TV Land
TV - Released: 8/18/2004

2001

So Little Time
So Little Time
as Vice Principal Connor
TV - Released: 6/2/2001

1999

L.A. Heat
L.A. Heat
TV - Released: 3/15/1999

1998

The Pandora Project
The Pandora Project
as Enrique Gutierrez
Movie - Released: 7/15/1998

1995

The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show
as Robert Hegyes
TV - Released: 9/13/1995
NewsRadio
NewsRadio
as Al
TV - Released: 3/21/1995

1994

Cagney & Lacey: The Return
Cagney & Lacey: The Return
as Esposito
Movie - Released: 11/6/1994

1993

Diagnosis: Murder
Diagnosis: Murder
as Mr. Wolf
TV - Released: 10/29/1993

1992

Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts
as Ernesto Galleano
Movie - Released: 9/4/1992

1991

Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers
Memorial: Letters from American Soldiers
as Reader
Movie - Released: 1/1/1991

1990

Kill Crazy
Kill Crazy
as Harry Durosa
Movie - Released: 11/21/1990

1984

Movie
E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind
as Raoul
Movie - Released: 1/1/1984

1982

For Lovers Only
For Lovers Only
as Frankie Spoleto
Movie - Released: 10/15/1982
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey
as Manny Esposito
TV - Released: 3/25/1982
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey
as Esposito
TV - Released: 3/25/1982

1981

Underground Aces
Underground Aces
as Tico
Movie - Released: 1/2/1981
TV
Lewis & Clark
TV - Released: 10/29/1981

1980

Movie
A Cry for Love
as Pizza Counterman
Movie - Released: 10/20/1980

1978

Movie
Just Tell Me You Love Me
as Ricky
Movie - Released: 1/2/1978

1977

CHiPs
CHiPs
TV - Released: 9/15/1977
The Love Boat
The Love Boat
as Danny
TV - Released: 9/24/1977
The Brady Bunch Hour
The Brady Bunch Hour
TV - Released: 1/23/1977

1976

Law and Order
Law and Order
as Angelo
Movie - Released: 5/6/1976
Donny & Marie
Donny & Marie
as Self
TV - Released: 1/23/1976
Battle of the Network Stars
Battle of the Network Stars
TV - Released: 11/13/1976
TV
Cos
TV - Released: 9/19/1976

1975

Welcome Back, Kotter
Welcome Back, Kotter
as Juan Epstein
TV - Released: 9/9/1975
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
TV - Released: 10/11/1975

1972

The Streets of San Francisco
The Streets of San Francisco
TV - Released: 9/23/1972

1961

The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show
as Self
TV - Released: 12/11/1961