Really? It seems like the kind of thing any TV trivia person should know, but I’m rather surprised that Kaplan was only 4 years older than some of his “students”. How close in age were the characters supposed to be?
Also, was mildly surprised to see he was gay. Anyway, RIP.
Ron and Robert Hegyes were well into their 20’s when they played high school teens on Kotter. Even back then I recall thinking they looked way to old for the parts. Same thing with Happy Days. It was so obvious those actors weren’t teens.
Travolta is 58. A little younger than this Kotter castmates.
5 years wouldn’t be too close in age between high school students and a teacher who just graduated from college and went right to work. After all, the show was “Welcome Back…”.
In case you haven’t seen it: Funniest. MTV. Parody. Ever!