Gabe Kaplan: A Look Back at the Life and Career of TV's "Welcome Back, Kotter" Star

Actress Valerie Harper died of brain cancer at 80 years old on August 30, 2019, in Los Angeles. She was best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern, first on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (CBS, 1970–1977) and then on her spin-off sitcom Rhoda (CBS, 1974–1978). This is the story of her early life and education.

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, this article features commentary from interviews conducted by the author with those mentioned.]. He's best known as Timmy in TV's legendary family series, Lassie. He's triumphed over the challenges of being a former child star. He's utilized his public persona for the betterment of humanity. His name is Jon Provost, and he's now 75 years old. This is his remarkable story.

It's been twenty years since the tragic demise of beloved actor James Doohan, best known for his iconic performance as Lt. Commander and Chief Engineer Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott in the legendary Star Trek television and film franchise. He died at 85 on July 20, 2005, from pneumonia and Alzheimer's disease. This is his story.

A cruise vacation didn't go exactly as planned for Jason and Tammy Merritt when their luggage never showed up at their cabin on Carnival Magic. According to news reports, the incident resulted in a lifetime ban for another passenger and a complex legal situation.

Character actors Victor Kilian and Charles Wagenhein were brutally killed shortly after they both appeared in an episode of All in the Family. This is their story. On March 25, 1979, Victor Kilian, 88, appeared in an episode of All in the Family, "The Return of Stephanie's Father," playing a desk clerk in a not-so-luxurious hotel.

According to KTLA news and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, beloved KCAL-TV evening news anchor Chauncy Glover died of an accidental “acute intoxication” from methamphetamine and chloroethane.

My mom married my Texan stepdad two years ago after splitting with my dad (who moved to Florida). My stepdad’s ultra-conservative—he hates that I’m applying to art school (“useless degree!”), shames me for dating (my boyfriend’s 25 and a mechanic!), and constantly trashes my mom’s “California parenting.” Now that Mom’s pregnant, he’s pushing me to leave our Arizona home by August when I graduate. Mom says she’s “too stressed” to stand up to him, even though I planned to live here while working part-time.

My wife and I are struggling to agree on tithing. She’s been attending church regularly for years, and while I respect her faith, I don’t participate. Recently, she asked to start giving 10% of our joint income to her church, which is a significant amount for us financially. I told her I’m uncomfortable donating that much to an institution I’m not involved with, and it turned into a heated argument. She says tithing is non-negotiable for her faith, and my refusal feels like a rejection of her values.

Some Floridians know that there are several nationally-known restaurant chains that are headquartered in the Sunshine State. Examples are Miller's Ale House, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, and Sonny's Barbecue. Another example is Central Florida's Bloomin' Brands - which is the parent company of several well-known eateries. Unfortunately, it recently announced that it will be cutting Florida jobs.

Martial arts legend and actor Chuck Norris is a remarkable 85 years old. Famous for his action-adventure movies and the original adaptation of the TV show Walker, Texas Ranger (on which he also served as an executive producer).

Okay, let’s be real—money changes everything. Especially how you treat men. Before, I’d tolerate their bullshit for weeks, nodding along while they forgot to text me back or blew off plans. But now? Mic drop. I’ve reached my limit. If a guy cancels on me twice, I’m done. My inner scoreboard pops up: ​Minus 10 points. Next time? ​Game over.

Hold onto your drapes: A California HOA took “aesthetic control” to dystopian levels by requiring residents to hang off-white or beige curtains—indoors—or face fines. Their logic? Since curtains are “visible from the street,” they needed to enforce a “consistent exterior appearance.” Forget bold patterns, blackout shades, or even slightly eggshell-colored fabric. Your personal style? Criminalized.

Beloved actor Will Geer, who died in 1978, was best known for his role as Grandpa Walton on The Waltons, TV's famed country-family drama (CBS, 1972-1981). He would later establish a renowned outdoor theatre, which indirectly was a result of his being blacklisted early in his career. Here's the story.

I’m (30s F) struggling with a situation involving my husband (30s M) and his best friend’s wife, “Anna” (30s F). Recently, I accidentally saw a text from Anna on his phone where she was venting about her marriage issues. Turns out, she’s been regularly calling and texting him about this for weeks, and he never mentioned it to me. When I asked him about it, he got defensive, insisted he was “just being a good friend,” and we ended up in a huge fight.

My parents’ will splits their estate equally between me, my brother, and sister. Growing up in a toxic environment where my mother was emotionally abusive, I’ve worked hard to build stability for my daughter, who’s now in college. My brother already owns two homes—one occupied rent-free by his adult child—yet his kids insist it’s “fair” to buy out my share of our childhood home for $15K, despite its $120K value. I’ve demanded a professional appraisal and equal split to support my daughter’s education, but they’re accusing me of selfishness. My brother even proposed a bidding war, which feels manipulative.

I've always considered Anna my best friend. We've been through so much together over the years, from celebrating each other's achievements to getting through tough break - ups.

It’s been three decades since the passing of beloved actress/singer Vivian Blaine from congestive heart failure on December 9, 1995, in New York City. She was best known for her portrayal of Miss Adelaide, the love-struck chorus girl in the Broadway and big-screen adaptions of Guys and Dolls. This is her story.

My best friend is pregnant, and she recently told me the name they have picked out for their baby. As soon as she said it("Hellzel"), I was taken aback. To me, the name sounded really strange and not at all something I would associate with a cute, innocent baby.

If your dog lives chained in the yard or banished to a doghouse, they’re not family—they’re prisoners. I’ll never understand the mindset of getting a social, pack-bonding animal just to isolate them in the cold/heat/boredom.

I’m stuck in a moral nightmare and need advice. Two coworkers at my job are having an affair, and I’m certain of it. The man is married with a newborn baby, and the woman involved is also in a relationship. Last week, I walked into work early for my shift and found them alone in the break room, giggling and leaning way too close. When I awkwardly joked, “Shouldn’t he be home with wife and baby?” The woman said "I don’t care about that.” I was stunned.

So, I’m almost about to give birth, and suddenly, my husband’s mom is acting like the dog police. We have two dogs, and she’s completely freaking out, saying they’ll hurt the baby. She’s scared of dogs in general and has this old-school mindset that everything must be baby-safe.

I started my flock 3 years ago thinking it’d be wholesome and cheap. Spoiler: It’s ​neither. Here’s my reality check:. 1️⃣ ​500+startercosts: Coopmaterials(300—lumber ain’t cheap!), heat lamps (60),chickfeed(20/bag).

Disclosure: State of Alabama-based writer. This article is a work from cited sources for informational purposes and is used with permission. No affiliate links are included. On January 10, 2024, Alabama native and entrepreneur Mia Nickson, 21, tragically lost her life after being gunned down at her home around 1:45 a.m. What began as a journey in the beauty industry for Nickson ended in tragedy, with authorities now revealing her killing during a recent press conference.

Sandy Paws Rescue Inc., a foster-based rescue in Massachusetts, recently introduced a young dog named Coco who is searching for her forever family. This adorable 3-month-old puppy may be small in size, weighing in at approximately 4.5 pounds, but she makes up for it with her endless energy and loving personality. Despite her tiny stature, even smaller than the resident cats in her foster home, Coco approaches life with curiosity and enthusiasm. "She has bounds of energy, loves playing with all types of toys, and then ultimately adores snuggling up on her foster mom's lap to get lots of pets," explains Sandy Paws Rescue.

A 3–14–25 eclipse reading. If you are still here, following me and reading my stuff, I would like to say thank you. Peace be with you. ❤. In today’s reading, I decided to do a “what is going on” communal reading with a focus on America at the national level, while attempting to account for my own liberal bias.

I don’t get it. Every time I see a woman say, “He hit me, but he apologized and said he’d never do it again”, I want to scream. The first time is already once too many! If a guy thinks it’s okay to put his hands on you in anger, what makes you think it won’t happen again? Spoiler: It will.

March 10, is Harriet Tubman Day across the U.S. So we wanted to take a look at one her her most famous events. Everyone knows that Harriet Tubman has many ties to the Lowcountry of South Carolina and had done lots of work to help enslaved people find their freedom, but the Combahee Ferry Raid on June 2, 1863 in what is today known as Green Pond, SC, has cemented her place in history.

Last weekend, my sister celebrated her birthday at a local winery. My husband was invited but couldn’t attend due to work. He encouraged me to go and “have a good time,” so I did. However, the entire outing turned sour because he obsessively questioned my location through messages. We share Snapchat locations, and even though the map clearly showed I was at the winery, he fixated on the app’s top-of-screen label, which listed a nearby brewery (likely a glitch or proximity tag). He bombarded me with accusatory texts, demanding explanations.

Cleaning out my closet last week, I stumbled on his bed—still indented, still covered in faint paw-shaped dust. Three years since I said goodbye, and suddenly I was sobbing on the floor, scrolling through photos of his goofy grin and squirrel-chasing glory days. Grief doesn’t fade; it just waits in ambush.

When I first sent my daughter to a U.S. preschool, I was shocked—no writing lessons?! But her teacher explained: “Writing is a skill, but expressing ideas is the superpower.”