Welcome Back, Kotter is a quintessential part of 1970s television. In the show, we saw Mr. Kotter, played by Gabe Kaplen, return to his high school in Brooklyn to teach. He finds himself in a classroom with a group of kids known as “The Sweathogs,” James Buchanan High’s resident misfits, led by Vinnie Barbarino. John Travolta portrayed Vinnie in the show, and it helped launch a decades-long career in Hollywood. But according to John, it almost didn’t happen. That’s right, the classic “Up your nose with a rubber hose” could have come from someone else. Gape Kaplan shared the story in an essay for Emmy Magazine, per People. View this post on Instagram A post shared by John Travolta (@johntravolta) While Casting “Welcome Back, Kotter” John Travolta Was A Struggling Actor It’s hard to imagine John Travolta having a hard time getting a role in Hollywood, but when he was just starting out, times were tough. While Gabe and his team were casting Welcome Back, Kotter, they thought John would be perfect, but he’d recently taken a job on Broadway. They really wanted him for the show, but he needed the money. “I was going to take the Broadway job because I needed the money, but Stalmaster got me a small part in a horror flick called ‘The Devil’s Rain,’ just to tide me over until Kotter auditions started,” John Travolta told Gabe Kaplan. Welcome Back, Kotter ended in 1979, as John Travolta’s career was just taking off. The show gave him a significant break, and he starred in other major projects around the same time, including Grease and Saturday Night Fever. Recently, John Travolta reprised his role in Grease as a huge surprise. “Tonight at the Hollywood Bowl, for the first time I surprised everyone at the GREASE Sing-A-Long and dressed up as Danny Zuko. No one knew. Not even the cast. Thank you for a great evening,” he shared on Instagram. We love John Travolta and wholeheartedly believe if he had not taken the role of Vinnie Barbarino, Welcome Back, Kotter would not have been such a hit. This story’s featured image is by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images. The post John Travolta Nearly Passed On Career-Changing Role Because He Was Broke appeared first on InspireMore.