Whether she wanted it or not, Marcia Strassman was Julie Kotter. She played that role to perfection in the classic ABC TV sitcom, Welcome Back, Kotter — even when she wasn’t all that pleased about what the writers were having her say and do. And as time rolled on and the cast and creative team prepared for what would be the show’s fourth season, Marcia became even more vocal about her dissatisfaction with the series — and her issues with her costar, Gabe Kaplan.

Why did Marcia Strassman and Gabe Kaplan feud?

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In a 1978 article in People Magazine, Strassman talked about her difficulties working with Kaplan, whom she said she just couldn’t seem to connect with. “I’m miserable,” the actress provocatively declared to the magazine. “Gabe runs hot and cold, one day your best friend, the next day not speaking. Even blatant hostility would be easier to deal with … It has always been hard to act with him, especially in intimate scenes. I hate the series. I pray every day for a cancellation.”

Apparently, viewers felt the same way. The show’s ratings started to decline, and in 1979, the network made the not so difficult decision to pull the plug.

Of course, this wasn’t the end of Ms. Strassman’s career. She continued to find work in both television and movies. I particularly loved her in the 1989 Disney movie, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. (Heck, anything with Rick Moranis is all right with me!) And, around the same time, Marcia also had a recurring role in the 21 Jump Street spinoff, Booker. I think she was the best part of that show, which starred Richard Grieco and aired for a single season on Fox. After that, there were many other roles, especially on TV.

Did Marcia Strassman and Gabe Kaplan ever make up?

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However, the best part of this story, at least for me, is that long after the cancellation of Welcome Back, Kotter, Marcia and Gabe finally reconnected. Writing in Time magazine about their uncommon reunion, here’s what Gabe had to say:

“Midway through the run of Welcome Back, Kotter, Marcia was fed up with being just the straight woman for jokes. She was a tremendous actress, and she wanted to do more. After the last episode, I didn’t see her for about 15 years. But our kids wound up going to the same school, and when I was in the schoolyard one day, I heard “Gabriel!” I knew immediately who it was, and from that point on we saw each other often.”

Once they began talking again, the two reminisced about their turbulent times on the show and discovered that the show’s producer had been playing them off each other, telling them both that the other didn’t like them. For whatever reason, he felt like the on-set tension helped the actors deliver better on-screen performances.

So, I guess the truth of the matter is that there had been a feud of sorts. Marcia and Gabe had not got along all that well while on the set. But you know what? These incredibly wonderful, talented people found a way to forgive each other and move forward with a friendship that would continue for the rest of their lives.

In March 2007, Marcia was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. She talked about that experience in her book, Life with a Side Order of Cancer. Sadly, along with the diagnosis came the unwelcome news that it had spread to her bones.

In 2014, Marcia Strassman passed away at her home in Sherman Oaks, California, surrounded by those who loved her. She was 66 years old.