At 14, Ron Palillo started his own summer theater in Cheshire, Connecticut. His parents, Gabriel and Carmel Palillo, were surprised when the summer theater actually made money. After graduating from high school, Ron went to the University of Connecticut at Storrs, where he majored in drama. He appeared in many school plays in college. Ron had two brothers and a sister. His elder brother, Richard, is an eye surgeon, and his younger brother, Robert, is a salesman. His sister, Ann, became a teacher.