Quick Facts
Biography
John Gabriel (born Jack Monkarsh; May 25, 1931) is an American actor and singer who is best known for his role as Seneca Beaulac in Ryan's Hope (1975–85, 1988–89), and for which he received an Emmy Award nomination in 1980. Gabriel, who played the Professor in the original, unaired Gilligan's Island pilot, is the father of Lost actress Andrea Gabriel. He appeared on Broadway in The Happy Time in 1968, and produced the TV series Charles Grodin in 1995.
Family
Born Jack Monkarsh, the youngest of three siblings born to Harry and Rae Monkarsh, Gabriel was raised in Niagara Falls, New York.
Career Overview
Gabriel has, throughout his career as an actor and singer, worked steadily in a wide variety of capacities. He has appeared on stage in two Broadway productions, The Happy Time and Applause (musical) as well as Off-Broadway in Fighting International Fat at the Playwrights Horizons. Gabriel played numerous character roles in film and television over a period of five decades.
He portrayed Pedro in the John Wayne movie El Dorado, also writing its title song in collaboration with Nelson Riddle.
He has starred in Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and Ryan's Hope. As a singer, Gabriel has appeared on numerous television shows, including The Ed Sullivan Show, The Merv Griffin Show, The Mike Douglas Show, and Regis and Kathy Lee, among others. He produced the Charles Grodin Show for six years.
Words and music
In 2004, Gabriel wrote and produced, along with his wife Sandra (herself an actress best known for her role of Edna Thornton on All My Children), a nightclub act which he regularly tours across America. The show, entitled Words And Music, is a celebration of classic American song interspersed with stories culled from Gabriel's vast experience in show business. In 2010, the production was videotaped in Los Angeles.
Selected filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | The Return of Superfly | Sarge Joyner | |
| 1980 | It's My Turn | Hunter | |
| Just Tell Me What You Want | Commentator | Film directed by Sidney Lumet. | |
| 1976 | Network | TV Anchor (reporting Beale's suicide threat) | Uncredited. |
| 1975 | The Hiding Place | Professor Zeiner | |
| 1970 | The Fakers | Mark Adams | Also wrote lyrics for film's theme song, "The Fakers," in collaboration with composer Nelson Riddle. |
| 1966 | Stagecoach (1966 film) | Capt. Jim Mallory | |
| El Dorado | Pedro | Wrote lyrics for film's theme song, "El Dorado", in collaboration with composer Nelson Riddle. | |
| 1965 | Red Line 7000 | Jake | Film directed by Howard Hawks |
| 1964 | Sex and the College Girl | Larry Devon | |
| 1960 | The Story of Ruth | Chilion | |
| Identity Unknown | Jamieson | ||
| 1958 | South Pacific | Radio Officer | |
| The Young Lions | Burn | ||
| The Hunters (1958 film) | Lt. Corona | Also wrote and composed the film's theme song, "The Hunter." John Gabriel performed the song live on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1959. |
Selected television appearances
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Days of Our Lives | Pete LeGrand | Recurring. |
| 1999 | Law & Order | Bernard Kincaide | Episode: "Admissions." |
| 1993 | Seinfeld | Newscaster | Episode: "The Non-Fat Yogurt" |
| Murder, She Wrote | Dr. Johnny Windurst | Episode: "The Petrified Forest" | |
| 1993 | Generations | Vic Reynolds | Recurring |
| 1984–1989 | Ryan's Hope | Dr. Seneca Beaulac | 726 Episodes. |
| 1988 | The Incredible Hulk Returns | Joshua Lampert | |
| 1987 | Kate & Allie | Peter Rutland | Recurring |
| 1982 | Hart To Hart | Justin | Recurring |
| 1973–1975 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Andy Rivers | Episodes: "The System," "A Son For Murray," "Ted Baxter Meets Walter Cronkite," "Lou's First Date," "Hi There, Sports Fans." |
| 1974 | Here's Lucy | Jack Thomas | Episode: "Mary Jane's Boyfriend." |
| 1972–1973 | General Hospital | Teddy Holmes | Recurring |
| 1970–1972 | Love of Life | Linc Morrison | Recurring |
| 1964 | Gilligan's Island | Professor | Pilot Episode: "Marooned." John Gabriel portrayed the Professor, the part was re-cast for the series proper. |
| 1961–1963 | 77 Sunset Strip | Various roles | Episodes: "Deposit With Caution," "The Parallel Caper," "Strange Bedfellows." |
| 1963 | The Untouchables | Dr. Daniel Gifford | Episodes: "Jake Dance," "Bird In The Hand." |
| 1962 | Bachelor Father | Dr. Hart Bellamy | |
| Dick Powell Theater | Lieutenant Buka | Recurring | |
| 1961 | Hawaiian Eye | Derek Demaarest, Buddy Keene | Episodes: "The Pretty People," "The Kiddi Kid." |
| 1959 | General Electric Theater : Absalom My Son | John | Co-Starred with Burl Ives |
| 1958 | Men of Annapolis | Layden | Episode: "The Runaway." |
| The New Adventures of Charlie Chan | The Actor | Episode: "The Hand of Hera Dass." | |
| 1953 | You Are There | Major John Andre | Episode: "The Treason of Benedict Arnold." |