# John Gabriel (actor)

John Gabriel (born Jack Monkarsh; May 25, 1931 – June 11, 2021) was an American actor, singer-lyricist, and producer who is best known for his role as Seneca Beaulac on Ryan's Hope (1975–1985, 1988–1989), for which he received an Emmy Award nomination in 1980. Gabriel, who played the Professor in the original, unaired Gilligan's Island pilot, was the father of actress Andrea Gabriel. He appeared on Broadway in The Happy Time in 1968, and produced the eponymous television series Charles Grodin starring Charles Grodin in 1995.

## Family

Gabriel was born in Niagara Falls, New York, the youngest of three children of Harry and Rae Monkarsh. His parents were of Polish Jewish/Russian Jewish descent. His father was born in then-Mandatory Palestine.

## Career

Gabriel, throughout his career as an actor and singer, worked steadily in a wide variety of capacities. He appeared on stage in two Broadway productions, The Happy Time and the musical Applause, 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 and also composed its title song in collaboration with Nelson Riddle.
He starred in Days of Our Lives, General Hospital, and Ryan's Hope.
From 1973 to 1975, he had a recurring role as WJM-TV sportscaster Andy Rivers on The Mary Tyler Moore Show.
As a singer, Gabriel 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 actress wife Sandy Gabriel, best known for her role of Edna Thornton on All My Children, a nightclub act which he regularly toured across the United States. The show, titled Words And Music, was 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.

## Death

John Gabriel died in New York on June 11, 2021, at age 90. His daughter attributed his death to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.

## Selected filmography

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | The Return of Superfly | Sergeant Joyner | |
| 1980 | It's My Turn | Hunter | |
| 1980 | 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 | Hell's Bloody Devils | Mark Adams | Also known as The Fakers; wrote lyrics for film's theme song, "The Fakers", in collaboration with composer Nelson Riddle |
| 1966 | Stagecoach | Captain Jim Mallory | |
| 1966 | 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 Uncredited |
| 1964 | Sex and the College Girl | Larry Devon | |
| 1960 | The Story of Ruth | Chilion | |
| 1960 | Identity Unknown | Jamieson | |
| 1958 | South Pacific | Radio Officer | |
| 1958 | The Young Lions | Burn | |
| 1958 | The Hunters | Lieutenant Corona | Also wrote and composed the film's theme song, "The Hunter"; 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" |
| 1993 | Murder, She Wrote | Dr. Johnny Windurst | Episode: "The Petrified Forest" |
| 1989 | Generations | Vic Reynolds | Recurring |
| 1975–1985, 1988-1989 | Ryan's Hope | Seneca Beaulac | 726 Episodes |
| 1988 | The Incredible Hulk Returns | Joshua Lambert | Television film |
| 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 a high school teacher; the part was re-cast for the series |
| 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 | Episode: "Peter, the Medicine Man" |
| 1962 | 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" |
| 1958 | 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" |