John Gabriel

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 shortlived 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.