The daytime community is mourning the passing of actor John Gabriel, best known to soap opera fans for playing Dr. Seneca Beaulac during the first ten years of the ABC soap opera Ryan's Hope. The New York native was 90.
Gabriel's death was announced on Instagram by his daughter, actress Andrea Gabriel. "It is with an unspeakably heavy heart that I share the news of my father's passing," she wrote. "John Gabriel was my hero, my role model, and my champion, but above all, my daddy... I will love you forever."
Raised in Niagra Fall, New York, Gabriel became an accomplished actor and singer who worked steadily in a wide variety of projects. Daytime fans will recognize him from numerous soap roles, including Dr. Seneca Beaulac on Ryan's Hope (1975 to 1985, 1988 to 1989); Teddy Holmes on General Hospital (1972 to 1973); Zack Conway on Loving (1986); Lloyd Bennet on The Bold and the Beautiful (1991); and Pete LeGrand on Days of our Lives (2002).
Some of Gabriel's other include series such as Gilligan's Island, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, 77 Sunset Strip, The Untouchables, Kate & Allie, Love of Life, and Generations, as well as films like John Wayne's El Dorado. 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. He also appeared in two Broadway productions, The Happy Time and Applause.
Gabriel was married to Sandy Gabriel, best known for her role as Edna Thornton on All My Children. In 2004, the pair wrote and produced a nightclub act called Words and Music, a celebration of classic American song interspersed with stories culled from Gabriel's vast experience in show business.
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