Martin Gabel was an American actor and producer, known for his roles in Marnie, The Front Page, and The Lost Moment. Born on June 19, 1912, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he became a versatile character actor with a successful career spanning theater and film.
Personal and Family Life
Martin Gabel was married to actress Arlene Francis from May 14, 1946, until his death in 1986. They had one child, Peter Gabel, born on January 28, 1947. Gabel was the son of a jeweler and graduated with a degree in English from Lehigh University. He honed his acting skills at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and his first performance was in Chicago.
Career
Gabel gained recognition for his performance in the Broadway show ‘Dead End’ from 1935 to 1937 and was a founding member of Orson Welles’s Mercury Theatre Company. He was particularly famous for being a frequent guest on the CBS game show What’s My Line?, appearing 114 times over its run. He won a Tony Award in 1961 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Big Fish, Little Fish.”
Death and Legacy
Martin Gabel passed away on May 22, 1986, in New York City due to a heart attack. His contributions to theater and film have left a lasting impact, especially in the roles he played as a character actor. He is remembered for his versatile performances and dedication to his craft.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Marnie | 1964-07-17 | Sidney Strutt |
| The Front Page | 1974-11-01 | Dr. Max J. Eggelhofer |
| The James Dean Story | 1957-08-13 | Narrator |
| There Was a Crooked Man… | 1970-09-18 | Warden LeGoff |
| The First Deadly Sin | 1980-10-03 | Christopher Langley |
| Deadline – U.S.A. | 1952-03-14 | Tomas Rienzi |
| Lady in Cement | 1968-11-19 | Al Mungar |
| The Thief | 1952-10-15 | Mr. Bleek |
| Goodbye Charlie | 1964-11-18 | Morton Craft |
| Fourteen Hours | 1951-04-01 | Dr. Strauss |
| Smile Jenny, You’re Dead | 1974-02-03 | Meade De Ruyter |
| Tip on a Dead Jockey | 1957-09-06 | Bert Smith |
| The Crimebusters | 1961-01-01 | George Vincent |
| Contract on Cherry Street | 1977-11-19 | Bob Waldman |
| The Power and the Glory | 1963-05-31 | Chief of Police |
| The Right Man | 1960-01-01 | William Jennings Bryant |
| Pictura | 1951-06-01 | Narrator: Gauguin episode (voice) |
| The Making of the President 1960 | 1963-12-29 | Self |
| Divorce American Style | 1967-06-21 | Dr. Zenwinn |
| Harvey | 1972-03-20 | Judge Omar Gaffney |
| Lord Love a Duck | 1966-02-21 | T. Harrison “Harry” Belmont (uncredited) |
| M | 1951-03-01 | Charlie Marshall |
| The Making of the President: 1964 | 1966-12-13 | Narrator |
| Tony Awards | 1956-04-01 | Self – Nominee |
| What’s My Line? | 1950-02-02 | Self – Panelist |
| What’s My Line? | 1950-02-02 | Self – Mystery Guest |
| The Ed Sullivan Show | 1948-06-20 | Self |