| Gabe Kaplan | |
|---|---|
 Gabe Kaplan at the 2006 World Series of Poker |
|
| Hometown | Los Angeles, California |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | None |
| Money finishes | 10 |
| Highest ITM main event finish |
13th, 1991 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Titles | None |
| Final tables | 1 |
| Money finishes | 3 |
Gabriel "Gabe" Kaplan (born March 31, 1944) is an American comedian, actor and professional poker player. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is best known for his role as Gabriel "Gabe" Kotter in the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, but he has become more visible in recent years in relation to the popularity of poker, especially the "No-Limit Texas Hold-'Em" type, particularly as co-host and joint commentator, with A.J. Benza, on High Stakes Poker on GSN.
Contents |
Acting career
As a boy, Kaplan had aspirations of being a Major League Baseball player. However, he was unable to make the roster of even a minor league team and decided to pursue other interests. He began working as a bellman at a hotel in Lakewood, New Jersey. Touring comedians would sometimes perform at the hotel, and Kaplan began to work toward his own career as a stand-up comedian.
Kaplan's comedy was successful, and he toured the country with his act based on his childhood experiences in Brooklyn. He appeared five times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from May 1973 to December 1974. During this period he also recorded the comedy album Holes and Mello-Rolls, which included long routines about his high-school days, among other topics; the sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, whose central characters he helped Eric Cohen and Alan Sacks create and whose core format he helped them to develop, was in part based on his comedy act. In the sitcom, Kaplan played Gabe Kotter, a high school teacher. The series ran from 1975 to 1979. After Welcome Back, Kotter, Kaplan continued with his stand-up act and was in several movies, and portrayed comic Groucho Marx in a one-man show.
Poker
Kaplan became involved in financial markets and poker during his acting career. He made his first appearance at the World Series of Poker in 1978. In July 2004, he finished third in a World Poker Tour no-limit Texas hold 'em event, earning more than $250,000. He also finished second in the $5000 2005 World Series of Poker Limit Hold 'Em event, winning $222,515.
In 2007, Kaplan won on NBC's Poker After Dark in the episode "Queens and Kings" after defeating Kristy Gazes heads-up and outlasting Howard Lederer, Ali Nejad, Vanessa Rousso and Annie Duke.
In the 2007 World Series of Poker Kaplan finished in 9th place in the $50,000 World Championship H.O.R.S.E event winning $131,424; Freddy Deeb eventually won the event after defeating Bruno Fitoussi in heads-up play.
As of 2008, Kaplan's total live tournament winnings exceeded $1,300,000.[1]
Kaplan won again on "Poker After Dark" during "Cowboys" week that first aired in February 2008 against Chris Ferguson, Andy Bloch, Chau Giang, Hoyt Corkins and Doyle Brunson.
Current activities
Kaplan had resumed performing stand-up comedy and was also working on adaptations of Welcome Back, Kotter. He still played poker frequently and became a commentator for poker events and televised poker shows, most recently the National Heads-Up Poker Championship,[2] in 2005 and 2006, on NBC, High Stakes Poker,[3] on GSN, and the Intercontinental Poker Championship.
In 2007, he appeared in Zak Penn's improvisational comedy, The Grand,[4] as, "Seth Schwartzman," father of brother and sister poker players.
References
- ^ thehendonmob database Money winnings stats
- ^ *"NBC's 'Heads-Up' aces ratings" Variety.com, retrieved April 15, 2007
- ^ *"High Stakes Poker Season 3 Premieres on Monday, January 15 at 9 PM" GSN.com retrieved April 15, 2007
- ^ *http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Grand_(film)
External links
- Gabe Kaplan at the Internet Movie Database
- World Poker Tour profile
- Hendon Mob tournament results
- Gabe Kaplan Official Web Site
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 4/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 3/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Author: pokercash4free
Keywords: Poker After Dark Season Episode 4/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.) Todd Brunson Phil Hellmuth Gordon Gabe Kaplan Cory Zeidman David Grey
Added: January 6, 2009
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 3/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 3/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Author: pokercash4free
Keywords: Poker After Dark Season Episode 3/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.) Todd Brunson Phil Hellmuth Gordon Gabe Kaplan Cory Zeidman David Grey
Added: January 6, 2009
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 2/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 2/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Author: pokercash4free
Keywords: Poker After Dark Season Episode 2/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.) Todd Brunson Phil Hellmuth Gordon Gabe Kaplan Cory Zeidman David Grey
Added: January 6, 2009
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 1/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Poker After Dark Season 5 Episode 7 1/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.)
Author: pokercash4free
Keywords: Poker After Dark Season Episode 1/4 (Table: Speak Your Mind. Day One.) Todd Brunson Phil Hellmuth Gordon Gabe Kaplan Cory Zeidman David Grey
Added: January 6, 2009
Heads-Up Poker Championship 08 Ep.3 10/10 cardplayertube.com
http://www.cardplayertube.com - Watch Over 700+ Poker Videos. - Get $150 Free - Boost Your Poker Bankroll. - 11 sites to choose starting capital from! National Heads-Up Poker Championship 2008 Episode 3 - Round of 32 - Clubs & Spades Bracket No Limit Holdem Tournament. Commentary by Ali Nejad & Matt Vasgersian, Host Leeann Tweeden. Players Include: T.J. Cloutier, J.C. Tran, Gavin Smith, Chris Ferguson, Gus Hansen, Scotty Nguyen, Mike Matusow, Tom Dwan, Jerry Yang, Phil Laak, Jonathan Little, Gabe Kaplan, Greg Raymer, Scott Clements, Phil Ivey, Johnny Chan.
Author: freddydeeb7
Keywords: 2008 championship cloutier dwan ferguson hansen heads laak matusow national nguyen poker smith tran up video world yang
Added: December 11, 2008