Gabe Kaplan

Gabriel Weston Kaplan, born on March 31, 1945, is an American actor, comedian, and professional poker player. He gained fame for portraying the teacher in the 1970s sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter. Apart from his acting career, Kaplan ventured into professional poker playing and became a commentator for the series High Stakes Poker on PokerGO. Born in Brooklyn, New York City, to a Jewish family, Kaplan attended New Utrecht High School but did not graduate. Initially aspiring to be a Major League Baseball player, he later shifted his focus to comedy after working as a bellman in a New Jersey hotel. Kaplan's stand-up routine, which drew inspiration from his childhood experiences, propelled him to tour the country and find success in the comedy circuit.