Elyes Gabel

Elyes Gabel
Gabel at the 2019 WonderCon
Born	Elyes Cherif Gabel (1983-05-08) 8 May 1983 Westminster, London, England
Occupation	Actor
Years active	2001–present

Elyes Cherif Gabel (/ˈɛliəs ɡəˈbɛl/; born 8 May 1983) is a British actor.

Gabel's global breakout role was portraying computer genius Walter O'Brien in the CBS series Scorpion (2014–2018). Earlier he gained recognition as series regular Dr. Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu in the BBC medical drama Casualty (2004–2007), as Dothraki Rakharo in seasons 1 and 2 of the HBO series Game of Thrones (2011–2012), as PE teacher Rob Cleaver in series 4 of BBC One's school-based drama series Waterloo Road (2010) and as DC Jose Rodriguez in the ITV drama Identity (2010). In 2011, he appeared as Prince Djem in a guest-star-role in the 3-times Emmy awarded TV show The Borgias, and appeared later in 2011 as Shahrouz in the dark comedy Psychoville. He moved to the US and was starting to be cast in US TV shows, as series-regular Detective Adam Lucas in season 3 of Body of Proof (2013). In February 2022, Gabel starred as Sean Tilson in Apple TV's 8-part-thriller Suspicion. In 2024, he appeared as Hassan in the CBS series FBI episode "Creating a Monster".

His most notable film appearances are as virologist Andrew Fassbach in the post-apocalyptic thriller World War Z (2013), as Julian in J.C. Chandor's Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award nominated crime drama A Most Violent Year (2014), and as Adem Qasim in the spy thriller Spooks: The Greater Good (2015). He voiced Thom Kallor / Star Boy in Justice League vs. the Fatal Five (2019).

Early life

Gabel was born in Westminster, London and lived in Canada before returning to the UK to live in Bristol and Manchester. He is of French-Algerian, Anglo-Indian, Spanish, Dutch, Irish and Portuguese descent. He attended St Damian's Roman Catholic Science College in Ashton-Under-Lyne and later trained at Strodes College, the Oldham Theatre Workshop, the Northern Kids Theatre Company and at Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art, London. At the age of 18, he left school to shoot for a TV show in Toronto.

Career

2001–2012: Early career

Gabel made his debut in 2001 as the character Jean-Claude Tournier in episode titled Breaking point of series 15 of BBC medical drama Casualty. In 2002, Gabel dropped out of drama school to appear on the children's fantasy sitcom I Love Mummy where he portrayed Pharaoh Prince Nuffratuti (Prince Nuff) of Abu Simbel, who is unable to ascend to the afterlife until he has completed his scroll of tasks. In 2004, he appeared as Steve in BBC One medical soap opera Doctors. In the same year, Gabel appeared as two different characters in different episodes of Casualty. He joined as series regular character Gurpreet Guppy Sandhu in the same show as a part of series 19. He was nominated as Most Popular Newcomer at the 2005 National Television Awards for the role. He also appeared as Gurpreet in episode four titled "Teacher's Pet" of Casualty@Holby City, a nine part special crossover series of Casualty and its spin off Holby City in 2005. He decided to leave Casualty in 2007 to pursue new acting challenges and concentrate on recording music with his band.

In 2008, he made his film debut portraying the character Ben in American supernatural horror film Boogeyman 3, the final installment of the Boogeyman film series. He went on to appear as Danny in Charlie Brooker's horror comedy drama miniseries based on a zombie outbreak titled Dead Set. In the same year, Gabel appeared as Vimal, a trainee priest, in the BBC drama Apparitions, alongside Martin Shaw. The first episode aired on BBC One on 13 November 2008. He then starred as P.E. teacher Rob Cleaver in the BBC One school drama Waterloo Road from series 4, which began on 7 January 2009. In 2010, Gabel starred in the 6-part British police procedural series Identity as DC Jose Rodriguez on ITV, a member of the identity unit. In the same year, he lent his voice to Apache: Air Assault, a combat flight simulator video game. In 2011, He played Prince Djem, brother of Sultan Bayezid II of the Ottoman Empire in Showtime's The Borgias. In the same year, he played Shahrouz in the second series of Psychoville and as Ahmed in war torn Baghdad based hostage drama Kingdom of Dust (2011).

He appeared as the Dothraki "Bloodrider" Rakharo, loyal bodyguard of Daenerys Targaryen in season 1 and the beginning of season 2 of HBO fantasy series Game of Thrones. According to the showrunners David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the journey of his character in the show had to be cut short as he quit the show to pursue projects that put him more front and center. In 2011, he joined the cast of CIA procedural Fox pilot Exit Strategy, portraying transport expert Tarik Fayad alongside Ethan Hawke but the show was dropped after being considered for a midseason airing and later released as a television film. In the same year, he appeared as Jaz in British coming of age drama Everywhere and Nowhere alongside James Floyd and Adam Deacon. In 2012, he appeared as Troy Vargas in David Hubbard's Widow Detective. In the same year, he appeared as Umar in the Silent Witness two-part episode "And Then I Fell in Love".

That same year, Gabel founded his own production company Roughened Verse Entertainment and went to pursue more roles in the United States.

2013–present: Career in the U.S.

In 2013, Gabel starred as Detective Adam Lucas in the third season of the American medical/crime comedy drama television series, Body of Proof on ABC. His character Adam Lucas was described as young, smart, a rebel and a Philadelphia native, who is a new entrant in the Philadelphia Homicide division. The show was ABC's third most-watched show and yet was cancelled by the channel after the third season. He appeared as Ruan Sternwood in Eran Creevy's action thriller Welcome to the Punch alongside James McAvoy, Mark Strong, and Andrea Riseborough. In the same year, he appeared as a young virologist Andrew Fassbach in World War Z, based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Max Brooks.

Katharine McPhee and Elyes Gabel speaking at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con, for Scorpion.

Gabel starred as an eccentric computing genius Walter O'Brien on the American drama series Scorpion by Nick Santora on CBS, based on the real life of Walter O'Brien. According to the show creator Nick Santora, "Gabel was able to play the difficulty of expressing emotion while being emotional" for the character of Walter O'Brien, who had difficulty processing and expressing emotions. The series debuted on 22 September 2014 and became the highest rated and highest streamed drama for CBS. Scorpion also won The Golden Nymph award for 'Best Action & Science Fiction TV Series' in Monte-Carlo Television Festival (2018). The series was cancelled after four seasons and 93 episodes, despite having higher ratings than other cancellations with the last airing on 16 April 2018. Gabel starred in all 93 episodes of the series and was termed as one of the "11 Breakout Stars of the Fall TV Season 2014" by TheWrap and TVLine. In the same year, he made an appearance in a crossover episode of Scorpion with American action television series NCIS: Los Angeles.

In Christopher Nolan's science fiction film Interstellar, which premiered on 26 October 2014, Gabel had a small cameo appearance as the administrator who fanboyed over the lead character played by Matthew McConaughey and showed him to his quarters.

In November 2014, he was seen in J. C. Chandor's American crime drama film A Most Violent Year, which was among "323 feature films eligible for the 87th Academy Awards" as announced by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. A Most Violent Year premiered to great critical acclaim. Gabel played Supporting Lead. Several critics were much impressed by his portrayal of Latin American immigrant "Julian", who becomes the sacrificial lamb in a politically motivated barter. "If there were an Oscar for best actor in a single scene, Gabel should win for his mad soliloquy on repentance and despair."

In 2015, he appeared as Adem Qasim, again a Supporting Lead role, in British spy thriller film Spooks: The Greater Good alongside Kit Harington and Jennifer Ehle. He is the primary antagonist of the film, a terrorist who escapes MI5 custody thanks to a traitor in MI5's leadership.

Justice League vs. the Fatal Five cast at WonderCon 2019

In 2019, Gabel voiced the superhero and Legion of Super-Heroes member Thomas Kallor, also known as Star Boy, in DC Entertainment's direct-to-video animated superhero film Justice League vs. the Fatal Five. Its world premiere was at WonderCon (March 29–31, 2019).

In 2020, he joined the cast of Suspicion on Apple TV+ an eight part thriller series which premiered on 4 February 2022, based on the Israeli TV series False Flag, Gabel portrayed British citizen Sean Tilson alongside Uma Thurman and Kunal Nayyar.

2017–present: Filmmaking

In 2017, Gabel directed the pilot episode titled "Black White & a shade of grey" of TV series Stakes. In the same year he wrote, produced, directed and starred in his own passion project Game Show Hurt a piece that tells the story about a man who creates and hosts a game show which unconsciously plays out elements of the past. It is set to release soon. As the third filmmaker project of 2017, Gabel directed and produced a short feature film titled Grimshaw based on drug addiction and regression of individual freedom. The film gained critical acclaim, with wins for Best Narrative and honorable mentions as Best Featurette and Gabel himself gained a nomination as and a win as Best Director at two different film festivals.

Personal life

Gabel was in a relationship with Sarah Barrand who played Shannon in Footballers' Wives. He met Scorpion co-star Katharine McPhee on set and they later dated, but split in early 2016.

Music

Gabel is a singer, songwriter and a guitarist who also fronts a band El & The Broken Bones. He considers music as passion and has expressed his love for emotional and haunting scores. Gabel along with his Casualty costar, Luke Bailey performed a rendition of The Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There" in 2005 edition of annual BBC charity telethon for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK, Children in Need. In 2008, Gabel recorded a single along with Luke Bailey, Stephen Nicholas, Lee Otway, Junior Witter and Girls Aloud, under the collaboration UK Flow, a campaign aimed at raising money to fight the spate of knife crimes. In 2016, he did a karaoke rendition of Elton John's "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" alongside his costar Katharine McPhee in the season 2 episode "Sun of a Gun" and a musical in the season 4 episode "Extinction" (2017) for his show Scorpion.

Philanthropy

In 2005, Gabel performed in Children in Need, an annual BBC charity telethon for disadvantaged children and young people in the UK. In 2008, he joined actors and sports stars to record a rap-single to support the Anti-knife campaign and raising money to fight the spate of knife crimes. He supports ALS Association Golden West Chapter to help in the fight to end ALS and raising awareness and funds for the disease in honor of his maternal grandmother Noreen Gurney who suffered from the disease via his fundraising page Teamelyes.org. In 2014, he was part of ALS Association Golden West Chapter's "walk to defeat ALS" alongside Renée Zellweger, Reese Witherspoon. In the same year, Gabel along with the cast of Scorpion was part of CBS Cares's awareness and discussion campaigns for Autism. He was associated with American Forces Network / AFN's Stop Bullying Body Positive campaign along with the Scorpion cast in 2015. In the same year, Gabel along with his Scorpion co-star Katharine Mcphee joined Sloane Stephens, CoCo Vandeweghe, Justin Gimelstob, Boris Kodjoe and others for a Pro-Am tennis tournament in Brentwood to help raise money for the United States Tennis Association Foundation, which supports tennis and educational programs under- resourced youth, individuals with disabilities, and wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. Gabel was also involved in CBS Cares's awareness, discussions and fundraising campaigns for Multiple sclerosis (MS) during its awareness month, March in association with a nonprofit organization, National Multiple Sclerosis Society in 2017. In 2019, he supported "Raising the Stakes" charity by One Step Closer Foundation for raising funds towards helping people with cerebral palsy by participating in the Cerebral Palsy (CP) Celebrity Poker Tournament.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008	Boogeyman 3	Ben
2011	Kingdom of Dust: Beheading of Adam Smith	Ahmed
	Everywhere and Nowhere	Jaz
2013	Welcome to the Punch	Ruan Sternwood
	World War Z	Andrew Fassbach
2014	Interstellar	Administrator
	A Most Violent Year	Julian
2015	Spooks: The Greater Good	Adem Qasim
2019	Justice League vs. the Fatal Five	Thom Kallor / Star Boy	Voice
2024	Game Show Hurt	Game show host / Defiant	Writer, producer and director

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2001	Casualty	Jean-Claude Tournier	Episode: "Breaking Point"
2002–2003	I Love Mummy	Prince Nuffratuti / Nuff	26 episodes
2004	Doctors	Steve	Episode: "They Never Cut the Cord"
	Casualty	Jude	Episode: "Where There's Life..."
2004–2007	Casualty	Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu	127 episodes
2005	Children in Need	Himself	Performed a rendition of The Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There" in 2005 edition of annual BBC charity telethon
	Casualty@Holby City	Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu	Episode: "Teacher's Pet"
2008	Dead Set	Danny	3 episodes
	Apparitions	Vimal	Episode #1.1
2009	Waterloo Road	Rob Cleaver	10 episodes
2010	Identity	DC Jose Rodriguez	6 episodes
2011	Psychoville	Shahrouz	5 episodes
	The Borgias	Prince Djem	Episode: "The Moor"
2011–2012	Game of Thrones	Bloodrider Rakharo	7 episodes
2012	Silent Witness	Umar	2 episodes
	Widow Detective	Troy Vargas	Television film
2013	Body of Proof	Det. Adam Lucas	13 episodes
2014–2018	Scorpion	Walter O'Brien	93 episodes
2015	The Messengers	Walter
	Exit Strategy	Tarik Fayad	Television film
2016	The Price Is Right	Walter O'Brien	Crossover with Scorpion S2 E18 "The Fast and the Nerdiest"
2022	Suspicion	Sean Tilson	8 episodes
2024	FBI	Hassan Billal	Episode: "Creating A Monster"

As writer, producer and director

Year	Title	Notes
			Director	Producer	Screenwriter
2017	Stakes (TV series)	Episode: "Black, White & a Shade of Grey"	Yes	No	No
2018	Grimshaw	Short film	Yes	Yes	No
2024	Game Show Hurt	Short film	Yes	Yes	Yes

Theatre

Year	Work	Role	Notes	Ref
2003	Fragile Land	Hassan	Hampstead Theatre, London
	Mr Elliot	Ash	Chelsea Theatre, London
2004	Headstone	Jack	Arcola Theatre, London
2006	Borderline	Haroon	Royal Court Theatre
2008	Prince of Delhi Palace	Happy	National theatre
	The Projectionist	Mark	Audio-play/podcast
2009	Awhi Tapu		Finborough Theatre (UK Debut of New Zealand's Māori playwright)
	Shades	Ali	Royal Court Theatre
	The Secret of Iguando		Radio play

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Refs
2005	National Television Awards	Most Popular Newcomer	Casualty	Nominated
2012	Screen Actors Guild Awards	Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (shared with other cast)	Game of Thrones	Nominated
2018	Top Shorts Film Festival	Jury prize for Best Narrative Film (shared with Cottrell Guidry)	Grimshaw	Won
	Show Low Film Festival	Jury Award for Best Director		Won
	Independent Shorts Awards	Honorable Mention as Best Indie Short		Won
2019	Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema	Grand Jury Award for Best Director		Nominated
2020	CinEuphoria Awards	Merit – Honorary Award (shared with other cast)	Game of Thrones	Won

External links

• Official website
• Elyes Gabel at IMDb