Gabriel Dell (born Gabriel Marcel Dell Vecchio; October 8, 1919 – July 3, 1988) was an American actor and one of the members of what came to be known as the

Dead End Kids The Dead End Kids were a group of young actors from New York City who appeared in Sidney Kingsley's Broadway play '' Dead End'' in 1935. In 1937, producer Samuel Goldwyn brought all of them to Hollywood and turned the play into a film. They prov ...

, then later the

East Side Kids The East Side Kids were characters in a series of 22 films released by Monogram Pictures from 1940 through 1945. Many of them were originally part of The Dead End Kids and The Little Tough Guys, and several of them later became members of The ...

and finally

The Bowery Boys The Bowery Boys are fictional New York City characters, portrayed by a company of New York actors, who were the subject of 48 feature films released by Monogram Pictures and its successor Allied Artists Pictures Corporation from 1946 through 1 ...

Acting career

Born in

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the Un ...

, Dell almost made his stage debut a few years before ''Dead End'' when he and his sister were slated for roles in ''

The Good Earth ''The Good Earth'' is a historical fiction novel by Pearl S. Buck published in 1931 that dramatizes family life in a Chinese village in the early 20th century. It is the first book in her ''House of Earth'' trilogy, continued in ''Sons'' (1932) ...

'' with

Alla Nazimova Alla Nazimova (Russian: Алла Назимова; born Marem-Ides Leventon, Russian: Марем-Идес Левентон; June 3 Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates">O.S._May_22.html" ;"title="Old_Style_and_New_Style_dates.html" ;"title="nowiki/>O ...

and Claude Rains. Dell served in the

United States Merchant Marine United States Merchant Marines are United States civilian mariners and U.S. civilian and federally owned merchant vessels. Both the civilian mariners and the merchant vessels are managed by a combination of the government and private sectors, an ...

during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. He appeared in numerous films as a Dead End Kid/East Side Kid/Bowery Boy. In the 1944 East Side Kids film

Million Dollar Kid ''Million Dollar Kid'' is a 1944 American film directed by Wallace Fox starring the East Side Kids. Plot In the East Side Kids' clubhouse, Muggs McGinnis laments the epidemic of mugging that has been plaguing their streets. While waiting outsid ...

, Dell actually appeared as a criminal villain, pitted against the boys, who gets brought to justice in the end. Dell's most prominent stage role was in the play ''The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window'', written by

Lorraine Hansberry Lorraine Vivian Hansberry (May 19, 1930 – January 12, 1965) was a playwright and writer. She was the first African-American female author to have a play performed on Broadway. Her best-known work, the play ''A Raisin in the Sun'', highli ...

. The production opened on Broadway at the Longacre Theatre on October 15, 1964, and was directed by Peter Kass. Jack Blackman designed scenery, Jules Fisher designed lighting, and Fred Voelpel designed costumes. The original cast featured Dell as Sidney Brustein and Rita Moreno as Iris Parodus Brustein. The play received mixed reviews and closed on January 10, 1965. His other non-Dead End Kids/Bowery Boys films included ''

The 300 Year Weekend ''The 300 Year Weekend'' is a 1971 drama film starring William Devane. The film was given several test engagements in February 1971 but was not released. Plot Cast * William Devane as Tom * Michael Tolan Michael Tolan (born Seymour Tucho ...

'' (1971), '' Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me? '' (1971), ''

Earthquake An earthquake (also known as a quake, tremor or temblor) is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth's lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Earthquakes can range in intensity, fr ...

'' (1974), and '' Framed'' (1975). He also appeared in '' The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery'' (1975), and ''

The Escape Artist ''The Escape Artist'' is a 1982 film starring Griffin O'Neal and Raúl Juliá. It was based on a book by David Wagoner, and was the directorial debut of Caleb Deschanel. It was the final film of Joan Hackett, Desi Arnaz, and Gabriel Dell, and t ...

'' (1982). Dell also made several appearances on television shows during the 1960s and '70s including ''

Ben Casey ''Ben Casey'' is an American medical drama series that aired on ABC from 1961 to 1966. The show was known for its opening titles, which consisted of a hand drawing the symbols "♂, ♀, ✳, †, ∞" on a chalkboard, as cast member Sam Jaff ...

'', '' The Fugitive'', '' Mannix'', ''

Then Came Bronson ''Then Came Bronson'' is an American adventure/drama television series starring Michael Parks that aired on NBC. It was created by Denne Bart Petitclerc, and produced by MGM Television. ''Then Came Bronson'' began with a television film pilot ...

'', '' I Dream of Jeannie'', '' McCloud'', '' Sanford and Son'', and ''

Barney Miller ''Barney Miller'' is an American sitcom television series set in a New York City Police Department police station on East 6th St in Greenwich Village. The series was broadcast on ABC Network from January 23, 1975, to May 20, 1982. It was created ...

''. According to differing sources, either Don Francks, Charles Bronson, or DellArchived
from the original on May 26, 2018. was the uncredited actor providing the voice of

Boba Fett Boba Fett ( ) is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. First appearing in the ''Star Wars Holiday Special'' (1978), where he was voiced by Don Francks, he is an armored bounty hunter featured in both the original and prequel fi ...

, a

Mandalorian Mandalorians are fictional people associated with the planet Mandalore in the ''Star Wars'' universe and franchise created by George Lucas. Their most distinct cultural features are their battle helmets, chest armor, wrist gauntlets, and often ...

bounty hunter, in the ''

Star Wars Holiday Special The ''Star Wars Holiday Special'' is a 1978 American television special that originally aired on November 17, 1978, on CBS. It is set in the universe of the sci-fi-based ''Star Wars'' media franchise. Directed by Steve Binder, it was the first ...

''.

Death

Dell died in

North Hollywood North Hollywood is a neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. The neighborhood contains the NoHo Arts District, the El Portal Theatre, several art galleries, and the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences. The North ...

leukemia Leukemia ( also spelled leukaemia and pronounced ) is a group of blood cancers that usually begin in the bone marrow and result in high numbers of abnormal blood cells. These blood cells are not fully developed and are called ''blasts'' or ...

in 1988 at age 68.

Partial filmography

Film

*''

Dead End Dead End or dead end may refer to: * Dead end (street), a street connected only at one end with other streets, called by many other official names, including ''cul-de-sac''. Film and television * ''The Dead End'' (1914 film), directed by Davi ...

'' (1937) - T.B. *''

Crime School ''Crime School'' is a 1938 Warner Bros. film directed by Lewis Seiler and starring the Dead End Kids and Humphrey Bogart. Plot A junkman does business with the Dead End Kids: Frankie, Squirt, Spike, Goofy, Fats, and Bugs. When the boys ask for ...

'' (1938) - Bugs *''

Little Tough Guy ''Little Tough Guy'' is a 1938 crime film that starred several of the ''Dead End Kids''. In the follow-up films, the studio began using the group name '' The Little Tough Guys'', and later '' The Dead End Kids and Little Tough Guys''. This was ...

'' (1938) - String *''

Angels with Dirty Faces ''Angels with Dirty Faces'' is a 1938 American crime drama film directed by Michael Curtiz for Warner Brothers. It stars James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, The Dead End Kids, Humphrey Bogart, Ann Sheridan, and George Bancroft. The screenplay was wri ...

'' (1938) - Pasty *''

They Made Me a Criminal ''They Made Me a Criminal'' is a 1939 American crime drama film directed by Busby Berkeley and starring John Garfield, Claude Rains, and The Dead End Kids. It is a remake of the film '' The Life of Jimmy Dolan'' (1933). The film was later featu ...

'' (1939) - T.B. *''

Hell's Kitchen Hell's Kitchen, also known as Clinton, is a neighborhood on the West Side of Midtown Manhattan in New York City. It is considered to be bordered by 34th Street (or 41st Street) to the south, 59th Street to the north, Eighth Avenue to the ea ...

'' (1939) - Ace *''

The Angels Wash Their Faces ''The Angels Wash Their Faces'' is a 1939 Warner Bros. film directed by Ray Enright and starring Ann Sheridan, Ronald Reagan and the Dead End Kids. Plot Gabe Ryan is released from reform school and is taken to a new house by his sister Joy to s ...

'' (1939) - Luigi *''

On Dress Parade ''The 'Dead End' Kids "On Dress Parade"'' is a 1939 Warner Bros. film that marked the first time The Dead End Kids headlined a film without any other well-known actors. Plot A hero of World War I, Colonel William Duncan, is on his deathbed. He s ...

'' (1939) - Cadet Georgie Warren *''The Right Way'' (1939, short) - Tom Martin *''

You're Not So Tough ''You're Not So Tough'' is a 1940 Universal Studios drama film directed by Joe May and starring ''Dead End Kids'' and the '' Little Tough Guys'' and was the first in the series where Billy Halop and Huntz Hall weren't billed in the opening credits ...

'' (1940) - String *''

Junior G-Men ''Junior G-Men'' was an American boys club and popular culture phenomenon during the late 1930s and early 1940s that began with a radio program and culminated with films featuring the Dead End Kids. Origins After leaving the Federal Bureau of Inve ...

'' (1940, Serial) - Terry *''

Give Us Wings ''Give Us Wings'' is a 1940 Universal comedic film starring the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys. Several members of the casts of those series were also featured in "The East Side Kids" films. In the years before World War II, the United ...

'' (1940) - String *'' Hit the Road'' (1941) - String *'' Mob Town'' (1941) - String *'' Sea Raiders'' (1941, Serial) - Bilge *''

Mr. Wise Guy ''Mr. Wise Guy'' is a 1942 American film starring The East Side Kids and directed by William Nigh. Plot In New York, the East Side youth gang, consisting of: Muggs McGinnis, Danny Collins, Glimpy Stone, Scruno, Skinny, and Peewee are falsely ar ...

'' (1942) - Charlie Manning *''

Junior G-Men of the Air ''Junior G-Men of the Air'' is a 1942 Universal film serial starring the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys. A group of youthful flying enthusiasts join the "Junior G-Men" to help break up a planned attack on the United States. Plot During ...

'' (1942, Serial) - 'Stick' Munsey *''

Let's Get Tough! ''Let's Get Tough!'' is a 1942 film and the ninth film in the East Side Kids series, starring Leo Gorcey (as Muggs), Huntz Hall (as Glimpy), Bobby Jordan (as Danny), and Robert Armstrong (as "Pops" the Cop). Released in early 1942, it was direct ...

'' (1942) - Fritz Heinbach *'' Tough As They Come'' (1942) - String *''

Smart Alecks ''Smart Alecks'' is a 1942 American film directed by Wallace Fox and starring the East Side Kids. Plot Hank Salko, a member of the Eastside youth gang in New York, is initiated into the world of adult crime when two gangsters, Mike and Butch Br ...

'' (1942) - Hank *''

'Neath Brooklyn Bridge ''Neath Brooklyn Bridge'' is a 1942 film released by Monogram Pictures. It is the eleventh installment in the '' East Side Kids'' series and one of the more dramatic films of the series, released at a time when they were making lighter, more humor ...

'' (1942) - Skid *''

Mug Town ''Mug Town'' is a 1942 Universal film starring the Dead End Kids and the Little Tough Guys. Plot Steve, Tommy, Pig, Ape, and String get chased out of town. During their attempt to hop onto a freight car, Steve dies. The other boys go and tell Ali ...

'' (1942) - String *'' Kid Dynamite'' (1943) - Harry Wycoff *''

Keep 'Em Slugging ''Keep 'Em Slugging'' is a 1943 American film starring the Little Tough Guys and directed by Christy Cabanne for Universal Pictures. This was the final film in Universal's Little Tough Guys series, and although Universal still billed the group as ...

'' (1943) - String *''

Mr. Muggs Steps Out ''Mr. Muggs Steps Out'' is a 1943 American film directed by William Beaudine and starring The East Side Kids. Plot Much to the despair of her husband John, wealthy New York socialite Margaret Morgan hires former criminals Masie O'Donnell and But ...

'' (1943) - Dips Nolan *''

'' (1944) - Lefty *'' Follow the Leader'' (1944) - W.W. 'Fingers' Belmont *''

Block Busters ''Block Busters'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Wallace Fox and starring the East Side Kids. Plot After an afternoon of playing baseball, Muggs McGinnis and the East Side Kids gang arrive at the door of their clubhouse, where a man ...

'' (1944) - Skinny *''

Bowery Champs ''Bowery Champs'' is a 1944 American film directed by William Beaudine and starring the East Side Kids. Plot After she files for divorce from nightclub owner Tom Wilson, former Broadway star Gypsy Carmen demands that he return the securities tha ...

'' (1944) - Jim Lindsay *'' Come Out Fighting'' (1945) - Pete *''

Spook Busters ''Spook Busters'' is a 1946 film directed by William Beaudine and starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. It is the fourth film in the series of forty eight. Plot All of the boys have just graduated from school where they learned exterminati ...

'' (1946) - Gabe 'Gabie' Moreno *'' Mr. Hex'' (1946) - Gabe Moreno *''

Hard Boiled Mahoney ''Hard Boiled Mahoney'' is a 1947 film starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. It is the sixth film in the series. Plot Sach just lost his job as an assistant to a private detective, but he wasn't paid. Slip goes with him down to the dete ...

'' (1947) - Gabe 'Gabie' *''

News Hounds ''News Hounds'' is a 1947 film directed by William Beaudine and starring the comedy team of The Bowery Boys. It is the seventh film in the series. Plot Slip is a copy boy for a newspaper, but dreams of having his own byline. Sach is an aspiring ...

'' (1947) - Gabe *'' Bowery Buckaroos'' (1947) - Gabe, aka The Klondike Kid *''

Angels' Alley ''Angels' Alley'' is a 1948 comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. It is the ninth film in the series and the first one without Bobby Jordan. Plot Slip's cousin Jimmy is released from prison for good behavior and ...

'' (1948) - Ricky Moreno *'' Jinx Money'' (1948) - Gabe *''

Smugglers' Cove ''Smuggler's Cove'' is a 1948 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on October 10, 1948 by Monogram Pictures and is the eleventh film in the series. Plot Young amateur sleuth Terence "Slip" Mahoney works cleaning offices in ...

'' (1948) - Gabe Moreno *'' Trouble Makers'' (1948) - Police Officer Gabe Moreno *''

Fighting Fools ''Fighting Fools'' is a 1949 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on April 17, 1949 by Monogram Pictures and is the thirteenth film in the series. Plot The Bowery Boys, led by the notorious Slip Mahoney, are helping out at ...

'' (1949) - Gabe Moreno *''

Hold That Baby! ''Hold That Baby!'' is a 1949 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on June 26, 1949 by Monogram Pictures and is the fourteenth film in the series. Plot The boys are running a laundromat in the back room of Louie's Sweet Sh ...

'' (1949) - Gabe 'Gabie' Moreno *'' Angels in Disguise'' (1949) - Gabe Moreno *'' Master Minds'' (1949) - Gabe Moreno *''

Blonde Dynamite ''Blonde Dynamite'' is a 1950 American comedy film directed by William Beaudine and starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on February 12, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the seventeenth film in the series. Plot After Slip and Sach are ...

'' (1950) - Gabe Moreno *''

Lucky Losers ''Lucky Losers'' is a 1950 comedy film starring The Bowery Boys. The film was released on May 14, 1950 by Monogram Pictures and is the eighteenth film in the series. It had the working title of ''High Stakes''. Plot Slip and Sach's boss, David J ...

'' (1950) - Gabe Moreno, TV Reporter *'' Triple Trouble'' (1950) - Gabriel 'Gabe' Moreno *'' Blues Busters'' (1950) - Gabe Moreno *'' Katie Did It'' (1951) - Eddie (uncredited) *''Escape from Terror'' (1955) - Col. Tovchenko *''

When the Girls Take Over ''When the Girls Take Over'' is an American men's adventure comedy film produced and directed by Russell Hayden and starring Marvin Miller, Jackie Coogan, and Robert Lowery. Inspired by the Cuban Revolution, it was filmed in Puerto Rico in 196 ...

'' (1962) - Henderson *''

'' (1971) - Wynter *'' Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?'' (1971) - Sidney Gill *''

'' (1974) - Sal *'' The Manchu Eagle Murder Caper Mystery'' (1975) - Malcolm *'' Framed'' (1975) - Vince Greeson *''

'' (1982) - Uncle Burke

Television

References

External links

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Dell, Gabriel 1919 births 1988 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male child actors American male stage actors American people of Italian descent American male television actors Deaths from cancer in California Deaths from leukemia