# Elyes Gabel
**Elyes Gabel** (full name Elyes Cherif Gabel) is a British actor born in 1983 in Westminster, London, known for playing Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu in the BBC medical drama *Casualty*, the Dothraki warrior Rakharo in *Game of Thrones*, and the self-proclaimed computer genius [Walter O'Brien](https://www.edgepedia.org/walter-obrien) in the CBS series *[Scorpion](https://www.edgepedia.org/scorpion-tv-series)*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) • [2](https://m.cinemagia.ro/actori/elyes-gabel-83549/biografie/) Since 2024 he has also worked as a writer, producer, and director through his own company, Roughened Verse Entertainment.[3](https://www.roughenedverse.com/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Westminster, London, England; British nationality[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D241087.html) |
| Breakthrough role | Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu in *Casualty* (BBC One), 127 episodes, 2004–2007; nominated for a National Television Award[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) • [4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D241087.html) |
| Signature role | Walter O'Brien in *Scorpion* (CBS), 93 episodes, 2014–2018[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) |
| Notable films | *World War Z* (2013), *Interstellar* (2014), *A Most Violent Year* (2014), *Spooks: The Greater Good* (2015)[6](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-241087/filmografia/) |
| Production company | Roughened Verse Entertainment, founded 2024; first film *Game Show Hurt* in post-production[3](https://www.roughenedverse.com/) |
| Upcoming | Christopher Nolan's *The Odyssey*, scheduled for 2026[7](https://www.cinefil.com/star/elyes-gabel/filmographie) |
## Early life and training
Gabel was born in the [Westminster](https://www.edgepedia.org/westminster) district of London. Although he is a British actor, he spent a substantial part of his childhood growing up in Canada before returning to the United Kingdom, where he studied drama.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) He later lived in both Bristol and Manchester, attending St. Damian's RC Science College, a Roman Catholic secondary school in [Ashton-under-Lyne](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashton-under-lyne), Greater Manchester.[2](https://m.cinemagia.ro/actori/elyes-gabel-83549/biografie/) His ancestry includes Algerian, French, Spanish, Dutch, Anglo-Indian, Irish, and Portuguese roots, and his parents are Irene Gabel and Hocine Gabel.[2](https://m.cinemagia.ro/actori/elyes-gabel-83549/biografie/)
His full name is given as Elyes Cherif Gabel.[2](https://m.cinemagia.ro/actori/elyes-gabel-83549/biografie/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) AlloCiné records his birth name as "Eyles Cherif Gabel" and notes that he trained in theater, performing in stage productions of *West Side Story*, *Oliver Twist*, and *The Diary of Anne Frank* before his screen career began.[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D241087.html)
## Early television work
Gabel's first role after leaving drama school was playing a mummy on the children's series *I Love Mummy* (CBBC, 2002–2003), in which he appeared in 26 episodes as Prince Nuffratuti, or "Nuff".[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) At the same time he took one-off roles on the medical drama *Casualty*, playing different characters in single episodes.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/)
In 2004 he joined the *Casualty* cast full time as Gurpreet "Guppy" Sandhu, a role he played in 127 episodes until 2007.[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) The performance earned him a nomination in the "revelation of the year" category at the National Television Awards.[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D241087.html) He left the program to pursue new projects, including music, and returned to BBC television as PE teacher Rob Cleaver in the fourth season of the drama series *Waterloo Road*, a 10-episode run.[4](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D241087.html) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) He then played DC José Rodriguez in the ITV drama *Identity* (2010).[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel)
## International roles
A 2011 appearance on the historical drama *The Borgias* (Showtime), as Prince Djem, led almost directly to his casting in *Game of Thrones* (HBO) as the Dothraki Rakharo, a role he played across the first two seasons in seven episodes.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) In 2013 he appeared in the film *World War Z* as virologist Andrew Fassbach, alongside [Brad Pitt](https://www.edgepedia.org/brad-pitt).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) • [6](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-241087/filmografia/)
His profile rose considerably with [Christopher Nolan](https://www.edgepedia.org/christopher-nolan)'s *Interstellar* (2014), in which he played the Administrator, and he took the lead in the CBS series *Scorpion* (2014–2018) as Walter O'Brien, appearing in 93 episodes.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/) • [5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) The same period brought Julian in the crime drama *A Most Violent Year* (2014) and a supporting lead as Adem Qasim in the British spy thriller *Spooks: The Greater Good* (2015), opposite [Kit Harington](https://www.edgepedia.org/kit-harington) and [Jennifer Ehle](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennifer-ehle).[6](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-241087/filmografia/) Earlier film credits include *Boogeyman 3* (2008), *Kingdom of Dust* (2011), *Everywhere and Nowhere* (2011), and *Welcome to the Punch* (2012).[6](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-241087/filmografia/)
## Later work
In 2022 he starred as Sean Tilson in all eight episodes of the Apple TV+ thriller series *[Suspicion](https://www.edgepedia.org/suspicion-2022-tv-series)*, about four British citizens accused of kidnapping the son of an American media mogul.[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) • [8](https://gridgrab.com/elyes-gabel-movies-tv-shows) He guest-starred as Hassan Khalil in an episode of *FBI* in 2024.[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel) He also took the lead in *The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry*, adapted from the best-selling novel, playing a widowed bookstore owner, and appeared in *Christmas Karma*, Gurinder Chadha's contemporary take on the Dickens classic.[8](https://gridgrab.com/elyes-gabel-movies-tv-shows)
He is listed in the cast of Christopher Nolan's *[The Odyssey](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-odyssey-2026-film)*, scheduled for release in 2026, alongside [Matt Damon](https://www.edgepedia.org/matt-damon), Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and [Robert Pattinson](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-pattinson).[7](https://www.cinefil.com/star/elyes-gabel/filmographie)
## Roughened Verse Entertainment
The company describes itself as a hub for creative professionals across entertainment mediums, drawing on Gabel's twenty years of industry relationships, with plans spanning writing, acting, directing, producing, and music.[3](https://www.roughenedverse.com/) Its first film, *Game Show Hurt*, is Gabel's long-time passion project, in which he stars and directs; it is in post-production and is co-produced with Josh Foglio's Roboleaf Productions.[3](https://www.roughenedverse.com/) The company's slate also includes a documentary rooted in ideas of resilience and survival, along with music projects.[3](https://www.roughenedverse.com/)
## Personal life
Gabel was in a relationship with his *Scorpion* colleague [Katharine McPhee](https://www.edgepedia.org/katharine-mcphee) from April 2015; the two separated in June 2016.[2](https://m.cinemagia.ro/actori/elyes-gabel-83549/biografie/) TV Insider lists Katharine McPhee among his partners.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/)
## References
1. [Elyes Gabel – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/elyes-gabel/)
2. [Biografie Elyes Gabel, CineMagia.ro](https://m.cinemagia.ro/actori/elyes-gabel-83549/biografie/)
3. [Roughened Verse Entertainment – About](https://www.roughenedverse.com/)
4. [Elyes Gabel, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne_gen_cpersonne%3D241087.html)
5. [Elyes Gabel, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6754/elyes-gabel)
6. [Elyes Gabel: Filmografía, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-241087/filmografia/)
7. [Filmographie d'Elyes Gabel, Cinefil](https://www.cinefil.com/star/elyes-gabel/filmographie)
8. [Elyes Gabel Movies And Tv Shows, Gridgrab](https://gridgrab.com/elyes-gabel-movies-tv-shows)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames F to Gu*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 19, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license