A stint in remedial education classes gave Gabe Kaplan fodder for his stand-up comedy act, which in turn provided the inspiration for the television series “Welcome Back, Kotter” (ABC, 1975-79). Wildly popular for most of its four-year tenure on the air, the sitcom made Kaplan a household name, but he distanced himself from Hollywood after its cancellation, preferring instead to devote his time to financial investment and playing poker. The latter proved to be an exceptionally successful second career for him that yielded not only winnings in excess of $1 million, but regular work as a
