Gabe Kaplan, precisely 5ft 11 ½ (181.6 cm) tall, leveraged his commanding yet approachable height to embody the everyman teacher Gabe Kotter in the hit sitcom Welcome Back, Kotter, where his stature enhanced the character's relatable authority over his remedial students. This height defined his on-screen image as a returning alumnus turned educator. Kaplan also channeled that confident presence into a successful career as a professional poker player and comedian, making his physical poise a key asset at the tables and on stage.