Gabel starred in the Universal Pictures coming-of-age drama, Take Me Home Tonight and appeared in the 2006 film version of Dan Brown’s novel, The Da Vinci Code, directed by his father-in-law, Ron Howard.

Television credits include recurring and guest starring roles on United States of Tara, The Closer, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Sex and the City, and 100 Centre Street, directed by Sidney Lumet.

The story arc depicting their incestuous and emotionally abusive relationship garnered much attention.

[8] In 2015, Gabel was cast as Jeffrey Dahmer in American Horror Story: Hotel.

Gabel met actress Bryce Dallas Howard at New York University, and they dated for five years before marrying on June 17, 2006, in Greenwich, Connecticut.