Gabriel Horowitz: Marcia Clark’s Ex-Husband and the Controversial Backgammon Legend

Gabriel Horowitz won’t be a name in the house today, but from the 1970s through early 1980s, he was in the center of a bustling backgammon culture, living life full of celebrity, risk, and private soap opera. A charismatic and game-strategically talented player of backgammon, Horowitz’s notoriety is also attributable to the fact that he was wedded to Marcia Clark, the renowned prosecutor of the O.J. Simpson trial. Their rocky relationship and a nude photo scandal landed Horowitz in the unanticipated spotlight during one of America’s most publicized court cases.

From his childhood in Israel to his reputation as one of America’s most incendiary backgammon players, Gabriel Horowitz led a fascinating life that was all about lavish living, love, and courtroom drama. This biography charts his early life, celebrity in the world of backgammon, stormy personal life, and enduring legacy. Backgammon enthusiast or admirer of Marcia Clark’s lesser-known biography, Gabriel Horowitz’s life is a riveting page of popular culture history.

Quick Bio

Who is Gabriel Horowitz?

Gabriel Horowitz is an Israeli native, a backgammon grand master who shook the 1970s American gaming society. Complimented for his phenomenal playing skill and sharp mind, he was a name that was synonymous with Los Angeles’ high society. Horowitz was routinely known as flashy, cocky, and quick-witted—all qualities that earned him praise and cynicism in equal measures. He was also well known for teaching backgammon to many leading players, and this also added to his fame in the competitive game of strategy games.

Horowitz is likely best known to the public at large as Marcia Clark’s first husband, the celebrity prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial. Their five-year romance was one of passion, drama, and public collapse, especially when it coincided with news years down the line. Though out of the limelight now, Horowitz’s name is a fascinating aside to the story of one of the most high-profile trials in the annals of American history.

Early Life

Gabriel Horowitz was born to a Polish-Jewish family in Israel. His father, a diamond merchant, had moved from Europe to Palestine following the devastation wrought by World War II. It is here in this culturally enriched and prosperous environment that Horowitz was taught to play backgammon by his father. He perfected his gift on the streets playing with local Arab kids, not only enhancing his technical ability but developing a strong competitive nature. All of these lessons would serve as the basis for his future career.

Horowitz was sent to Philadelphia to live with an uncle at age 13, the beginning of his American life. At age 16, he moved to Beverly Hills, attracted by the glamour lights and the promise of living in Cali. There he was amidst money, luxury, and ambition. Young, trendy, and ambitious, Horowitz dove headfirst into the social pool and began establishing contacts that would prove instrumental to his backgammon and future careers.

Career Beginnings

Horowitz became part of the professional ranks of backgammon players during a period in which the game was very fashionable in the U.S. among the wealthy elite. He quickly achieved a reputation as a teacher and as a top player. Though admired by most for his guile and tactical skill, others judged him as a “hustler.” Horowitz himself admitted to using his skills to steal money from unsuspecting adversaries, particularly in his formative years, but ultimately focused on organized competition and mentoring.

In 1980, he co-authored Dynamic Cube Strategy with Bruce Roman, a work aimed at teaching master players how to master the subtleties of cube play in backgammon. While the book received mixed reception, it helped his status as a game thinker. Horowitz also claimed that he had taught more winning backgammon players than any individual in America or Europe, cementing his legacy in the game amidst controversy that followed him.

Who is Gabriel Horowitz’s Ex-Wife?

Gabriel Horowitz married Marcia Clark in 1976, years before she would find national fame as the prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson murder trial. Horowitz and Clark met when Clark was a student at UCLA. Horowitz was smooth and confident, and he swept her off her feet right away. Clark remembered him later as “the most incredibly handsome man I had ever seen.” The two were going fast, and they soon wed—but tensions quickly developed.

The marriage was dissolved in 1981 after five tumultuous years. Several years later, while O.J. Simpson sat on trial at its height, a topless photograph of Clark, taken during the marriage, made its way onto the front page of the National Enquirer. It was a degrading experience for Clark, and later it was discovered that the photo had been sold to the tabloid by Horowitz’s mother. The betrayal added an acidic note to an already strained history between the two.

Gabriel Horowitz’s Physical Appearance

As a young man, Gabriel Horowitz was widely known as being outrageously handsome. He had dark features, muscular build, and carried the manner of one who knew how to command attention. He dressed impeccably in the highest fashions at all times and luxuriated in the flash and glamour of 1970s Los Angeles. His muscular build made him right at home at high-society gatherings and made him well-known to stars and prosperous gamers.

Even in his advanced age, Horowitz maintained a charismatic public presence, typically in specially designed clothing and period adorments. Though photographs of him today are rare, those who knew him recall a man proud of his appearance and with an innate charisma that made him popular and divisive.

Net Worth

There are no publicly known figures documenting Gabriel Horowitz’s net worth exactly. Yet, his professional backgammon career at its peak likely provided him with sizable income. Besides tournament payouts, Horowitz was said to have earned money off private games, lessons, and book sales. His Beverly Hills lifestyle implied a degree of fiscal comfort, although there is no indication he stayed affluent later in life.

His own book co-written with others, his lecture tours, and mentoring other players may have provided him long-term financial payback, but his public retirement in recent decades makes it hard to know what his financial situation is now. Still, he is a name remembered for success in the golden age of backgammon.

Future Prospects and Vision

Not much is heard from the life of Gabriel Horowitz these days. He hasn’t appeared before the public eye lately or written anything new about backgammon or any other subject. It is likely that he has since retired from the limelight, living in tranquility beyond the glory that once befriended him. His legacy remains, though, through his book and the many players he instructed.

Legacy-wise, Horowitz remains a central character in the world of backgammon. His name continues to be discussed in backgammon forums and websites, and his impact on the strategy and culture of the game continues to endure. Whether he gets back into the spotlight or not, his story remains an interesting one for backgammon enthusiasts who love the game and those who are intrigued by the personal history of celebrities.