Carlo Gébler was born Dublin in 1954, the eldest son of writer parents, Ernest Gébler and Edna O'Brien. He was educated at Bedales School, the University of York, where he studied English, and the National Film & Television School. He has a PhD from Queen's University, Belfast.

Carlo Gébler started his career in television and made a number of documentary films for Channel 4 and others including Over Here, Plain Tales from Northern Ireland, Put to the Test, Student Life, and The Suspecting Glance.

His most recent work for television was The Siege (2013), about the 1689 siege of Derry, aired on BBC Northern Ireland, which he wrote and presented.

Carlo Gébler is also the author of several novels including; August in July (1987), Malachy and his Family (1991), Life of a Drum (1992), The Cure (1995), How To Murder a Man (1999), A Good Day for a Dog (2008), and The Eleventh Summer (2002) and The Dead Eight (2011), which was shortlisted for the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award. His other works include the short story collection W9 & Other Lives (2011), as well as several works of non-fiction including his memoir, Father & I (2001), and the narrative history, The Siege of Derry (2008).

He has also written several novels for children including Caught on a Train (2001), which was awarded the Bisto prize, and August '44 (2003), as well as several plays for both radio and the stage.

Carlo Gébler's other literary work includes the librettos for Adolf Gébler, Clarinettist and The Room for the Tower.