<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.906CERT
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>exh906.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CERTIFICATION 906
<TEXT>
         CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT

I, Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer of The Gabelli Equity Trust Inc.
(the "Registrant"), certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    09/03/03         /s/ Bruce N. Alpert
     ---------------      -----------------------------------------------
                          Bruce N. Alpert, Principal Executive Officer



I, Gus A. Coutsouros,  Principal  Financial  Officer of The Gabelli Equity Trust
Inc. (the "Registrant"), certify that:

         1.     The Form N-CSR of the Registrant  (the "Report")  fully complies
                with  the   requirements  of  Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

         2.     The information  contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
                material  respects,  the  financial  condition  and  results  of
                operations of the Registrant.


Date:    09/03/03         /s/ Gus A. Coutsouros
     ---------------      -----------------------------------------------
                          Gus A. Coutsouros, Principal Financial Officer



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
