Jerry Adler, the beloved actor known for his iconic roles in The Sopranos and The Good Wife, passed away peacefully in his sleep on August 23, 2025, at the age of 96 in New York City. His death marks the end of a remarkable career that spanned over seven decades, transitioning from a storied Broadway backstage veteran to a celebrated character actor who captivated audiences with his wit and presence.
Born on February 4, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, Adler was steeped in the world of theater from an early age. As a cousin of the legendary acting teacher Stella Adler and son of Philip Adler, a theater manager for Broadway and touring shows, he was destined for a life in entertainment. His career began in 1950 as a stage manager, working on iconic productions like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, My Fair Lady, and Annie. Over the course of his theater career, Adler amassed 53 Broadway credits, serving as a stage manager, production supervisor, and director for shows such as The Apple Tree, Coco, and a 1976 revival of My Fair Lady, which earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination.
Adler’s pivot to acting came later in life, at the age of 62, when he made his onscreen debut in a 1991 episode of CBS’s Brooklyn Bridge. This marked the beginning of a prolific acting career that defied expectations. “I’m a creature of nepotism,” Adler once quipped in a 2015 interview, recalling how a casting director friend of his daughter’s encouraged him to audition for the 1992 film The Public Eye. Director Howard Franklin was so impressed by Adler’s reading that it launched a new chapter in his career.
His most memorable role was as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, the wise and trusted advisor to Tony Soprano in HBO’s The Sopranos. Initially intended as a one-off cameo, Adler’s compelling performance led to a recurring role across all six seasons from 1999 to 2007. Fans cherished his portrayal of the Jewish consigliere, with one writing on X, “RIP Hesh,” referencing the character’s iconic status. Adler’s chemistry with the late James Gandolfini, who passed away in 2013, added depth to the series’ complex narrative.
Adler’s versatility shone through in other television roles, notably as the brash law partner Howard Lyman in The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight. Showrunner Robert King shared a heartfelt tribute, noting that Adler was only meant to appear in one episode but became a regular for six years due to his unforgettable performance in a diner scene. “He was so funny… we had him back for six years of The Good Wife and three years of The Good Fight,” King wrote on X. Adler also portrayed memorable characters like Mr. Wicker in Mad About You, Fire Chief Sidney Feinberg in Rescue Me, and Moshe Pfefferman in Transparent.
On the big screen, Adler appeared in films such as Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), In Her Shoes (2005), Prime (2005), and A Most Violent Year (2014), showcasing his ability to bring gravitas to both comedic and dramatic roles. His theater roots never faded, and he returned to the stage in productions like Larry David’s Fish in the Dark in 2015.
Adler’s friend Frank J. Reilly announced his passing on X, sharing a personal anecdote: “He arranged to get my son a job on The Sopranos. Many years later, my son got him a job on Rescue Me. RIP to a real one.” Fans echoed this sentiment, with one posting, “If you have watched TV in the last 30 years or so, you know him as a fantastic character actor. Rest well, Jerry Adler.”
Adler published a memoir in 2024, Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television, and the Movies, offering a glimpse into his extraordinary journey. He leaves behind his wife, psychologist Joan Laxman, whom he married in 1994, and a legacy of resilience and reinvention. Having once thought he was “too goofy-looking” to act, Adler proved that talent knows no age, captivating audiences well into his 90s.
His passing follows the loss of other Sopranos cast members, including Charley Scalies earlier in 2025, Robert Loggia in 2015, David Margulies in 2016, and John Heard in 2017. The cause of Adler’s death has not been disclosed, but his contributions to theater and screen will endure. As one fan poignantly noted, “What a career.”
