Jerry Adler, the actor and theater veteran best known for playing consigliere Herman “Hesh” Rabkin on HBO’s The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96.
Adler, who transitioned from a celebrated Broadway career into television later in life, “passed peacefully in his sleep” on Saturday, according to a statement from his family, cited by the Associated Press and Fox News.
A Broadway life before Hollywood fame
Born in Brooklyn, Adler spent more than three decades behind the scenes on Broadway before he ever appeared in front of the camera. He worked as a stage manager, supervisor, and director on more than 50 productions. His entry into theater was almost fated—his father, who also worked in the industry, offered him his first job while Adler was still in college.
Among his many credits, Adler stage managed the original 1956 production of My Fair Lady with a young Julie Andrews and 1969’s Coco, starring Katharine Hepburn. He later supervised the original 1977 production of the hit musical Annie and the 1980 revival of Camelot with Richard Burton.
Late-blooming actor
It wasn’t until his early 60s—while preparing to retire—that Adler began acting. A casting call from a friend led him to a role in the 1992 film The Public Eye. That was followed by parts in Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) and Getting Away with Murder (1996).
But his defining role came in 1999 with The Sopranos. As Hesh Rabkin, a trusted advisor to mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), Adler brought warmth and depth to the critically acclaimed HBO drama, helping cement it as one of the most influential television series of its era.
Television mainstay
After The Sopranos, Adler continued to work steadily on television. He portrayed Howard Lyman, the cantankerous law partner, in CBS’s The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight. He also appeared as Fire Chief Sidney Feinberg on FX’s Rescue Me and as Rabbi Alan Schulman on Northern Exposure.
Comedy fans will remember him as Mr. Wicker, the building superintendent in NBC’s Mad About You. He also made guest appearances on Curb Your Enthusiasm and The West Wing, adding to his roster of memorable TV moments.
Return to Broadway
Even after building a television résumé, Adler returned to his Broadway roots. He appeared in Taller Than a Dwarf in 2000 and in Larry David’s 2015 play Fish in the Dark, a fitting bookend to his long career in theater and television.
Adler’s passing marks the end of an era for both Broadway and Hollywood, as he leaves behind a body of work that spanned seven decades, from stage classics to some of the most iconic TV shows in American history.
