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Jerry Adler's journey to fame was as unconventional as it was remarkable. Known worldwide for his portrayal of advisor Herman "Hesh" Rabkin in HBO's The Sopranos, Adler did not begin acting until his early sixties. By then, he had already built an extraordinary behind-the-scenes career on Broadway, shaping some of the most iconic productions of the twentieth century.
The Brooklyn-born theatre veteran passed away peacefully in his sleep at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy spanning more than seven decades in entertainment. Adler's early career was defined not by acting but by management. Encouraged by his father, who worked in the industry, Adler began stage managing productions while at university. His credits soon read like a history of Broadway itself: the 1956 original run of My Fair Lady starring Julie Andrews, the 1969 production of Coco with Katharine Hepburn, and the beloved musical Annie in 1977. He also oversaw Camelot with Richard Burton, cementing his role as one of the era's great facilitators of theatre.
Adler eventually made the unlikely leap to acting after a friend invited him to audition for The Public Eye in 1992. What began as a late-life experiment blossomed into a second career. He went on to appear in films such as Manhattan Murder Mystery and Getting Away with Murder before earning television immortality as Hesh Rabkin, the trusted advisor to James Gandolfini's Tony Soprano.
His television career expanded further with recurring roles in The Good Wife and its spin-off The Good Fight, where he played Howard Lyman, as well as FX's Rescue Me, where he embodied fire chief Sidney Feinberg. He also graced shows such as Mad About You, Northern Exposure, The West Wing, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Even after conquering television, Adler never abandoned the stage. He returned to Broadway as an actor in Taller Than a Dwarf in 2000 and again in 2015's Fish in the Dark. His late transition to acting not only redefined his career but proved that artistry can flourish at any age.
Adler's life story is one of remarkable reinvention, moving from the wings to center stage with ease and distinction. His contributions across theatre and television ensured that his name will remain etched in the history of American entertainment.
