One of the brilliant, talented actors who helped make HBO’s The Sopranos a cultural phenomenon has passed away.
Jerry Adler, the beloved actor who brought Hesh Rabkin to life, has died at 96.
Worked with Marlene Dietrich and Julie Andrews
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1929, Adler didn’t follow the typical Hollywood route. He spent decades honing his craft behind the scenes on Broadway before finally making his on-screen debut in his 60s.
Long before TV audiences knew him as Tony Soprano’s trusted adviser, Adler racked up 53 Broadway credits as a stage manager, producer, or director.
His theater résumé included iconic productions like My Fair Lady and collaborations with legends such as Katharine Hepburn, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Julie Andrews, and Richard Burton.
Born into an entertainment family deeply rooted in Jewish and Yiddish theater, Adler once described himself candidly: “I’m a creature of nepotism. I got my first job when I was at Syracuse University and my father, the general manager of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, called me because there was an opening for an assistant stage manager. I skipped school.”
“My family was always involved in Jewish theater – my cousin was Stella Adler; my father, Phil Adler, was manager of the Group Theatre in the ‘30s – so I’ve always been around Jewish theater and actors,” he once said.
”I’d never acted before”
After leaving Broadway during its 1980s slump, Adler moved to California, working on TV shows including Santa Barbara. “I was really getting into the twilight of a mediocre career,” he admitted to The New York Times in 1992.
But fate had other plans. Donna Isaacson, a casting director and family friend, suggested Adler try acting.
”I’d never acted before. I’d never entertained the idea of acting; it was an unusual thing,” he said.
Curious, he auditioned for the Joe Pesci film The Public Eye — and impressed director Howard Franklin, who recalled getting “chills” during Adler’s reading. That unexpected debut launched a screen career spanning more than 30 years.
Adler’s early television work on Northern Exposure eventually led to his defining role on The Sopranos. “When David was going to do the pilot for The Sopranos he called and asked me if I would do a cameo of Hesh. It was just supposed to be a one-shot,” he told Forward in 2015. “But when they picked up the show they liked the character, and I would come on every fourth week.”
Funniest quote on Sopranos
Fans of the show will recognize Hesh as Tony Soprano’s father’s longtime friend and mob partner. “When Tony’s father died, Hesh became kind of Tony’s mentor and close friend,” Adler explained.
One fan fondly remembered Adler’s comedic timing on The Sopranos, sharing an anecdote from a funeral scene about two brothers. When the rabbi asked if anyone had something nice to say about the deceased, a lone voice called out from the back of the synagogue: “His brother was worse.”
Beyond Hesh, Adler appeared in The Good Wife as Howard Lyman and made memorable guest appearances on shows from Rescue Me to Transparent, The West Wing, and Broad City. His film work included Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery.
Even after decades of success, Adler never gave up his love for theater. He returned to Broadway in Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf in 2000 and, in 2015, appeared in Larry David’s stage debut, Fish in the Dark. “I do it because I really enjoy it. I think retirement is a road to nowhere,” he told Forward. “I wouldn’t know what to do if I were retired. Meanwhile this is great.”
Last year, Adler published his memoir, Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television and the Movies. Always ready for the next role, he said, “I’m ready to go at a moment’s notice.”
Jerry Adler wife
Adler passed away at his New York City home on August 23, 2025, at the age of 96.
His representative told Page Six exclusively on Sunday, “He passed peacefully in his sleep in New York City.”
Adler is survived by his four daughters — Alisa, Amy, Laura, and Emily — as well as his wife of 31 years, Joan Laxman.
Adler didn’t land his first role until his 60s—a reminder that it’s never too late to chase your dreams. He also impressed audiences with his memorable turn as a judge on Law & Order. Living a full life to the age of 96, he leaves behind a legacy of talent and inspiration. Rest in peace, Adler. 🙏