Jerry Adler, Broadway Veteran, Sopranos star, Dies at 96
Adler transitioned from decades backstage on Broadway to a celebrated on-screen career in his 60s
Jerry Adler, who spent decades working behind the scenes on Broadway before beginning a successful acting career in his 60s, has died at the age of 96. Adler passed away on Saturday, his family confirmed through the Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York.
Best known to television audiences for his portrayal of Tony Soprano’s trusted adviser Hesh Rabkin in The Sopranos and law partner Howard Lyman in The Good Wife, Adler enjoyed a screen career that spanned over 30 years. His credits also included Northern Exposure, Rescue Me, Transparent, Mad About You and guest roles in shows like The West Wing and Broad City.
Before his acting breakthrough, Adler had already left an indelible mark on Broadway, working on 53 productions as a stage manager, director and producer. His backstage career included classics like My Fair Lady and collaborations with legends such as Julie Andrews, Richard Burton and Marlene Dietrich.
Born into a family deeply connected to Jewish and Yiddish theatre, Adler was the son of Philip Adler, a general manager for Broadway’s Group Theatre, and cousin to iconic acting coach Stella Adler. His own career began when, as a student, he joined Gentlemen Prefer Blondes as an assistant stage manager.
Adler transitioned to acting after director Howard Franklin cast him in The Public Eye in 1992. That role led to a series of screen appearances, including films such as Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery. His role in Northern Exposure later connected him to David Chase, who brought him into The Sopranos.
In addition to film and television, Adler returned to Broadway as a performer in productions including Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf (2000) and Larry David’s Fish in the Dark (2015). Reflecting on his late-blooming career, Adler once said: “I do it because I really enjoy it. I think retirement is a road to nowhere. Meanwhile, this is great.”
He authored a memoir last year, Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television and the Movies, recounting his experiences across theatre, film and TV. Adler is survived by his wife, Joan Laxman.
