The entertainment industry is mourning the death of Jerry Adler, the veteran actor best known for his role as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin on HBO’s groundbreaking series The Sopranos. Adler passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in New York City on August 23, 2025. He was 96 years old.
Though Adler became a recognizable face to television audiences later in life, his journey through show business spanned more than seven decades, and his contributions went far beyond his memorable on-screen performances.
Born in Brooklyn in 1929, Adler grew up in a family deeply immersed in theater. His cousin was the legendary acting teacher Stella Adler, while his father, Phil Adler, managed the Group Theatre in the 1930s. From an early age, Jerry was surrounded by the world of Jewish and Yiddish theater, and he once joked that he was a “creature of nepotism.” His first break came while he was a student at Syracuse University, when his father called to say there was an opening for an assistant stage manager on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Without hesitation, Adler skipped school to take the job.
That early step set the course for a long and remarkable career, though Adler’s path was anything but conventional. Rather than immediately pursuing acting, he spent decades working behind the scenes on Broadway. He amassed more than 50 credits as a stage manager, producer, or director. His résumé included iconic productions such as My Fair Lady and collaborations with legends like Katharine Hepburn, Orson Welles, Marlene Dietrich, Julie Andrews, and Richard Burton. His reputation in the theater world was well established long before audiences ever saw him on television.
In the 1980s, as Broadway faced a downturn, Adler relocated to California. He found steady but unspectacular work in television, contributing to shows like Santa Barbara. At the time, he admitted to feeling that his career was sliding into “the twilight of mediocrity.” But fate, and a little encouragement from a family friend, changed everything. Donna Isaacson, a casting director, urged Adler to try his hand at acting. Though he had never seriously considered the idea, he decided to audition for Howard Franklin’s 1992 film The Public Eye starring Joe Pesci. To Franklin’s surprise, Adler delivered a reading so powerful that the director later described getting “chills.”
That audition launched the second act of Adler’s career—this time in front of the camera. He appeared in Northern Exposure and steadily built a reputation as a reliable, compelling character actor. But it was his role as Hesh Rabkin on The Sopranos that etched him into television history.
Initially intended as a one-off cameo in the pilot, Adler’s performance resonated with creator David Chase and the audience. His character was expanded into a recurring role, appearing in every few episodes as Tony Soprano’s father’s old friend and confidant. Hesh was not part of the mafia, but he embodied a bridge between the old world and Tony’s modern struggles, offering advice, wisdom, and, occasionally, biting humor. Fans often cite one of his most memorable moments: at a funeral, when a rabbi asked if anyone had something kind to say about the deceased, Hesh deadpanned from the back, “His brother was worse.” It was this blend of sharp wit and subtle gravitas that made Adler’s performance unforgettable.
Beyond The Sopranos, Adler proved his versatility with roles in The Good Wife, where he played the bumbling attorney Howard Lyman, and appearances in Rescue Me, Transparent, The West Wing, Broad City, and Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery. He never strayed far from theater, though. He returned to Broadway in Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf in 2000 and later joined Larry David’s Fish in the Dark in 2015. When asked why he kept working well into his 80s and 90s, Adler replied simply: “I do it because I really enjoy it. Retirement is a road to nowhere. I wouldn’t know what to do if I were retired.”
In 2024, Adler published his memoir Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television and the Movies, offering readers a glimpse into his extraordinary journey across multiple generations of show business. Always pragmatic yet passionate about his craft, Adler quipped that he was “ready to go at a moment’s notice” whenever a new role came calling.
Adler is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joan Laxman, and his four daughters, Alisa, Amy, Laura, and Emily. His family described him as a loving husband and father, a man whose wit, warmth, and generosity of spirit enriched not only his professional life but also his personal relationships.
His story is a testament to resilience and reinvention. Adler didn’t land his first acting role until he was in his 60s, a reminder that it is never too late to chase new dreams. From Broadway to Hollywood, from stage management to television stardom, his career defied expectations and inspired countless artists who admired his tenacity and talent.
As fans and colleagues remember him, Adler’s legacy is not only that of Hesh Rabkin or Howard Lyman but of a man who gave himself fully to every role, every production, and every collaboration. His life reminds us that success doesn’t always come quickly, but with patience, passion, and courage, it can arrive at any stage.
Jerry Adler lived a full 96 years, and though his passing marks the end of an era, his performances, his stories, and his influence will continue to resonate. May he rest in peace.