The Sopranos actor Jerry Adler has died at the age of 96.
The passing of the star - who was best known for his role as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin in the acclaimed HBO drama - was announced on social media on Saturday by his friend Frank J. Reilly.
Reilly
The Sopranos, The Good Wife star Jerry Adler dead
Bang Showbiz
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Jerry Adler at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City, New York. Photo / Getty Images
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Adler also starred as Howard Lyman in drama series The Good Wife and spin-off The Good Fight and as the New York fire chief Sidney Feinberg in the FX series Rescue Me.
Adler was the cousin of the legendary acting teacher Stella Adler and spent much of his career working in theatre.
The New York native was a part of more than 50 Broadway productions and worked as the stage manager on the original stage production of My Fair Lady in 1956 - which starred a young Julie Andrews.
Jerry Adler, known for his role as Hesh in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/BcV9DbGBJB
— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) August 24, 2025
He took up acting later in life and appeared in films such as Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery and alongside Joe Pesci in The Public Eye.
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RIP to Jerry Adler, who was a key production contributor to the original Broadway versions of “My Fair Lady” and “Fiddler on the Roof,” and later pivoted to acting. He was so memorable as Hesh in “The Sopranos.” What a career. pic.twitter.com/cazKjmjeJ9
— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) August 24, 2025
Adler gained popularity following his acting career and spoke of how life changed after taking up the profession in his 60s.
He said in a 2017 interview: “You spend your whole career backstage.
“Nobody knows who you are or even knows your name. They don’t know anything about you.
“And then you do a television show and suddenly you’re a celebrity and everyone knows your face. It’s so weird.”
Adler’s Sopranos alter ego Hesh was a Jewish loan shark and a trusted advisor to Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) - and the actor explained how he defied doctor’s orders to accept the part as he had to have an operation at the time.
He said: “I was stricken with terrible stomach pains and went to my doctor in New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital. I wound up with gastric problems and required an operation.”
Adler left the hospital the night before he was due to appear on set against medical advice and promptly returned after filming his scenes in order to continue his recovery.
The actor is survived by his wife, psychologist Joan Laxman, who he married in 1994.