Jerry Adler, the beloved actor known for his role as Herman 'Hesh' Rabkin in HBO's critically acclaimed series The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96. According to representatives, he passed away peacefully while sleeping on Saturday.
Although he gained fame on television, Adler's journey in the entertainment business started far earlier. For more than three decades, he was a prominent figure in Broadway, having worked alongside legendary stars like Julie Andrews and Angela Lansbury. He began his career stage managing many productions, including the original 1956 My Fair Lady, which starred a young Julie Andrews, and the 1977 hit musical Annie.
Adler transitioned into television in the 1980s and early 1990s, contributing as a stage manager for several Tony Awards. However, it wasn't until he was nearing retirement that he began acting, with his breakthrough role in the 1992 film The Public Eye. His filmography expanded with roles in Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) and Getting Away with Murder (1996), but it was his portrayal of a close advisor to mob boss Tony Soprano that truly solidified his fame.
In addition to his role in The Sopranos, Adler had memorable appearances on CBS's The Good Wife, FX's Rescue Me, and other iconic shows like Northern Exposure and Mad About You. He returned to Broadway as an actor, first appearing in the 2000 play Taller than a Dwarf and later in Fish in the Dark in 2015, completing a remarkable career that began in the theatre.
