In the hush of a late August evening, as the city outside buzzed with the usual summer heat, a quiet chapter closed in the history of American performing arts. On August 23, 2025, Jerry Adler—actor, director, mentor, and the last living link to a golden age of American theater—passed away peacefully at his home in New York City. He was 96. For nearly a century, Adler’s life traced the arc of American entertainment, from the Yiddish theaters of Brooklyn to the neon-lit glory of Broadway and, finally, to the living rooms of millions as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin on HBO’s The Sopranos. His passing is more than the loss of a beloved performer; it marks the end of an era, a living bridge between worlds that shaped American culture.

From Brooklyn’s Yiddish Roots to Broadway’s Bright Lights

Jerry Adler was born on February 4, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, into what could only be described as theatrical royalty. His father, Philip Adler, was a respected theater manager whose career spanned decades and whose handshake could open doors on Broadway. His mother, Pauline Goldberg, kept the Adler home warm and deeply rooted in Jewish tradition—a haven of family, faith, and stories. But it was Jerry’s uncle, Jacob Pavlovich Adler, who loomed largest in family lore. Jacob was a colossus of the Yiddish stage, revered as one of the greatest actors of his generation, and a man whose performances could move audiences to tears or laughter with a single gesture.

The Adler family was not just a part of American theater; they were its architects. Jerry’s cousins, Stella and Luther Adler, continued the dynasty, with Stella becoming one of the most influential acting teachers of the twentieth century. The Adler name was synonymous with artistry, discipline, and the relentless pursuit of truth onstage.

For young Jerry, the world was a tapestry of languages, rehearsals, and backstage intrigue. At Samuel J. Tilden High School, he gravitated toward the drama club, quickly rising to president. It was here that Jerry’s lifelong fascination with not just acting but the machinery of theater—direction, stage management, the invisible world behind the curtain—took root. He learned that the magic of performance was built on hard work, organization, and the ability to calm nerves and solve problems when disaster threatened.

The Making of a Broadway Fixer

Adler’s professional journey began in the early 1950s, not as an actor, but as a stage manager—a role that demanded both iron discipline and a velvet touch. His first gig was as assistant stage manager for Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a Broadway musical that sparkled with wit and glamour. Jerry’s eye for detail and steady leadership quickly earned him a reputation as the man producers wanted in their foxholes. He went on to manage productions like Of Thee I Sing and the iconic My Fair Lady.

Backstage, Jerry became a legend. He was the man everyone trusted—whether it was calming a jittery star or salvaging a show from technical catastrophe. One night during a live performance of My Fair Lady, a major technical failure threatened to halt the show. Jerry’s quick thinking and cool head saved the evening, cementing his reputation as a consummate professional. In a world where the show must always go on, Jerry Adler was the insurance policy.

Director’s Chair: Ambition and Adaptation

By the 1970s, Jerry was ready for new challenges. He moved into directing, helming productions like Sammy Cahn’s Words and Music in 1974 and a celebrated revival of My Fair Lady in 1976, which earned him a Drama Desk Award nomination. Not every project found its audience—his work on the ill-fated The Little Prince and a 1981 TV pilot ended in disappointment—but Jerry never stopped pushing forward. He understood that failure was not the end, but the price of artistic risk.

Late-Blooming Stardom: Reinvention on Screen

If Adler’s early career was defined by backstage brilliance, his later years were a masterclass in reinvention. Most men in their sixties are winding down, contemplating retirement. Jerry was just getting started. He stepped into the spotlight as an actor, with a presence that was at once commanding and understated.

His breakthrough came in the late 1990s with HBO’s The Sopranos. As Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, a shrewd Jewish consigliere and trusted advisor to Tony Soprano, Jerry brought gravitas, wit, and a quiet menace to the role. Hesh was more than comic relief; he was the moral compass, the historian, the last man standing who remembered how things used to be. Adler’s layered performance won him legions of fans and proved that, in Hollywood, reinvention is always possible.

He went on to star in Mad About You as Mr. Wicker, the quirky building maintenance man, and later played Howard Lyman, a senior lawyer, in The Good Wife and The Good Fight. Each role was a showcase of Jerry’s versatility—he could be funny, heartfelt, intimidating, or wise, sometimes all in the same scene.

A Career Spanning Film and Television

Jerry Adler’s filmography reads like a tour of American pop culture. In film, he appeared in Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), The Public Eye (1992), In Her Shoes (2005) alongside Cameron Diaz and Toni Collette, and the romantic comedy Prime (2005) with Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep.

On television, Jerry’s guest appearances became legendary. He played Fire Chief Sydney Feinberg in Rescue Me, Joel Fleischman’s old neighborhood rabbi in Northern Exposure, Toby Ziegler’s father Jules in The West Wing, and Moshe Pfefferman in Transparent. In his later years, Adler delighted fans with appearances in Broad City and Netflix’s Living With Yourself, starring Paul Rudd. Every role carried Jerry’s unique stamp—wise, witty, and grounded in decades of experience.

Mentor, Teacher, and Keeper of Stories

What set Jerry Adler apart was not just his talent, but his generosity. On the set of The Sopranos, he became a mentor to younger actors, sharing stories from the theater and encouraging discipline and respect for the craft. He was known for his sense of humor and his willingness to guide others, often telling tales of Broadway legends and Yiddish theater giants. Jerry’s legacy is not just in his performances, but in the countless artists he inspired and supported.

Private Life: Devotion Beyond the Spotlight

Behind the scenes, Jerry Adler led a life as full as his career. He married three times. His first marriage, to Dolores Parker in 1950, produced three children before ending in divorce. In 1978, Jerry married Kathy Rice, though the relationship eventually ended. Finally, in 1994, he married Joan Laxman, who remained his devoted partner until his passing.

Those close to Jerry describe him as a loving father and husband, a man who balanced the demands of Hollywood with a deep commitment to family. He rarely shared details of his private life, preferring to let his work speak for him. But friends and colleagues knew Jerry as someone who was grounded, practical, and more interested in the next creative challenge than in material luxuries.

A Modest Man in an Immodest Industry

By the time of his death, Jerry Adler had amassed an estimated net worth of $8 million—an impressive sum for a man who spent decades in one of the world’s toughest industries. Yet Jerry never lived extravagantly. He supported causes close to his heart, especially theater education and Jewish cultural preservation, ensuring that future generations would benefit from his success.

Colleagues often described him as the “anti-celebrity”—a man who shunned the spotlight except when the work demanded it, who never forgot his roots or the lessons of his family. Jerry’s life was a testament to the power of humility, discipline, and quiet excellence.

Trivia and Tales: The Man Behind the Myth

Jerry Adler’s life was filled with stories—some hilarious, some harrowing. He famously described working with Jerry Lewis on The Day the Clown Cried as “the seventh circle of hell,” calling Lewis “a terrible, terrible man.” Despite often playing serious roles, Jerry had a wicked sense of humor and loved comedic parts as much as dramatic ones.

He was part of a theatrical dynasty, yet didn’t become widely known as an actor until his sixties—a living proof that reinvention is always possible. During The Sopranos, Jerry’s dressing room was a hub of storytelling, mentoring, and laughter. Cast members recalled his discipline and his ability to keep even the rowdiest set in line.

A Legacy That Will Endure

As the news of Jerry Adler’s passing spread, tributes poured in from across the entertainment world. Actors, directors, and fans remembered him not just for his performances, but for his kindness, his wisdom, and his ability to inspire. Broadway dimmed its lights in his honor, and social media filled with clips of Hesh Rabkin dispensing advice to Tony Soprano, or Mr. Wicker tinkering with pipes in Mad About You.

But Jerry’s true legacy is deeper. He embodied the idea that art is a lifelong pursuit, that excellence is built on discipline, and that the best performers are those who never stop learning or growing. He was a bridge between worlds—between the immigrant Yiddish theater of his ancestors and the streaming television of the twenty-first century.

Jerry leaves behind his wife Joan, three children, the extended Adler family, and countless fans who will forever remember him. His performances will live on, reminding us of the enduring power of storytelling and the magic of reinvention.

Final Curtain: What Jerry Adler Taught Us

In the end, Jerry Adler’s life is a lesson in resilience, creativity, and the courage to change. He showed that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself, to step into the spotlight, or to guide others with wisdom and generosity. His story is the story of American theater itself—a tapestry of triumphs and setbacks, of laughter and heartbreak, of families and legacies that shape us all.

As we say goodbye to Jerry Adler, we honor not just a performer, but a lifelong artist whose story spanned nearly 100 years. From the Broadway lights of the 1950s to the streaming television of the twenty-first century, Jerry Adler never stopped working, never stopped learning, and never stopped inspiring.

Rest in peace, Jerry Adler. Your light will never fade.