Jerry Adler, a veteran of Broadway who later found fame on television as Hesh Rabkin in HBO’s The Sopranos, passed away on Saturday at the age of 96, according to an obituary from Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York.
Adler’s death was confirmed by his friend Frank J. Reilly, who wrote on X, “Not bad for a guy who didn’t start acting until he was 65.” With a career that spanned Broadway stages and groundbreaking television, Adler leaves behind a legacy of dedication, humor, and talent that resonated with both audiences and colleagues.
His Early Life
Adler, born into a storied theater family, was the son of Group Theatre manager Phil Adler and nephew of actor Jacob Pavlovich Adler.
He began his career behind the scenes, working as stage manager for the original 1956 production of My Fair Lady starring Julie Andrews and Rex Harrison.
Over the following decades, he directed and supervised numerous Broadway productions, including Annie and Marlene Dietrich.
Late Start in Acting
Despite his deep theater background, Adler did not begin acting until 1991, when he appeared on the CBS