It is with heavy hearts that we announce

the passing of one of America’s most

respected and beloved performers, Jerry

Adler, who died peacefully at his home

in New York City on August 23rd, 2025 at

the age of 96. His family confirmed that

the cause of death was natural,

associated with his advanced age. Jerry

Adler’s passing marks the end of a life

story that spanned nearly an entire

century from the Yiddish theater legacy

of his ancestors to the golden age of

Broadway and finally to the small screen

where millions knew him as Herman Hesh

Rabkin in the Sopranos. His journey was

one of resilience, reinvention and

artistic brilliance. And today we look

back at his extraordinary life. Early

life and family background. Jerry Adler

was born in Brooklyn, New York on

February 4th, 1929 into one of America’s

most important theatrical families. His

father, Philip Adler, was a respected

theater manager working with Broadway

productions for decades, while his

mother, Pauline Goldberg, kept a warm

and observant Jewish household. Jerry

grew up surrounded by art, language, and

performance. His great uncle, Jacob

Pavlovich Adler, was a titan of Yiddish

theater, often described as one of the

greatest stage actors of his generation.

His cousins Stella Adler and Luther

Adler carried on the family legacy in

both acting and teaching with Stella

Adler going on to become one of the most

influential acting coaches of the 20th

century. At Samuel J. Tilden High

School, Jerry took his first steps

toward a theatrical life, serving as

president of the dramatic club. It was

there that he learned not only to

perform but also to organize, direct,

and understand the world behind the

curtain skills that would shape his

career. Early career in theater, Jerry

Adler entered the professional world of

theater in the early 1950s.

First as an assistant stage manager for

the Broadway musical gentleman Prefer

Blonde. His sharp eye for detail and

steady leadership soon earned him

recognition, and he went on to manage

productions like Of the I Sing and My

Fair Lady. Behind the scenes, Jerry

became the person everyone could rely

on, whether it was calming nervous

performers or saving a production from

disaster. Once during a live performance

of My Fair Lady, a major technical issue

threatened to halt the show. Jerry’s

quick thinking and calm under pressure

saved the night, cementing his

reputation as a true professional. In

the 1970s,

Jerry transitioned into directing. He

helmed the Sammy Khn Review Words and

Music in 1974

and later directed the revival of My

Fair Lady in 1976,

earning him a prestigious Drama Desk

Award nomination. Though not every

project was successful, such as the ill-

fated Little Prince and the Aviator in

1981, Jerry never stopped creating and

pushing forward. Transition to acting

and breakthrough. After decades of

working behind the curtain, Jerry Adlas

surprised the industry by stepping in

front of the camera. In his 60s, when

most people consider retirement, Jerry

reinvented himself as a television

actor. His breakthrough came with HBO’s

groundbreaking series, The Sopranos,

where he played Herman Hesh Rabkin, a

shrewd advisor and longtime associate of

Tony Soprano. The role captured

audiences worldwide, and Jerry became a

fan favorite for his calm, witty, and

layered portrayal of the Jewish mob

consilier. This late career

transformation proved not only Jerry’s

versatility, but also his relentless

passion for the craft. He went on to

star in Mad About You as the quirky

building maintenance man Mr. Wicker and

later in The Good Wife and the Good

Fight as Howard Lyman, a humorous yet

heartfelt senior lawyer. Notable film

and television work. Jerry Adler’s

acting career expanded far beyond the

single role. In film, he appeared in

Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery

in 1993,

The Public Eye in 1992,

In Her Shoes in 2005 alongside Cameron

Diaz and Tony Klette, and the romantic

comedy Prime in 2005 starring Uma

Thurman and Meil Street. On television,

Jerry made memorable appearances in

Rescue Me as Fire Chief Sydney Fineberg,

Northern Exposure as Joel Flechman’s Old

Neighborhood Rabbi, The West Wing as

Toby Ziegler’s Father, Jules, and

Transparent as Mosha Fefferman. In his

later years, he delighted fans with