Beloved ‘Sopranos’ Cast Member Passes at 96

Jerry Adler, best known as Hesh Rabkin on HBO’s The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96. His long career bridged theater, television, and film, earning him recognition across generations of audiences.

Born in Brooklyn in 1929, Adler grew up surrounded by show business through his family’s ties to Jewish and Yiddish theater. His father, who managed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, helped him secure his first theater job while studying at Syracuse University.

Adler thrived on Broadway, gaining more than 50 credits as a stage manager, director, and producer. He worked on legendary productions like My Fair Lady and collaborated with stars including Katharine Hepburn, Orson Welles, Julie Andrews, and Richard Burton.

When Broadway slowed in the 1980s, Adler moved west, first taking behind-the-scenes roles in television. He considered his career modest until casting director Donna Isaacson encouraged him to act. His audition for The Public Eye impressed director Howard Franklin, sparking a second career that lasted over three decades.

Television roles followed, from Northern Exposure to his defining turn on The Sopranos. Originally intended as a brief role, Hesh Rabkin became a regular presence thanks to Adler’s performance. He later appeared in The Good Wife, Rescue Me, Transparent, The West Wing, Broad City, and films like Manhattan Murder Mystery.

Despite his success on screen, Adler never left the stage. He returned to Broadway in productions like Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf and Larry David’s Fish in the Dark. In 2024, he released a memoir sharing stories from his career.

Adler died peacefully at his New York City home on August 23, 2025. Survived by his wife of 31 years, Joan Laxman, and four daughters, he leaves behind a legacy of resilience, humor, and inspiration—proving it’s never too late to begin anew.