Jerry Adler, known for his role as Herman ‘Hesh’ Rabkin in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to family representatives.
Adler’s acting career began later in life; he started performing in his early 60s while nearing retirement from a successful behind-the-scenes career in Broadway. Initially, he worked in various capacities such as stage manager, supervisor, and director, contributing to over 50 Broadway productions throughout his career. His first job was secured with assistance from his father, who was also in the industry.
Among Adler’s notable achievements in Broadway, he stage-managed the original production of My Fair Lady in 1956, which featured a young Julie Andrews, and Coco, starring Katharine Hepburn, in 1969. He also supervised the original production of the musical Annie in 1977 and worked on Camelot in 1980, which featured Richard Burton.
Adler’s transition to television occurred in the 1980s and early ’90s, during which he stage-managed several productions, including the Tony Awards. His acting journey began following a phone call from a friend about a role in the 1992 film The Public Eye. After that, he appeared in films such as Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993) and Getting Away with Murder (1996).
Adler gained significant recognition for his portrayal of Hesh Rabkin in The Sopranos, where he played an advisor to mob boss Tony Soprano, portrayed by James Gandolfini. He later appeared in recurring roles in CBS’s The Good Wife and The Good Fight, FX’s Rescue Me, and guest-starred in series like Curb Your Enthusiasm and The West Wing.
Adler returned to Broadway as an actor, first in the 2000 play Taller than a Dwarf and then in Fish in the Dark in 2015, completing a full circle in his career.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c36jyp6w32go?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss