Jerry Adler, the veteran actor known for his roles in "The Sopranos" and "The Good Wife," has died at the age of 96. Adler passed away peacefully in his sleep in New York City on August 23, 2025.

Born on February 4, 1929, Adler had a long and varied career in the entertainment industry. He spent decades working behind the scenes on Broadway, contributing to over 50 productions as a stage manager, director, and producer. It wasn't until his early 60s that he transitioned to acting, making his onscreen debut in the 1991 TV series "Brooklyn Bridge".

Adler's career took off in his 60s, defying conventional expectations in the entertainment industry. His first major role came in 1993 in Woody Allen's "Manhattan Murder Mystery". He went on to appear in several other shows in the 90s, including "Alright Already" and "Hudson Street".

His most memorable role came at the end of the decade in the HBO series "The Sopranos". Adler played Herman "Hesh" Rabkin, a Jewish music producer and loan shark who served as a trusted advisor to Tony Soprano, played by the late James Gandolfini. Hesh was not a member of Tony's inner crew but was close enough to be trusted and was one of the few who could speak bluntly to Tony without fear of reprisal. Adler appeared in the show's pilot episode in 1999 and remained with the series through its final season in 2007.

Adler's role in "The Sopranos" launched him to wider recognition, but he had already established himself as a character actor with a unique backstory. Steven Van Zandt, Adler's "Sopranos" castmate and guitarist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, paid tribute to Adler on social media, saying, "Such an honor working with you. Travel well my friend".

Following "The Sopranos," Adler continued to work steadily in television, including a recurring role as law partner Howard Lyman on CBS's "The Good Wife". Robert King, showrunner on "The Good Wife," shared on X that Adler was initially intended for only one episode, but his performance was so funny that he was brought back for six years of "Good Wife" and three years of "Good Fight".

Adler also returned to Broadway as an actor, appearing in Elaine May's "Taller Than a Dwarf" in 2000 and Larry David's "Fish in the Dark" in 2015.

Adler's unusual career path, transitioning from decades of behind-the-scenes work to a successful acting career later in life, made him a unique figure in the entertainment world. He published a memoir, "Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television and the Movies," last year. When discussing David's play, Adler said, "I do it because I really enjoy it. I think retirement is a road to nowhere...I wouldn't know what to do if I were retired. I guess if nobody calls anymore, that's when I'll be retired. Meanwhile this is great".

Jerry Adler's death comes after the death of his former costar on "The Sopranos," Charley Scalies, who died in May at the age of 84. James Gandolfini, also his costar, died of a heart attack at age 51 in 2013.