Veteran character actor Jerry Adler has died at the age of 96, his family confirmed. The Brooklyn-born performer passed away on Friday evening in New York City.
Adler became a household name through his portrayal of Herman "Hesh2 Rabkin, the trusted adviser to mob boss Tony Soprano in the acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos. He appeared throughout all six series of the groundbreaking drama.
Television audiences also recognised him as lawyer Howard Lyman in The Good Wife and fire department chief Sidney Feinberg in Rescue Me. His death was announced by friend and fellow actor Frank J. Reilly on social media.
The Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York confirmed the actor's passing, though no cause of death has been disclosed.
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Jerry Adler died at the age of 96
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Reilly paid tribute to his friend, writing: "The great actor, my friend Jerry Adler, died today at the age of 96. You know him from one of his iconic roles had from many of his guest appearances."
He revealed that Adler had helped secure his son employment on The Sopranos, with the favour later reciprocated when his son arranged work for Adler on Rescue Me.
Reilly's son described the late actor as "an all-time great human being. I feel fortunate to have known him."
Social media users shared their memories of the performer. One admirer posted: "If you have watched TV in the last 30 years or so, you know him as a fantastic character actor. Rest well, Jerry Adler."
Jerry Adler was best known for his iconic role in The Sopranos
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Another fan praised his versatility, noting they "loved him as Hesh and was pleased to see him in A Most Violent Year."
Adler's journey to screen stardom was remarkably unconventional, beginning his on-camera career in his early sixties after spending decades working behind the scenes on Broadway.
He had previously managed, produced or directed 53 theatrical productions, including serving as stage manager for My Fair Lady.
His entertainment industry roots ran deep, with his father Philip serving as general manager for the Group Theatre and various Broadway shows. His cousin was the legendary acting teacher Stella Adler.
In a 2015 interview, he acknowledged: "I'm a creature of nepotism," explaining how his father secured him an assistant stage manager position whilst he was studying at Syracuse University.
His film appearances included memorable performances in Woody Allen's Manhattan Murder Mystery, In Her Shoes, Synecdoche, New York and A Most Violent Year.
Adler is survived by his wife, psychologist Joan Laxman, whom he married in 1994. The couple had been together for over three decades.
Reflecting on his late-blooming fame in 2017, he observed: "You spend your whole career backstage. Nobody knows who you are or even knows your name.
They don't know anything about you. And then you do a television show and suddenly you're a celebrity and everyone knows your face. It's so weird."
His death marks another loss for The Sopranos family. Lead actor James Gandolfini died in 2013 aged 51, whilst Robert Loggia passed in 2015, David Margulies in 2016, and John Heard in 2017.
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The family's brief statement confirmed he was born on February 4, 1929 and remained a New York resident throughout his life.