Jerry Adler, the late-life famous Broadway backstage veteran who was a highly respected actor, died at 96. His family confirmed that Jerry passed away on August 23, 2025, in New York City.
February 4, 1929, was the birthdate of Adler in Brooklyn. For decades, he worked in the background on Broadway before coming into the spotlight in his early 60s. His career spanned decades of versatility and endurance, as he became a familiar face on stage, television, and film.
Prior to finding fame on-screen, Adler spent time as a stage manager and production supervisor for some of Broadway’s greatest productions. His title credits included My Fair Lady, Of Thee I Sing, and The Apple Tree. He worked alongside some legendary names along the way, including Katharine Hepburn, Harold Pinter, and Zero Mostel. He frequently recounted colorful backstage tales, one being about Hepburn brokering a deal with construction workers to keep things quiet during a production of Coco.
Adler began acting in 1991 at the age of 62 with his television debut in Brooklyn Bridge. Shortly thereafter, he made his film appearance in Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993), which led to more television and film roles. Adler’s big break arrived in 1999 when he became a part of HBO’s hit series The Sopranos. Adler played Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, a music industry producer and long-time acquaintance of Tony Soprano, until the end of the series in 2007.
His success continued on The Good Wife, for which he portrayed Howard Lyman. Initially intended to be a one-off guest appearance, Adler’s comedy timing impressed so much that he ended up in 30 episodes. He reprised the character later during 2017–2018 on The Good Fight.
Aside from these legendary parts, Adler demonstrated his versatility with guest appearances on Mad About You, Northern Exposure, Rescue Me, Transparent, and Broad City. His work for film featured roles in In Her Shoes (2005), Charlie Kaufman’s Synecdoche, New York (2008), and A Most Violent Year (2014).
Adler also came back to Broadway as a performer, appearing in Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf (2000) and Larry David’s Fish in the Dark (2015), demonstrating that his affection for stage never waned.
Adler is survived by his wife, psychologist Joan Laxman, whom he wed in 1994. Though he began his acting career at an older age, Jerry Adler left a lasting impression on stage and screen, recalled for his keen sense of humor, authoritative presence, and iconic characters.
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