‘Sopranos’ and ‘Good Wife’ Actor Jerry Adler Dies at 96

Jerry Adler, the veteran actor best known for his roles on The Sopranos and The Good Wife, has died at the age of 96. Adler passed away Saturday, August 23, 2025, at his home in New York City surrounded by family.

Adler spent much of his early career behind the scenes in theater. As a stage manager, producer, and director, he contributed to more than 50 Broadway productions, including My Fair Lady and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Born in Brooklyn on February 4, 1929, he came from a family with deep ties to the stage. His father, Philip Adler, was a general manager on Broadway, and his cousin was the renowned acting teacher Stella Adler.

It wasn’t until his 60s that Adler shifted into acting. His first notable television appearance came in the 1991 series Brooklyn Bridge. From there, he went on to build an impressive résumé in both television and film. Adler became a fan favorite as Hesh Rabkin, a music industry veteran and close confidant of Tony Soprano, in HBO’s The Sopranos. He appeared in 28 episodes across the series’ six seasons.

Adler also gained recognition for his role as attorney Howard Lyman on CBS’s The Good Wife, a part he reprised in the spinoff The Good Fight. His television credits spanned several decades and included appearances in Northern Exposure, Mad About You, The West Wing, Transparent, Broad City, and Rescue Me. On the big screen, his work included films such as In Her Shoes, Synecdoche, New York, and A Most Violent Year.

Even after achieving success on screen, Adler returned to his theater roots, appearing as an actor in productions like Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf in 2000 and Larry David’s Fish in the Dark in 2015. In 2024, he published his memoir, Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television and the Movies, chronicling his decades in entertainment.

Adler is survived by his wife, Joan Laxman, whom he married in 1994. His legacy endures through the countless performances he brought to life and the productions he helped shape both on and off the stage.

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