Broadway veteran Jerry Adler dies at 96

Jerry Adler, a longtime Broadway stage manager who later acted on The Sopranos and other TV shows, has died at age 96.

Broadway Stage Manager and Sopranos Actor Jerry Adler Dies at 96

Jerry Adler, a Broadway veteran who began his career backstage, died on Saturday at age 96, his family announced. He started as an assistant stage manager for original productions like My Fair Lady and went on to work as stage manager, production manager and supervisor on major shows. Adler later appeared on screen, with memorable roles on The Sopranos as Hesh Rabkin, The Good Wife as Howard Lyman, and Rescue Me as Sidney Feinberg. He did not become an actor until his early 60s, a turn that surprised many who knew him for backstage work.

Born in Brooklyn, Adler’s career spanned stage and screen. He appeared in films including Manhattan Murder Mystery and A Most Violent Year, and on Broadway he returned as an actor in Taller Than a Dwarf and Fish in the Dark. Survivors include his wife, Joan Laxman, whom he married in 1994.

Adler’s life illustrates how the theatre world circulates talent between backrooms and front rooms. His shift from production roles to screen acting shows the adaptability that many theatre workers need as opportunities shift with technology and media. It also highlights how long and influential a backstage career can be, shaping performances without always drawing public attention.

The anecdotes about Katharine Hepburn reveal how performers negotiated demands that protected art and focus. Adler’s steady presence across decades points to a broader truth: longevity in the arts often rests on a mix of luck, connections and a willingness to reinvent oneself when the moment calls.

Highlights

The theatre world keeps its memories alive in its crew and in its stories.