Obituary confirms Jerry Adler's death at 96

Veteran actor Jerry Adler, known for The Sopranos and The Good Wife, dies at 96 after a long career in theater and television.

Jerry Adler Dies at 96 Leaving Broadway and TV Legacy

Jerry Adler, born February 4, 1929 in Brooklyn, died at 96, his loved ones announced. He is remembered for the TV roles of Hesh Rabkin on The Sopranos and Howard Lyman on The Good Wife, with a recurring turn in Rescue Me. Adler spent decades behind the scenes in theater, contributing to more than 50 Broadway shows and serving as a director and stage manager. He did not start acting until his 60s, later building a diverse screen career that included The Public Eye, Manhattan Murder Mystery, In Her Shoes, Find Me Guilty, A Most Violent Year and Driveways.

Frank J. Reilly, a close friend who confirmed the death, described Adler as a great actor with a long and varied career. Adler’s path shows how theater work can shape television acting, blending stagecraft with on screen presence. He came from a family tied to the craft, with cousin Stella Adler among his early influences, and he has become a symbol of a late rising but lasting contribution to film and TV.

Adler’s life offers a clear lens on the tension between backstage labor and on screen fame. His years in the wings informed timing, rhythm and ensemble work, qualities that many viewers associate with the gravitas of prestige drama. His late entry into acting challenges the notion that career success must come early, highlighting instead a model of perseverance and craft. In an era that often celebrates quick hits, Adler’s arc—from Broadway stage manager to beloved TV character actor—remains a reminder that durable influence in entertainment is built over decades of disciplined work.

Highlights

His career reminds us that lasting craft often stays hidden behind the curtain.