Jerry Adler, Beloved Character Actor of ‘The Sopranos‘ and ‘The Good Wife,’ Dies at 96
New York, NY – Jerry Adler, a prolific character actor known for his memorable roles as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin in The Sopranos and Howard Lyman in The Good Wife, has died at the age of 96. His passing was confirmed Saturday by Riverside Memorial Chapel, as reported by loved ones.
While Adler didn’t begin his on-screen career until his early 60s, he quickly became a familiar and respected face on television and in film, bringing a distinctive gravitas to a wide range of characters.[Image of Jerry Adler -[ImageofJerryAdler-
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From Broadway Backstage to On-Screen presence
Adler’s journey in show business began far from the spotlight.Born February 4, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, he entered the theater world through his father, Philip Adler, the general manager of the Group Theatre. He started in 1950 working on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starring Carol Channing.
For decades,Adler worked tirelessly behind the scenes,rising through the ranks to become a stage manager,production manager,production supervisor,and eventually a director. He contributed to over 50 Broadway productions, including revivals of Of Thee I Sing (1952) starring Jack Carson, the iconic My Fair Lady (1956) with Julie Andrews and Rex harrison, and The Apple Tree (1966) featuring Alan Alda.
He also spent nearly a decade working behind the scenes on television soap operas. It was while stage managing Santa Barbara in Los Angeles that a friend cast him in his first on-screen role, at the age of 62, in the