Sopranos’ Beloved Character Actor Jerry Adler Dies at 96

NEW YORK, Aug. 25, 2025 - Jerry Adler, the veteran actor best known for his role as Hesh Rabkin on HBO’s landmark series The Sopranos, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, Aug. 23, according to a family announcement confirmed by Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York.

Adler, born Feb. 4, 1929, in Brooklyn, began his entertainment career behind the scenes on Broadway before turning to acting in his 60s. He earned widespread acclaim for portraying the sharp-witted, Jewish loan shark and longtime confidant to Tony Soprano, appearing in 28 episodes across all six seasons of the series (1999-2007).

Prior to The Sopranos, Adler served as a stage manager, producer, and general manager on over 50 Broadway productions, including the original run of My Fair Lady. After his breakout performance on The Sopranos, he went on to recurrent roles in acclaimed television dramas such as Rescue Me and The Good Wife, where his gravitas and dry wit continued to captivate audiences.

Adler’s late‐blooming acting career also included memorable film appearances in Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery and Andrew Ahn’s indie drama Driveways. He published his memoir, Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales From Broadway, Television and the Movies, in 2024, offering an insider’s look at his decades in show business.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Laxman. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Riverside Memorial Chapel.