Jerry Adler, who famously played Herman “Hesh” Rabkin on The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96.
The Brooklyn native appeared in 27 episodes across six seasons of the HBO series, portraying a Jewish loan shark and trusted advisor to James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano.
Incredibly, Adler didn’t begin acting professionally until his 60s. Even so, he had several notable credits to his name beyond The Sopranos, including roles in The Good Wife, Rescue Me, Northern Exposure, Mad About You, and Broad City.
The late blooming actor also starred in hit shows “The Good Wife” and “Rescue Me.”
Adler, the cousin of famed acting teacher Stella Adler, began his career on Broadway and was the stage manager on the original production of the legendary play “My Fair Lady.”
He later appeared in several major films, including Woody Allen’s “Manhattan Murder Mystery” and Charlie Kaufman’s “Synechdoche, New York.”Colleagues and creators remembered Adler for his ability to own a line and steal a scene.
“The intent was only to have him on one episode of THE GOOD WIFE,” showrunner Robert King shared on X following the saddening news.
“But he was so funny in a diner scene, yelling “I said ice cream, you stupid b*tch” we had him back for six years of Good Wife and three years of Good Fight. One of our favorite collaborators,” King concluded. Adler himself shared his sage perspective on a life in show business.
“You know what’s interesting,” he said in a 2017 interview, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
“You spend your whole career backstage. Nobody knows who you are or even knows your name. They don’t know anything about you.”
“And then you do a television show and suddenly you’re a celebrity and everyone knows your face. It’s so weird.”
Adler’s fame peaked as the character “Hesh” on The Sopranos, contributing many memorable scenes, and the iconic line, uttered in season one, “A hit is a hit.”
By Agencies
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