The renowned actor and director Jerry Adler has away. His career included work on Broadway, television, and movies.
Adler, who was born on February 4, 1929, had a lengthy career in show business. Although he became well-known for portraying Jewish crime associate Herman “Hesh” Rabkin on “The Sopranos,” Adler’s career was much more extensive than that.
He was a Broadway stage manager, director, and production supervisor for the first forty years of his career. Among his well-known credits were shows like “My Fair Lady” and “The Pajama Game.” He also directed television and had retirement plans by the time he was 65.
In the end, retirement was not in the cards, but everything changed when he received an unexpected call from a casting director buddy. She was working on a film, he remembered, and she said, ‘The director keeps describing you when he describes this role.’ I had never taken action before.
What started out as a post-retirement experiment quickly gained popularity. Originally intended to be a short role, Adler’s portrayal of Hesh Rabkin on “The Sopranos” became a mainstay due to the character’s great resonance with both producers and viewers.
“This started as a lark,” he said in 1992 to a reporter. Adler was shocked to see that he was taking advantage of the privileges that come with being on camera, such as opulent hotel stays, private trailers, and limos, as he was accustomed to the drudgery of life behind the scenes on Broadway. His own words, “They make you feel important,”
But as he kept acting, he came to see that it was something he truly enjoyed. “I truly enjoy doing it, therefore I do it. Retirement, in my opinion, is a dead end. “If I were retired, I wouldn’t know what to do,” he continued.
Before moving to New York City in 2017, Adler spent almost 25 years living in Litchfield County, Connecticut. He continued to be involved in the arts, appearing on stage again in productions such as Mike Reiss’ comedy “I’m Connecticut” and Neil Simon’s “The Sunshine Boys” at the Connecticut Repertory Theatre.
In 2015, he made his Broadway debut in Larry David’s comedy “Fish in the Dark.” Adler referred to it as one of his favorite gigs after working in the industry for so long.
“I stayed in bed until I died (in the first scene) and then spent the rest of the play in the dressing room,” said the actor. “Larry was one of the funniest men I’ve ever known,” he remarked, adding that it was more enjoyable to hang out in the dressing room than to perform.
Over the years, Adler had seen Broadway change. The price of theatrical tickets has increased with time, from $7.80 to $8.50 for “My Fair Lady” in the 1950s to over $300 to $500 for orchestra seats now, he once thought.
His passion for the stage remained unaffected by the changes.
His memoir, “Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television and the Movies,” was published on May 21, 2024, when he was 95 years old.
“This run has been amazing. He revealed during the memoir’s promotion, “I thought the world could use some laughs, so I wrote this book during the pandemic.”
He even alluded to a potential sequel. “I still have more anecdotes to share about working on the Tony Awards shows, all of the ‘My Fair Lady’ revivals, and the summer stock productions. Perhaps ‘Too Funny for Words, Part Two’ may be produced,” he proposed.
Regretfully, Adler was never able to finish that second book. forever stage, screen, and off, his talent, joy, and love for life will live forever in the hearts of everyone he touched.
Everyone Adler worked with was impacted by him. Michael Imperioli, his co-star on Sopranos, paid homage by stating:
“[Jerry] was the sweetest person and an amazing actor. He was one of my favorite characters on The Sopranos and played Herman “Hesh” Rabkin with a great deal of comedy, wisdom, and honesty. Jerry and I had a great time working together. A real class act. Much love to the family.
In a post on X, writer and friend Frank J. Reilly also paid tribute to Adler, writing, “My friend Jerry Adler, who was 96 years old, passed away today. You are familiar with him from one of his well-known roles and several guest appearances. Not bad for a man who waited until he was 65 to begin acting.
Robert King, a television producer, gave a behind-the-scenes account of his collaboration with Adler. He was supposed to appear in just one episode of THE GOOD WIFE, but he was so hilarious in a diner scene that he was brought back for three years of Good Fight and six years of Good Wife. He said, ‘I said ice cream, you [expletive]’. One of our preferred partners.
His four kids, Alisa, Amy, Laura, and Emily, as well as his 31-year wife, Joan Laxman, survive him.
The reason of death has not yet been made public.