The Sopranos lost a memorable presence with the passing of veteran actor and longtime theater director Jerry Adler.
His family confirmed the heartbreaking news, stating that he died on Saturday at the age of 96.
Following his passing, friends and fans alike mourned the loss of a beloved figure.
On X, close friend Frank J. Reilly, whom he described as the “real one,” revealed how the late actor helped his family.
“The great actor, my friend Jerry Adler, died today… You know him from one of his iconic roles [and] from many of his guest appearances… He arranged to get my son a job on The Sopranos. Many years later, my son got him a job on Rescue Me. RIP to a real one,” he wrote.
Popstar! founder and editor-in-chief Matthew Rettenmund also delivered a sweet tribute.
“RIP Jerry Adler. He started acting in his 60s, acted 28 years and still had several years’ retirement, all after working on Broadway productions since 1950,” he said, sharing a collage of photos showcasing Adler’s work.
“If you have watched TV in the last 30 years or so, you know him as a fantastic character actor. Rest well, Jerry Adler,” a fan remarked.
A post also mentioned the late actor’s remarkable dedication and resilience during the filming of his pilot episode for the award-winning series.
“Jerry Adler was recovering from gastric surgery when he shot the pilot for The Sopranos. He convinced his doctor to give him a day pass and returned to the hospital when filming was completed. He was lucky with the wardrobe for that scene too, which easily hid his abdominal bandage,” the post reads.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, he started his career in entertainment not as an actor but behind the camera. He worked on over 50 Broadway productions as producer, director and production stage manager.
Among those popular ones was the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady, where he served as stage manager.
Interestingly, amid his colorful career behind the spotlight, he landed a new role, but this time, as an actor.
During his early 60s, he made his acting debut in an episode of Brooklyn Bridge in 1991, followed by an appearance as Mr. Wicker in the long-running sitcom Mad About You.
Despite starting his on-screen career later in life, he made a strong impression by landing Woody Allen’s 1993 film Manhattan Murder Mystery, significantly boosting his recognition as an actor.
With his extensive experience in entertainment, Adler portrayed notable roles, including as the Jewish-American music producer Hesh Rabkin in The Sopranos, equity law partner Howard Lyman in The Good Wife and the new Fire Chief Sidney Feinberg in Rescue Me.
Related: ‘Happy Gilmore 2’ Had ‘Painful Change’ After Iconic Actor’s Death
This story was originally reported by Parade on Aug 24, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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