Jerry Adler, Actor on ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Rescue Me,’ Dies at 96

Coverage by Who Died Today Hub • 

Jerry Adler Obituary: Remembering the ‘Sopranos’ and ‘Good Wife’ Star’s Lasting Legacy

Fans across the U.S. are mourning the passing of Jerry Adler, the veteran performer cherished for his warm, wry presence on The Sopranos, The Good Wife, and Rescue Me. Adler died on August 23, 2025, at the age of 96 in New York City. Leading outlets confirmed the news, including The Hollywood Reporter and ExtraTV, and biographical pages such as Wikipedia and IMDb reflect his life and work.

DailyMail’s coverage remembering Jerry Adler’s legacy across The Sopranos and The Good Wife.

A Career That Arrived Late—And Stayed With Us

Born in Brooklyn on February 4, 1929, Adler grew up around Broadway and, for years, worked behind the scenes as a stage manager and director. His on-camera career bloomed later in life, a fact that endeared him to viewers who saw in his performances both lived-in wisdom and an easy humor. As Herman “Hesh” Rabkin on The Sopranos, he brought a steady presence to a stormy world; as Howard Lyman on The Good Wife and The Good Fight, he balanced acerbic wit with surprising tenderness.

Why Jerry Adler’s Work Resonated

Adler had a gift for gentleness. Even when a scene called for steel, he found the quieter note—the look that said more than the line. That lightness made him memorable in guest turns on shows like Mad About You and in films including Manhattan Murder Mystery, In Her Shoes, and Prime. Colleagues often remarked on his generosity off-camera, and fans felt it on screen: the sense that every character carried history, humor, and heart.

Jerry Adler’s early career and connection with Joe Pesci featured by CheatSheet.

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From Stagecraft to Screen Familiarity

Before audiences knew his face, Adler helped make the stage work for others, managing and directing landmark productions. That grounding in theatre gave his TV roles a particular clarity: he understood pacing, silence, and how to let a scene breathe. Perhaps that’s why viewers felt as if they already knew him—he played regular people with the kind of easy authenticity that’s hard to fake.

Farewell, With Gratitude

There’s a comfort, even now, in revisiting his work. Watch an old episode of The Sopranos or a courtroom exchange on The Good Wife, and you’ll find the same quality that defined Adler’s career: unshowy excellence. He didn’t chase the spotlight; he brightened it for everyone else. That’s a legacy worth celebrating.

Sources & Further Reading

• The Hollywood Reporter — Jerry Adler, Actor on ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘Rescue Me,’ Dies at 96
• ExtraTV — Jerry Adler, Late-Blooming Actor of ‘Sopranos’ Fame, Dies at 96
• Wikipedia — Jerry Adler
• IMDb — Jerry Adler Filmography & Bio

Behind-the-scenes story on Jerry Adler and The Sopranos casting (via Slashfilm)

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