From behind the scenes to iconic TV roles, Adler’s career spanned more than three decades
A Life in Theater
Jerry Adler, who passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday at age 96, began his career behind the curtain rather than in front of it. Born into a theatrical family—his father, Philip Adler, was a Broadway general manager, and his cousin Stella Adler was a renowned acting teacher—he started as an assistant stage manager while attending Syracuse University.
Over the years, Adler worked on 53 Broadway productions as a stage manager, producer, and director, including the original My Fair Lady. He collaborated with luminaries such as Julie Andrews, Richard Burton, and Marlene Dietrich before stepping away from Broadway during its slump in the 1980s.
A Late Blooming Acting Career
Adler believed his career was winding down when casting director Donna Isaacson encouraged him to audition for The Public Eye in 1992. Director Howard Franklin later recalled being struck by Adler’s audition, which launched a new chapter in his life as an actor.
He soon appeared on Northern Exposure and landed the role of Hesh Rabkin in The Sopranos. Originally meant to be a brief cameo, the character became a recurring presence over all six seasons. Adler also played Howard Lyman in The Good Wife and appeared in shows including Rescue Me, Transparent, Mad About You, The West Wing, and Broad City. His film work included Woody Allen’s Manhattan Murder Mystery.
Legacy and Later Years
Even after achieving television fame, Adler returned to Broadway as a performer, appearing in Elaine May’s Taller Than a Dwarf (2000) and Larry David’s Fish in the Dark (2015). “I think retirement is a road to nowhere,” he once said.
In 2023, Adler published his memoir, Too Funny for Words: Backstage Tales from Broadway, Television, and the Movies. He and his wife, Joan Laxman, had recently returned to New York after living in Connecticut. He is survived by four daughters.
Reflecting on his unusual path to stardom, Adler remarked, “I thought I was too goofy-looking to act. But now I’m immortal.”
