Jerry Adler
Updated: 12/11/2025, 6:38:00 AM Wikipedia source
Jerry Adler (February 4, 1929 – August 23, 2025) was an American actor, theatrical producer, and director. He was known for his films Manhattan Murder Mystery, The Public Eye, In Her Shoes, and Prime, and for his television work as Herman "Hesh" Rabkin on The Sopranos, Howard Lyman on The Good Wife and The Good Fight, building maintenance man Mr. Wicker on Mad About You, Bob Saget's father Sam Stewart on Raising Dad, Fire Chief Sidney Feinberg on Rescue Me, Moshe Pfefferman on Transparent, Saul Horowitz on Broad City, and Hillston on Living with Yourself with Paul Rudd.
Infobox
Born
(1929-02-04)February 4, 1929Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
Died
August 23, 2025(2025-08-23) (aged 96)New York City, U.S.
Alma mater
Syracuse University
Occupations
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Actordirectorproducer
Years active
1950–2019
Spouses
mw- Dolores Parker (1950–?) Cathy Rice (1978–?) Joan Laxman (1994)
Children
3
Relatives
Jacob Pavlovich Adler (great‑uncle)Stella Adler (cousin)Luther Adler (cousin)Joe Adler (grandchild)
Tables
· Filmography › Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1992 | The Public Eye | Arthur Nabler | |
| 1993 | Manhattan Murder Mystery | Paul House | |
| 1995 | For Better or Worse | Morton Makeshift | |
| 1996 | Getting Away with Murder | Judge | |
| 1996 | Larger than Life | Event Coordinator | |
| 1997 | Six Ways to Sunday | Louis Varga | |
| 1999 | 30 Days | Rick Trainer | |
| 2005 | In Her Shoes | Lewis Feldman | |
| 2005 | Prime | Sam | |
| 2006 | Find Me Guilty | Rizzo | |
| 2007 | The Memory Thief | Mr. Zweig | |
| 2008 | Synecdoche, New York | Caden's father | |
| 2014 | The Angriest Man in Brooklyn | Cooper | |
| 2014 | A Most Violent Year | Joseph Mendelsohn | |
| 2019 | Fair Market Value | Victor Rosen | |
| 2019 | Driveways | Rodger |
· Filmography › Television
1992
1993–1999,2019
Role(s)
Mad About You
Notes
Sgt. Panino / Mr. Wicker
1993
1994–1995
Role(s)
Northern Exposure
Notes
Rabbi Alan Schulman
1995
1995–1996
Role(s)
Hudson Street
Notes
Lt. Al Teischler
1996
1997–1998
Role(s)
Alright Already
Notes
Al Lerner
1999–2007
Role(s)
The Sopranos
Notes
Herman "Hesh" Rabkin
1999
2000
2001–2002
Role(s)
Raising Dad
Notes
Sam Stewart
2006
2007–2011
Role(s)
Rescue Me
Notes
Sidney Feinberg
2008–2009
Role(s)
'Til Death
Notes
Al Stark / Eddie's Father
2011
2011–2016
Role(s)
The Good Wife
Notes
Howard Lyman
2014
2017–2018
Role(s)
The Good Fight
Notes
Howard Lyman
2017–2019
Role(s)
Transparent
Notes
Moshe Pfefferman
2019
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Brooklyn Bridge | Bert Mendel | Episode: "Old Fools" |
| 1992 | True Colors | Mr. Green | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Quantum Leap | Lenny Greenman | Episode: "It's a Wonderful Leap - May 10, 1958" |
| 1993–1999,2019 | Mad About You | Sgt. Panino / Mr. Wicker | 12 episodes |
| 1993 | The Odd Couple Together Again | Murray | TV movie |
| 1994–1995 | Northern Exposure | Rabbi Alan Schulman | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | New York Undercover | Mr. Ross | Episode: "All in the Family" |
| 1995 | One Life to Live | Len Hanen | 3 episodes |
| 1995–1996 | Hudson Street | Lt. Al Teischler | 22 episodes |
| 1996 | Law & Order | Judge Nathan Marks | Episode: "I.D." |
| 1996 | Spin City | Police Commissioner | Episode: "Dog Day Afternoon" |
| 1997–1998 | Alright Already | Al Lerner | 21 episodes |
| 1999–2007 | The Sopranos | Herman "Hesh" Rabkin | 28 episodes |
| 1999 | LateLine | Judge Fischbein | Episode: "Protecting the Source" |
| 1999 | Tracey Takes On... | Murray | Episode: "Lies" |
| 1999 | Aftershock: Earthquake in New York | Burt Hornstein | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Wonderland | Perlman | Episode: "Spell Check" |
| 2000 | Bull | Max Decker | 2 episodes |
| 2001–2002 | Raising Dad | Sam Stewart | 22 episodes |
| 2002 | The West Wing | Jules Ziegler | Episode: "Holy Night" |
| 2005 | CSI: Miami | Cardinal Benedetti | Episode: "From the Grave" |
| 2006 | The War at Home | Jerry | Episode: "The West Palm Beach Story" |
| 2007–2011 | Rescue Me | Sidney Feinberg | 34 episodes |
| 2008–2009 | 'Til Death | Al Stark / Eddie's Father | 3 episodes |
| 2010 | Detroit 1-8-7 | Max Elkin | Episode: "Déjà Vu/All In" |
| 2011 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Minyan Member | Episode: "Mister Softee" |
| 2011–2016 | The Good Wife | Howard Lyman | Recurring role; 30 episodes |
| 2013 | Remember Sunday | Sam | TV movie |
| 2014 | Mozart in the Jungle | Lazlo | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2018 | The Good Fight | Howard Lyman | 2 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Transparent | Moshe Pfefferman | 9 episodes |
| 2019 | Broad City | Saul Horowitz | Episode: "Lost and Found" |
| 2019 | Living with Yourself | Hillston | Episode: "Green Tea" |
References
- Cleveland.comhttps://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2023/02/todays-famous-birthdays-list-for-february-4-2023-includes-celebrities-alice-cooper-natalie-imbruglia.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/24/arts/television/jerry-adler-dead.html
- New York Posthttps://nypost.com/2025/08/24/entertainment/jerry-adler-the-sopranos-actor-ny-native-dead-at-96/
- Brooklyn Times-Unionhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/556083005/?article=b0db16fd-b9a2-4dc5-9534-2e58dad33b97/b9582e08-b409-475a-8d55-b36eb6aae1eb&focus=0.49553213,0.1771471,0.6147953,0.49562708&xid=3398
- The Star Presshttps://www.newspapers.com/image/253658269/?article=a5a57880-587d-42df-b7b1-4a6e74ba1b8b&focus=0.050704435,0.5240117,0.28661984,0.5828405&xid=3355
- Film Referencehttp://www.filmreference.com/film/68/Jerry-Adler.html
- Showrizhttps://showriz.com/blogcategoryreviews/2017/8/28/aqyma7zpq2nhkjs0ohzqdxqqr8is8l
- Jewish Ledgerhttps://www.jewishledger.com/2014/06/the-sunshine-boys-lights-up-connecticut-stagewith-two-veteran-jewish-actors-2/
- j.http://www.jweekly.com/article/full/28957/hollywood-veteran-keeping-busy-as-jewish-sopranos-mobster/
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/1971/06/06/archives/the-conversion-of-philip-roth-the-conversion-of-philip-roth.html
- ABC Newshttps://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/sopranos-star-jerry-adler-broadway-backstage-vet-turned-124930993
- CT Insiderhttp://web.archive.org/web/20250630052021/https://www.ctinsider.com/entertainment/article/jerry-adler-broadway-sopranos-memoir-19375321.php
- jewishledger.comhttps://www.jewishledger.com/2014/06/the-sunshine-boys-lights-up-connecticut-stagewith-two-veteran-jewish-actors-2/
- The Sopranoshttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jerry-adler-dead-sopranos-good-wife-rescue-me-1236351995
- Connecticut Posthttps://web.archive.org/web/20210521183616/https://www.ctpost.com/living/article/Actor-Jerry-Adler-88-makes-another-transition-11962615.php
- encyclopedia.comhttps://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/adler-jerry-1929
- The Forwardhttps://forward.com/schmooze/217284/how-jerry-adler-became-hollywoods-go-to-jew/
- TVmazehttps://www.tvmaze.com/characters/1192072/the-sopranos-hesh-rabkin
- People.comhttps://people.com/jerry-adler-sopranos-star-dies-96-11796497
- Deadlinehttps://deadline.com/2025/08/jerry-adler-dead-the-sopranos-the-good-wife-broadway-1236496150/
- Refinery29https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2019/09/8481004/transparent-finale-ending-explained
- The Forwardhttps://forward.com/schmooze/420176/broad-city-had-a-holocaust-survivor-get-high-at-drag-brunch/
- Kvellerhttps://www.kveller.com/in-a-wacky-netflix-show-with-two-paul-rudds-why-is-there-an-icky-holocaust-scene/
- SoapCentralhttps://www.soapcentral.com/entertainment/when-jerry-adler-make-directing-debut-filmography-career-highlights-explored-the-sopranos-star-dies-at-96
- TheaterManiahttps://www.theatermania.com/news/from-julie-andrews-to-larry-david-the-illustrious-career-of-fish-in-the-darks-jerry-adler_72227/