“The Sopranos” Actor Jerry Adler Dies

The Sopranos cast is in mourning.

Jerry Adler, who played Hesh in the hit TV series The Sopranos, died at the age of 96.

In The Sopranos, Adler (Hesh) served as Tony Soprano’s adviser from 1999 until the series ended.

Tributes came pouring in for Adler on X:

Jerry Adler, known for his role as Hesh in The Sopranos, has died at the age of 96. 🕊️ pic.twitter.com/BcV9DbGBJB

— cinesthetic. (@TheCinesthetic) August 24, 2025

REST IN PEACE to the great JERRY ADLER, known to many as HESH in The Sopranos, and also as a legendary stage manager and theater titan to others. Meeting him was never on my bingo card but turned out to be one of the most surreal moments of my life. I still have a hard time… pic.twitter.com/vIYAR2v7IC

— Kevin Finnerty (@timeimmemorial_) August 24, 2025

USA Today reported more details on Adler’s death:

Jerry Adler, who found a later-in-life second career as an actor and landed a memorable role on “The Sopranos,” has died. He was 96.

A representative confirmed to USA TODAY on Sunday, Aug. 24, that the actor “passed peacefully in his sleep.” He is survived by his four daughters.

Adler starred as Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, an adviser to Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), on “The Sopranos.” He debuted in the role in the acclaimed HBO series’ first episode in 1999 and continued playing the character through the final season.

Adler previously worked as a stage manager and theater director, but he didn’t have his first acting role until he was in his 60s and appeared on the sitcom “Brooklyn Bridge” in 1991.

In his 2024 memoir “Too Funny for Words,” Adler explained that he was recruited for the role by Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ husband Brad Hall, who “stopped me one day” and asked if he was an actor.

“I told him who I was, and he explained he was doing a pilot called ‘Brooklyn Bridge’ and he needed one more character for it,” he wrote in the book.

One of my all-time favourite Hesh scenes was when Janice picked him first to say something about Livia.

RIP Jerry Adler. 🙏
96. Just a kid. https://t.co/o52TSD9Wn2 pic.twitter.com/8Cd8rmNafL

— sloan (@Sloanstweets) August 24, 2025

The New York Post reported that Adler died “peacefully”:

Sopranos star Jerry Adler died peacefully in his sleep in New York City, a spokesperson for the veteran actor has revealed.

The Brooklyn-born actor died on Saturday. He was 96.

“He passed peacefully in his sleep in New York City and is survived by his four daughters — Alisa, Amy, Laura and Emily,” Adler’s spokesperson told Page Six.

The cause of death was not immediately known.