Jerry Adler, the behind-the-scenes Broadway veteran who served as the stage manager on the original My Fair Lady before acting on such shows as The Sopranos , The Good Wife and Rescue Me , died Saturday, his family announced . He was 96.

Adler didn’t become an actor until he was in his early 60s — this despite the fact that his cousin was famed acting teacher Stella Adler.

The Brooklyn native played Herman “Hesh” Rabkin, consigliere to James Gandolfini’s mob boss Tony, on HBO’s The Sopranos , and he was the boorish law partner Howard Lyman on CBS’ The Good Wife . On FX’s Rescue Me , he recurred as NYFD station chief Sidney Feinberg.

Jerry Adler, the behind-the-scenes Broadway veteran who served as the stage manager on the original My Fair Lady befor

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