Jerry Adler, behind-the-scenes Broadway vet turned Sopranos star, dies at 96

Jerry Adler had 53 Broadway productions to his name, all behind the scenes, before landing his first role on film or television.

Jerry Adler, who spent decades behind-the-scenes of storied Broadway productions before pivoting to acting in his 60s, has died at 96.

Adler died Saturday, according to a brief family announcement confirmed by the Riverside Memorial Chapel in New York.

Among Adler’s acting credits are The Sopranos , on which he played Tony Soprano adviser Hesh Rabkin across all six seasons, and The Good Wife , where he played law partner Howard Lyman. But before Adler had ever stepped in front of a film or television camera, he had 53 Broadway productions to his name — all behind the scenes, serving as a stage manager, producer or director.

He hailed from an entertainment