Jerry Adler of 'The Sopranos,' who found second career as actor, dies at 96

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.