Actor Jerry Adler, Star of The Sopranos and The Good Wife, Dies at 96. RIP Hesh

He was funny in the Good Wife. Got started acting in his 60s. It's never too late!

He was great in Rescue Me, as well.

Hesh is what he'll be remembered for and he almost seemed born to play the part (of course the casting was so good for The Sopranos, you can almost say that for any major character).

The story about his casting as Hesh is interesting. He was very well-known and respected in New York's theater community (as a director, mainly, as he did not really start acting until the 1990s - already in his 60s) and was the cousin of Stella Adler (acting teacher). Anyway, the folks at The Sopranos wanted another Jerry - Jerry Stiller to play Hesh. Stiller had to back out of the role (then thought to be a cameo, essentially). At the time, Adler had relocated to California to pursue, particularly film, acting (a string of films in the 90s, a few television spots). The casting director of The Sopranos just happened to run into Adler's daughter and asked, "Where is your father right now?" He just happened to be back home in New York, recovering from surgery when they were looking to replace Stiller.

I think of how great Jerry Stiller was, but I still think Adler was a better choice for that specific role.

RIP

"You're talking to the wrong white man, my friend. My people were the white man's n***er when yours were still painting their faces and chasing zebras."

Great line. Really illustrates that everyone's people was someone's bitch at some point. Some more than others.

Jerry Stiller as Hesh is interesting. Would be a totally different character

Last thing I saw him in was Driveways (2029). He played one of Brian Dennehy's 'Del' character's Army buddies, who suffers from dementia. He's in the trailer twice. It's free on Prime.