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Jerry Adler

Jerry Adler

Actor, also writer · Died August 23, 2025, aged 96 · Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Jerry Adler (February 4, 1929 – August 23, 2025) was an American theatre director, production supervisor and a television and film actor. Adler was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Pauline and Philip Adler, who was a general manager of the Group Theatre. He was raised in a Jewish observant household. Adler began his theatre career as a stage manager in 1951, working on such productions as Of Thee I Sing and My Fair Lady before becoming a production supervisor for The Apple Tree, Black Comedy/White Lies, Dear World, Coco, 6 Rms Riv Vu, Annie, and I Remember Mama, among others. He made his directing debut with the 1974 Sammy Cahn revue Words and Music and also directed the 1976 revival of My Fair Lady, which garnered him a Drama Desk Award nomination, and the ill-fated 1981 musical The Little Prince and the Aviator. He also directed the 1976 play Checking Out. As an actor, Adler is perhaps best known for his roles as Herman "Hesh" Rabkin in The Sopranos, Mr. Wicker in Mad About You, and Lt. Al Teischler in Hudson Street. He made three appearances on Northern Exposure as Alan Schulman, Joel Fleischman's old neighborhood rabbi seen in visions. His screen credits include In Her Shoes, Manhattan Murder Mystery, and The Public Eye. In addition, Adler also appeared in an episode of The West Wing as Toby Ziegler's father, Jules Ziegler. The elder Ziegler worked as a member of Murder, Inc. in the 50's. Adler appeared as the new chief in the fourth season of FX's fire fighter drama Rescue Me. He guest starred as Eddie's father Al in season 3 and season 4 of 'Til Death. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jerry Adler, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.​

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 4, 1929
Died
August 23, 2025 (aged 96)
From
Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor, also writer
Titles
35 on MovieCove · 60 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Down 16% in 30 days

What are Jerry Adler's films like?

Across their 9 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Drama2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 83rd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Bonds
30%
Self
19%
Society
8%
Ideas
8%
Survival
4%
Romantic love2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice2 titles, browse their movies with this themeTruth2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIsolation2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 9 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 4 · Serious 3 · Dark 2

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 8 · Stylized 0 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 5 · Charged 4 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 4 · Funny 1

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 6 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 4 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 6 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
5
Romantic
3
Tense
3
Warm
3
Bittersweet
3
Other
8

How their films linger

Hopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet6
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Jerry Adler's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 27 of their 35 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Jerry Adler's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

60 credits, 35 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Driveways(2019)

    as Rodger

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Mad About You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mr. Wicker

  • Living with Yourself(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Hillston

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all shows

  • Transparent: Musicale Finale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Moshe Pfefferman

  • Fair Market Value(2019)

    as Victor Rosen

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 2 episodes · as Howard Lyman

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • A Most Violent Year(2014)

    as Joseph Mendelsohn

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Transparent(2014)

    Show 9 episodes · as Moshe Pfefferman

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Angriest Man in Brooklyn(2014)

    as Cooper

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Mozart in the Jungle(2014)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lazlo

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Broad City(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Saul Borowitz

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Remember Sunday(2013)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Good Wife(2009)

    Show 30 episodes · as Howard Lyman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Medal of Honor(2008)

    Writer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Synecdoche, New York(2008)

    as Caden's Father

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Memory Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Mr. Zweig

  • Goodbye Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Perlman

  • 'Til Death(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Al Stark

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all shows

  • The Real Sopranos (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Actor

  • Find Me Guilty(2006)

    as Saul Rizzo

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • In Her Shoes(2005)

    as Lewis Feldman

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Prime(2005)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The War at Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Jerry

  • Rescue Me(2004)

    Show 20 episodes · as Sidney Feinberg

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Cardinal Benedetti

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Mixed Signals (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Limo driver

  • Raising Dad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 22 episodes · as Sam Stewart

  • Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 2 episodes · as Maurice Tempelsman

  • Jackie Bouvier Kennedy Onassis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Maurice Tempelsman

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Minyan Member #1

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Bull (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Aftershock: Earthquake in New York(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Burt Hornstein

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all shows

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Jules Ziegler

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • 30 Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Rick Trainer

  • Six Ways to Sunday(1997)

    as Louis Varga

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Sopranos(1999)

    Show 28 episodes · as Hesh Rabkin

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • LateLine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Alright Already (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Show 21 episodes · as Al Lerner

  • Spin City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Commissioner

  • Larger Than Life(1996)

    as Event Coordinator

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Getting Away with Murder(1996)

    as Judge

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Hudson Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 22 episodes · as Lt. Al Teischler

  • For Better or Worse(1995)

    as Morton Makeshift

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • New York Undercover(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Ross

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all shows

  • The Odd Couple: Together Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Murray

  • Manhattan Murder Mystery(1993)

    as Paul House

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • The Public Eye(1992)

    as Arthur Nabler

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Exclusive(1992)

    as Mort

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Mad About You(1992)

    Show 10 episodes · as Mr. Wicker · as Sgt. Panino

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Brooklyn Bridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Nathan Marks

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Northern Exposure(1990)

    Show 3 episodes · as Rabbi Alan Schulman

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Quantum Leap(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Lenny Greenman

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Class of '86 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Director

  • Reward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Producer

  • Mirror, Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Producer

  • The Comedy Company (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Executive Producer

  • The Boob Tube (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Producer

  • 87th Precinct (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Tony Awards (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 12 episodes · Production Supervisor · Stage Director

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 60 titles from 1956 to 2020; peak year 1992.

Biggest box office

In Her Shoes (2005)

$84M worldwide

Highest rated

Manhattan Murder Mystery (1993)

Midcredits 90th

Most popular right now

In Her Shoes (2005)

Film career

19562020

Peak 1992 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting53 of 60: 53 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score78thDirecting1 of 60: 1 only directing, 0 with another roleWriting1 of 60: 1 only writing, 0 with another roleProducing4 of 60: 4 only producing, 0 with another roleOther crew1 of 60: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · crew1960s1 · acting1970s3 · crew1980s3 · 1 acting · 2 crew1990s21 · acting2000s19 · 18 acting · 1 crew2010s11 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles
9207

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Jerry Adler's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 17; across their 9 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Approval · how many liked their films

61stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 9

Midcredits score across 35 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up19
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th8
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 35 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved12
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · actor

Fair Market Value (2019)

95th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Sopranos (1999)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 73/100 in their films, across 8 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Jerry Adler's work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 25 · mildMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 36

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Jerry Adler work with?

People who share at least 2 of Jerry Adler's MovieCove titles; Mark Isham shares the most, 2.