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Biography
Infobox person| name = Adam Sandler| image = AdamSandlerHWoFFeb11.jpg| caption = Sandler in February 2011| birth_name = Adam Richard Sandler| birth_date = Birth date and age|mf=yes|1966|9|9 Brooklyn , New York , United States | occupation = Actor, comedian, musician, songwriter, screenwriter, film producer| years_active = 1987–present| spouse = Jacqueline "Jackie" Titone (2003–present)| children = 2| website = url|adamsandler.com Adam Richard Sandler (born September 9, 1966), is an American actor, comedian, screenwriter, musician and film producer. After becoming a Saturday Night Live cast member, Sandler went on to star in several Hollywood feature films that grossed over $100& nbsp;million at the box office.cite web|url= http://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/? view=Actor& id=adamsandler.htm |title="Adam Sandler." '& #39;BoxOfficeMojo.com'& #39; |publisher=Boxofficemojo.com |accessdate=February 17, 2011 He is best known for his comedic roles, such as in the films Billy Madison (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996), Big Daddy (1999 film)|Big Daddy (1999), and Mr. Deeds (2002), though he has ventured into more dramatic territory. In 1999, Sandler founded Happy Madison , a film and television production company that has produced numerous films and developed the 2007 television series Rules of Engagement (TV series)|Rules of Engagement .
Early life
Adam Sandler was born in Brooklyn , New York to Jewish parents, http://www.jewogle.com/article/Entertainment/Actors/283/ "Adam Sandler's Jewish Roots." Jewogle.com Stanley, an electrical engineer, and Judy Sandler, a nursery school teacher. http://www.filmreference.com/film/70/Adam-Sandler.html "Adam Sandler Biography (1966? -)." Film Reference.com. When he was five, his family moved to Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester , New Hampshire, where he attended Manchester Central High School . He found he was a natural comic, and nurtured his talent while at New York University by performing regularly in clubs and on campuses. Sandler graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1988.cite web| url= http://www.nyu.edu/alumni.magazine/issue10/10_culture_snl.html | title= Live From New York, It's... | publisher= New York University | work=NYU Alumni Magazine | date= Spring 2008 | accessdate=June 30, 2010
Later in his career, he would draw on his earliest experiences for material for his comedy, music and movies. The song "Lunchlady Land" from his debut album '' They're All Gonna Laugh at You! is dedicated to Emalee, the lunchlady at Hayden Dining Hall at New York University.Citation needed|date=June 2010
Career
Acting career
In the mid to late 1980s, Sandler played Theo Huxtable 's friend, Smitty, on The Cosby Show (1987–1988). He was a performer for the Game show|MTV game show Remote Control (game show)|Remote Control , on which he made appearances as the characters "Trivia Delinquent" or "Stud Boy". Early in his career, Sandler performed in comedy clubs, taking the stage at his brother's urging when he was seventeen. He was discovered by comedian Dennis Miller , who caught Sandler's act in Los Angeles. Miller recommended him to Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels . Sandler was hired as a writer for SNL in 1990 and became a featured player the following year, making a name for himself by performing amusing original songs on the show, including " The Chanukah Song ". http://www.biography.com/search/article.do? id=9542505 "Adam Sandler Biography." Biography.com . Sandler told Conan O'Brien on '' Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien|The Tonight Show '' that NBC fired him and Chris Farley from the show in 1995. http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/2010/01/21/2010-01-21_youre_not_alone_conan_obrien_adam_sandler_says_nbc_fired_him_and_chris_farley_fr.html "You're not alone, Conan O'Brien: Adam Sandler says NBC fired him and Chris Farley from 'SNL'" Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily News , January 21, 2010.
In 1994 he co-starred in Airheads with Brendan Fraser and Steve Buscemi. He starred in Billy Madison (1995) as a grown, though uneducated, man repeating grades 1–12 to earn back his father's respect, along with the right to inherit his father's multi-million-dollar hotel empire. In At the Movies (U.S. TV series)|At the Movies , Siskel and Ebert gave the film a very bad review, and said of Sandler "...Not an attractive screen presence, he might have a career as a villain or a fall guy or the butt of a joke, but as the protagonist his problem is he creates the fingernails on the blackboard" with Siskel adding "...you don't have a good motivation for the character's behavior".Citation needed|date=July 2010 He followed this film with other financially successful comedies such as Bulletproof (1996 film)|Bulletproof (1996), Happy Gilmore (1996) and The Wedding Singer (1998). He was initially cast in the bachelor-party-themed comedy/thriller Very Bad Things (1998), but had to back out due to his involvement in The Waterboy (1998), one of his first hits.
Although his earlier films did not receive critical praise, his more recent films, beginning with Punch-Drunk Love (2002), have received more positive reviews. Roger Ebert , in his review of Punch-Drunk Love , concluded that Sandler had been wasted in earlier films with poorly written scripts and characters with no development.Ebert, Roger. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article? AID=/20021018/REVIEWS/210180308/1023 "Punch-Drunk Love." Chicago Sun-Times . October 18, 2002. Sandler has moved outside the genre of slapstick comedy to take on more serious parts such as the aforementioned Punch-Drunk Love (for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe ), Spanglish (film)|Spanglish (2004) and Reign Over Me (2007). He played a loving father figure in Big Daddy (1999 film)|Big Daddy (1999). During filming, he met Jackie Sandler|Jacqueline Samantha Titone —his future wife and mother of his two daughters -— who was cast as the waitress from The Blarney Stone Bar.Citation needed|date=July 2010 At one point, Sandler was considered for the part that went to Jamie Foxx in Collateral (film)|Collateral (2004). He also was one of the finalists along with Jim Carrey and Johnny Depp for the role of Willy Wonka in Tim Burton 's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (film)|Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).Citation needed|date=July 2010 He returned to more dramaticpov-statement|date=December 2011 fare with Mike Binder 's Reign Over Me (2007), a drama about a man who loses his entire family in 9/11 and rekindles a friendship with his old college roommate (played by Don Cheadle ). He starred in the film I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (2007) alongside Kevin James (actor)|Kevin James , as a New York City fireman pretending to be gay to keep up an insurance scam so that his best friend's children can have benefits. Sandler headlined '' You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008), a comedy about a Mossad agent who fakes his own death and moves to the United States to become a hair stylist. The film was written by Sandler, The 40-Year-Old Virgin '' writer-director Judd Apatow (who was an old roommate of Sandler's when both were starting out), and Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog creator Robert Smigel , and was directed by Happy Gilmore director Dennis Dugan .
"Like Will Ferrell , Sandler has layers of tenderness under layers of irony under layers of tenderness—plus a floating anger like Jupiter’s great red spot," wrote David Edelstein of New York (magazine)|New York magazine in a review of ''You Don't Mess with the Z . "Some performers become stars because we can read them instantly, others—like Sandler—because we never tire of trying to get a fix on them."cite journal |last=Edelstein |first=David, |url= http://nymag.com/movies/reviews/47552/ |title=Israeli Stud, Aspiring Hairdresser: Adam Sandler makes his Jewish mother proud. Meanwhile, Werner Herzog tries to avoid penguins ||publisher=nymag.com|date=June 5, 2008 |accessdate= June 13, 2008
Sandler starred in Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories (2008), a fantasy film directed by Bringing Down the House (film)|Bringing Down the House director Adam Shankman , about a stressed hotel maintenance worker whose bedtime stories he reads to his niece and nephew begin to come true. This marked Sandler's first family film and first film under the The Walt Disney Company|Walt Disney banner. http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php? id=19719 "Adam Sandler's Bedtime Stories Come True." ComingSoon.net . Keri Russell and English comedian Russell Brand co-starred.
In 2009, Sandler starred in Judd Apatow's third directorial feature Funny People . He played a very successful stand up comedian who finds out he has a terminal illness and he takes a young inexperienced comic, played by Seth Rogen , under his wing. Filming began in October 2008 and finished in January 2009. The film was released on July 31, 2009.cite news | author=Michael Fleming | title = Trio joins Judd Apatow film |work=Variety | date = June 11, 2008 | url = http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987337.html? categoryid=13& cs=1 | accessdate=June 13, 2008 At one point, Sandler was in talks to star in Quentin Tarantino 's World War II film Inglourious Basterds , which he confirmed, but he did not appear in it due to a scheduling conflict with Funny People .cite web| url= http://www.rte.ie/arts/2008/0814/sandlera.html | title= Sandler won't star in Tarantino film Following the release of Funny People , it, along with Punch-Drunk Love were cited in the June 2010 announcement that Sandler was one of 135 people (including 20 actors) invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences .cite web| url= http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2010/20100625.html | title= Academy Invites 135 to Membership | publisher= Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences | work= Press release | date= June 25, 2010 | location= Beverly Hills, CA | accessdate=June 29, 2010
Sandler appeared in Grown Ups (film)|Grown Ups , teaming up with Kevin James (actor)|Kevin James , Chris Rock , Rob Schneider , and David Spade (all of whom have worked with Sandler before) for a film about five best friends from high school who reunite 30 years later on the Independence Day (United States)|July 4 weekend. Other costars include Salma Hayek (playing Sandler's wife), Maria Bello (playing James' wife), and fellow SNL alumna Maya Rudolph (playing Rock's wife), Colin Quinn , Tim Meadows , and Norm Macdonald . Sandler and Dickie Roberts scribe Fred Wolf wrote the script and Dennis Dugan directed the film.cite news| url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117999951.html? categoryid=13& cs=1 | title = Columbia pic gets Sandler and friends |work=Variety | date = February 10, 2009 | accessdate=February 12, 2009 | first=Tatiana | last=Siegel
Sandler starred in the 2011 film Just Go with It , with Jennifer Aniston , a romantic comedy written by Allan Loeb and Tim Dowling and directed by Dennis Dugan. He played a plastic surgeon who asks his office manager, played by Aniston, to pose as his wife, in order to prove his honesty to his much younger girlfriend, played by Brooklyn Decker . Sandler also provided the voice of a capuchin monkey in Kevin James' Zookeeper (film)|Zookeeper , released on July 8, 2011. http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110722/COLUMNISTS76/107220304 coloradoan.com He filmed '' Donny's Boy with Andy Samberg , which tells the story of a man, played by Sandler, who fathered a son, played by Samberg, with his teacher in high school. Then years later, visits his son on the eve of his wedding where he clashes with the bride (played by Leighton Meester ).
Happy Madison Productions
Sandler formed his film production company, Happy Madison Productions , http://www.adamsandler.com/index.php? section=happy "Happy Madison." AdamSandler.com. Accessed October 9, 2008. in 1999, first producing fellow SNL alumnus Rob Schneider 's film Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo . Happy Madison has produced all of Sandler's subsequent films to date with the exceptions Punch Drunk Love and Spanglish (film)|Spanglish . Reign Over Me and Funny People were produced by Happy Madison but under the subsidiary label "Madison 23".
Sandler is known for consistently working with a core group of friends and associates through Happy Madison, frequently casting fellow SNL performers in various roles in his films. Sandler and Happy Madison produced SNL contemporary Rob Schneider 's vehicles Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999), The Animal (2001), The Hot Chick (2002), and Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo (2005), and The Benchwarmers (2006), with Sandler making cameo appearances in the middle three. Meanwhile, Schneider has appeared in cameo roles in Sandler films The Waterboy , Little Nicky , Mr. Deeds , Click (2006 film)|Click , The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard , I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry , and Bedtime Stories (film)|Bedtime Stories . Schneider had larger roles in Sandler films Big Daddy (1999 film)|Big Daddy , 50 First Dates , Eight Crazy Nights , '' You Don't Mess with the Zohan , and Grown Ups (2010 film)|Grown Ups .
Happy Madison produced David Spade 's Joe Dirt , Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star , and The Benchwarmers , which also featured Rob Schneider. Spade additionally made a cameo appearance in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and had a prominent supporting role in Grown Ups . Sandler cameoed as a special audience member in an episode of The Showbiz Show with David Spade . SNL contemporary Kevin Nealon has appeared in ten Happy Madison productions or Sandler films, including Happy Gilmore , The Wedding Singer , Little Nicky , Joe Dirt , Eight Crazy Nights , Anger Management , '' Grandma's Boy (2006 film)|Grandma's Boy , You Don't Mess with the Zohan , Just Go With It and the Dana Carvey vehicle, The Master of Disguise .
Happy Madison also produced Paul Blart: Mall Cop , the first starring vehicle for Kevin James (actor)|Kevin James . James had costarred with Sandler in I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry and Grown Ups (2010 film)|Grown Ups and made a cameo appearance in '' You Don't Mess with the Zohan ''. Happy Madison also produced James' second starring vehicle Zookeeper (film)|Zookeeper .
He appeared as the featured guest on the final episode of John McEnroe 's eponymous CNBC talk show, airing in late 2004. McEnroe appeared as himself in three of Sandler's films ( Mr. Deeds , Anger Management , and '' You Don't Mess with the Zohan ).
Anna Faris , who appeared in The Hot Chick , became the first female actor to headline a production for Happy Madison with The House Bunny and will headline another film for Happy Madison in the near future.
Others who frequently appear in Sandler films include Steve Buscemi , Chris Rock , John Turturro , Jon Lovitz , Clint Howard , Norm Macdonald , Nick Swardson , and longtime Sandler pals Allen Covert , Peter Dante , and Jonathan Loughran . In particular Allen Covert plays unique and eccentric characters in Sandler's films. Most notably as a limo driver in The Wedding Singer , Ten Second Tom in 50 First Dates , and Nicky's roommate in Little Nicky . Covert starred in his first leading role in '' Grandma's Boy (2006 film)|Grandma's Boy , also produced by Happy Madison productions.
In June 2007, it was announced that Happy Madison had made a preemptive acquisition for Mitch Albom 's screenwriting debut.cite news| url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117967095.html? categoryid=13& cs=1 | title= Sandler struck by Albom pitch | work=Variety | first=Michael | last=Fleming | date=June 17, 2007
In June 2008, it was announced that Sandler will be executive producer for a horror thriller titled The Shortcut under a nascent genre label for Happy Madison called "Scary Madison".cite web|url= http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php? id=45740 |title=Sandler's Scary Madison Takes Shortcut |publisher=Comingsoon.net |date=June 6, 2008 |accessdate=February 17, 2011
In October 2009, it was announced that Sandler and Happy Madison will produce the Richard Pryor biopic Richard Pryor: Is It Something I Said? for Sony, the company's first major dramatic production. The film was written by Bill Condon , who is set to direct, and Pryor will be played by Marlon Wayans , who is replacing Eddie Murphy .cite web|last=Fleming |first=Michael |url= http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009680.html? categoryid=13& cs=1& query=Marlon+Wayans |title='Pryor' engagement for Condon |work=Variety |date=October 7, 2009 |accessdate=February 17, 2011
Personal life
On June 22, 2003, Sandler married actress Jacqueline Samantha Titone, and they are the parents of two daughters, Sadie Madison Sandler http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,1191818,00.html "Adam Sandler, Wife Have a Baby." People.com . and Sunny Madeline Sandler. http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE4AB18Q20081112 "Adam Sandler and wife have second daughter." Reuters.com. November 12, 2008. Sandler lives with his family in Los Angeles, although he also has a home in New York.citation needed|date=February 2011
Political and charitable donations
In 2007, Sandler made a $1& nbsp;million donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America|Boys and Girls Club in his hometown, Manchester, New Hampshire|Manchester , New Hampshire. http://www.newhampshire.com/nh-people/adam-sandler-biography.aspx "Adam Sandler donates $1& nbsp;million to Manchester charity." newhampshire.com. He donated $2,100 to Republican Party (United States)|Republican Rudy Giuliani 's United States presidential primary|presidential campaign the same year.cite web |url= http://www.newsmeat.com/celebrity_political_donations/Adam_Sandler.php |title= Adam Sandler's Federal Campaign Contribution Report |publisher= newsmeat.com
Filmography
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1989
Going Overboard
Schecky Moskowitz
First film role
1992
Shakes the Clown
Dink the Clown
1993
Coneheads
Carmine
1994
Airheads
Pip
Mixed Nuts
Louie
1995
Billy Madison
Billy Madison
Also writer Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
1996
Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore
MTV Movie Award for Best Fight Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actor (also for Bulletproof (1996 film)>Bulletproof )
Bulletproof
Archie Moses
Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actor
1998
The Wedding Singer
Robbie Hart
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Comedy (also for The Waterboy ) MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss Nominated – American Comedy Award for Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (leading role) Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo
Dirty Work
Satan (uncredited)
Cameo appearance
The Waterboy
Robert "Bobby" Boucher Jr.
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Comedy (also for The Wedding Singer ) Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Performance>MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actor
1999
Big Daddy
Sonny Koufax
Also executive producer and writer Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actor – Comedy Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance People's Choice Award for Favorite Motion Picture Star in a Comedy Razzie Award for Worst Actor Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo (shared with Cole and Dylan Sprouse ) Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor
Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo
Robert Justin (Voice)
Cameo appearance
2000
Little Nicky
Nicky
Also executive producer and writer Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actor Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Screenplay
2001
The Animal
Townie
Cameo appearance Executive producer
2002
Mr. Deeds
Longfellow Deeds
Also executive producer Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actor Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Film – Choice Actor, Comedy
Punch-Drunk Love
Barry Egan
Gijón Internation Film Festival Award for Best Actor Chlotrudis Award for Best Actor Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Eight Crazy Nights
Davey Stone (Voice)
Also producer and writer Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie
A Day with the Meatball
Himself
Short film
The Hot Chick
Mambuza Bongo Guy (uncredited)
Cameo appearance Executive producer
2003
Anger Management
Dave Buznik
Also executive producer
Pauly Shore Is Dead
Himself
Documentary
Stupidity
Himself
Documentary
The Couch
Couch Testing Guy
Short film
2004
50 First Dates
Henry Roth
Also executive producer Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team (shared with Drew Barrymore ) People's Choice Award for Favorite On-Screen Chemistry (shared with Drew Barrymore) Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance
Spanglish
John Clasky
2005
The Longest Yard
Paul Crewe
Also executive producer People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Leading Man
Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo
Javier Sandooski (uncredited)
Cameo appearance Producer
2006
Click
Michael Newman
Also producer Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Male Movie Star Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star
2007
Reign Over Me
Charlie Fineman
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
Charles "Chuck" Levine
Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance Nominated – People's Choice Award for Favorite Funny Male Star Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Actor Nominated – Razzie Award for Worst Screen Couple (shared with Kevin James (actor)>Kevin James and Jessica Biel )
2008
'' You Don't Mess with the Zohan
Zohan Dvir
Also producer and writer
Bedtime Stories
Skeeter Bronson
Also producer Nominated – Kids' Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor
2009
Funny People
George Simmons
The Shortcut
Executive producer
2010
Grown Ups
Lenny Feder
Also producer and writer
2011
Just Go with It
Dr. Daniel "Danny" Maccabee
Also producer
Zookeeper
Capuchin Monkey (Voice)
Also producer
Jack and Jill
Jack/ Jill Sadelstein
Also producer
2012
That's My Boy
Also producer
Hotel Transylvania
Dracula (Voice)
Year
Title
Role
Notes
1987–1990
Remote Control
Stud Boy
TV game show
1987–1988
The Cosby Show
Smitty
Season 4, episode 11 "Dance Mania" Season 4, episode 12 "The Locker Room" Season 4, episode 16 "The Visit" Season 4, episode 23 "The Prom"
1990
The Marshall Chronicles
Usher
Season 1, episode 5 "Brightman SATyricon"
ABC Afterschool Special
Drug Dealer
Season 19, episode 2 "Testing Dirty"
1991–1995
Saturday Night Live
Various
2001
Undeclared
Himself
The Assistant "
2003
Couch
Couch Testing Guy
2005
Getaway
Henry Roth
Season 14, episode 20 "Found"
2007
The King of Queens
Jeff "The Beast" Sussman
Season 9, episode 9 "Mild Bunch"
Discography
Title
Year
Notes
'' They're All Gonna Laugh at You!
1993
2× Platinum
What the Hell Happened to Me?
1996
2× Platinum
'' What's Your Name?
1997
Gold
'' Stan and Judy's Kid
1999
Gold
'' Shhh...Don't Tell
2004
References
Reflist|colwidth=30em
External links
Wikiquotecommons|Adam Sandler
http://www.adamsandler.com/ Official website
IMDB name|1191
Use mdy dates|date=June 2011MTV Movie Award for Best Comedic Performance
Persondata|NAME=Sandler, Adam Richard |ALTERNATIVE NAMES= |SHORT DESCRIPTION=American comedian, producer, and musician. |DATE OF BIRTH=September 9, 1966 |PLACE OF BIRTH=Brooklyn, New York, US |DATE OF DEATH= |PLACE OF DEATH= DEFAULTSORT:Sandler, Adam Category:1966 births Category:20th-century actors Category:20th-century writers Category:21st-century actors Category:21st-century writers Category:Actors from New Hampshire Category:Actors from New York City Category:American comedians Category:American comedy musicians Category:American film actors Category:American film producers Category:American male singers Category:American musicians Category:American singers Category:American screenwriters Category:American stand-up comedians Category:American television actors Category:American television producers Category:American television writers Category:American voice actors Category:Manchester Central High School alumni Category:Jewish actors Category:Jewish American musicians Category:Jewish comedians Category:New York University alumni Category:Living people Category:People from Brooklyn Category:People from Manchester, New Hampshire Category:Jewish writers
