Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler Photo

ADAM SANDLER

Date of Birth: September 9, 1966

Class clown, buffoon, kid-at-the-back-of-the-bus-making-all-the-funny noises, puerile, scatological, juvenile and adolescent—Adam Sandler is all these and more.

Raised in New Hampshire, the budding comedian took his first step towards the limelight when he took to the stage at 17 in a Boston comedy club. While attending New York University, his extracurricular activities involved stand-up routines in local clubs and an ongoing role as Theo Huxtable's friend Smitty on The Cosby Show. After university Adam headed to Los Angeles where he was spotted on stage by Saturday Night Live regular Dennis Miller, who recommended him to SNL producer Lorne Michaels.

First hired as a writer and occasional performer on SNL, Adam soon turned his sketch characters such as Cajunman, Iraqi Pete, Canteen Boy and Operaman into his own performing gig. Following in Steve Martin's footsteps, he also released his first album in 1993—They're All Gonna Laugh At You!—which was nominated for a Grammy-nominated and occupied a spot on the Billboard's charts for over a hundred weeks.

His co-scripted role in Billy Madison prompted Adam to say farewell to his weekly SNL job and concentrate on his film and solo comedy career. Since then, he has become a major Hollywood player, winning a People's Choice award as Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Star in 2000 and a Golden Globe nomination for his performance in Punch-Drunk Love (2002).

His comedy album Stan and Judy's Kid debuted at number 16 on the Billboard charts and went on to set a record for most albums sold by a comedian in its first week. He formed his production company, Happy Madison Productions, in 2002, which produces most of his films. In June 2003, Adam married longtime girlfriend, model/actress Jackie Titone. They have two children together.

Since then, he's won several People's Choice Awards including Favorite Funny Male Star in 2006 and 2009; and Favorite On-Screen Chemistry with Drew Barrymore for in 2005 for 50 First Dates (2004). He continues to write, produce and act in comedy films such as Grown Ups (2010) and That's My Boy (2012).

As for the secret of his success, Adam says, "I'm actually a woman. But I noticed I wasn't a good-looking woman, so I passed myself off as a man and it's working out great." But it hasn't been all success. His 2011 film Jack and Jill set a Razzie record as the first film in its 32-year history to win an award in virtually every category, including worst picture, screenplay and director of the year. Adam himself was nominated for 11 awards and he ended up taking home the prize for both worst actor and worst actress for his cross-dressing double role in the film.

Nonetheless Adam powered through with his next project, the animated feature Hotel Transylvania (2012). He voiced the character of Dracula, who runs a resort for the many monsters of the world. The movie was a huge hit and he has since reprised the role in Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015) and Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018).

Filmography:

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018)
The Week of (2018)
The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)
Sandy Wexler (2017)
The Do-Over (2016)
The Ridiculous 6 (2015)
The Cobbler (2015)
Hotel Transylvania 2 (2015)
Pixels (2015)
Blended (2014)
Men, Women & Children (2014)
Grown Ups 2 (2013)
Hotel Transylvania (2012) (voice)
That's My Boy (2012)
Jack and Jill (2011)
Zookeeper (2011) (voice)
Just Go With It (2011)
Grown Ups (2010)
Funny People (2009)
Bedtime Stories (2008)
You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008)
I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry (2007)
Reign Over Me (2007)
Click (2006)
The Longest Yard (2005)
Spanglish (2004)
50 First Dates (2004)
Anger Management (2003)
Eight Crazy Nights (2002) (voice)
Mr. Deeds (2002)
Punch-Drunk Love (2002)
The Animal (2001)
Little Nicky (2000)
Big Daddy (1999)
The Waterboy (1998)
The Wedding Singer (1998)
Bulletproof (1996)
Happy Gilmore (1996)
Billy Madison (1995)
Mixed Nuts (1994)
Airheads (1994)
Coneheads (1993)
Shake the Clown (1991)
Going Overboard (1989)