Adam Sandler

Adam Richard Sandler is an American actor, comedian, producer, and writer born on September 9, 1966. He is primarily known as a comedic leading actor in Hollywood studio films that have collectively grossed over $2 billion worldwide, as well as for his work on television, stand-up comedy, and dramatic film roles.

Born in Brooklyn, New York City, to Judith and Stanley Sandler, he grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, after moving there at age six. He attended Manchester Central High School, participated in the BBYO Jewish youth group as a teenager, and graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in acting.

Sandler began his career in the late 1980s, playing Smitty on The Cosby Show and appearing on MTV's Remote Control. He performed stand-up in comedy clubs after taking the stage at age 17. Discovered by Dennis Miller, he was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 1990 and became a featured player in 1991, performing original songs like "The Thanksgiving Song" and "The Chanukah Song" before his departure in 1995. He returned to host the show in 2019.

During the 1990s and 2000s, Sandler starred in a series of commercially successful comedies, including Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, Anger Management, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, Click, Grown Ups, Just Go with It, and Blended. In 1999, he formed the production company Happy Madison Productions. He also voiced Dracula in the first three films of the Hotel Transylvania franchise.

Sandler expanded into dramatic acting with Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love in 2002. His other notable dramatic performances include roles in Reign Over Me, The Meyerowitz Stories, Uncut Gems, Hustle, Spaceman, and Jay Kelly. In 2014, he transitioned into a distribution agreement with Netflix, starring in and producing original films such as The Ridiculous 6, Sandy Wexler, Murder Mystery, Hubie Halloween, and Happy Gilmore 2, as well as stand-up specials like Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh and Adam Sandler: Love You.

Over his career, Sandler's accolades include an Independent Spirit Award, an Actor Award nomination, three Golden Globe nominations, three Grammy nominations, seven Primetime Emmy nominations, and the 2023 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In 2024, he received the People's Choice Icon award and was named the highest-paid actor in Hollywood for 2023 by Forbes.