Adam Sandler

Sandler has been married to actress Jackie Sandler since 2003. They have two daughters, Sadie and Sunny Sandler, who have appeared in some of his films.

Sandler grew up in a Jewish family with his parents, Judith, a nursery school teacher, and Stanley Sandler, an electrical engineer. He has three older siblings, Scott, Elizabeth, and Valerie.

Sandler was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, after his family moved there when he was six. He attended Manchester Central High School and later studied acting at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He began performing stand-up comedy at age 17 after his brother encouraged him to take the stage at a Boston comedy club.

His first television appearance came on The Cosby Show in 1987, followed by work on the MTV game show Remote Control. Comedian Dennis Miller saw Sandler perform in Los Angeles and recommended him to Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels. Sandler joined the program as a writer in 1990 and became a featured cast member the following year.

At Saturday Night Live, Sandler became known for characters including Opera Man, Cajun Man, and Canteen Boy, as well as comic songs such as “The Thanksgiving Song” and “The Chanukah Song.” He and fellow cast member Chris Farley were fired from the show in 1995. Sandler returned as host in 2019 and received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for the appearance, which included a tribute to Farley.

Sandler made his film debut in Going Overboard in 1989 and appeared in supporting roles in Shakes the Clown, Coneheads, Airheads, and Mixed Nuts. He established himself as a leading film comedian with Billy Madison in 1995, playing a wealthy adult who repeats school grades to prove he is worthy of inheriting his father's hotel business.

He followed it with Happy Gilmore in 1996, playing an aggressive hockey player who turns to professional golf, and appeared in The Wedding Singer in 1998 with Drew Barrymore. Sandler and Barrymore later reunited in 50 First Dates and Blended, making three films together. Other major comedies from this period included The Waterboy, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, Anger Management, The Longest Yard, and Click.

In 1999, Sandler founded Happy Madison Productions, which produced many of his films as well as projects featuring performers such as David Spade and Rob Schneider.

Sandler expanded beyond broad comedy with Paul Thomas Anderson's Punch-Drunk Love in 2002, earning a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. He later took on dramatic roles in Reign Over Me, The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected), Uncut Gems, Hustle, Spaceman, and Jay Kelly.

His performance as jeweler Howard Ratner in Uncut Gems, directed by Josh and Benny Safdie, received widespread critical praise and won him the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead. He was also praised for playing basketball scout Stanley Sugerman in Hustle.

Sandler entered a film distribution deal with Netflix after Pixels in 2015. His Netflix work has included The Ridiculous 6, The Do-Over, Sandy Wexler, The Week Of, Murder Mystery, Hubie Halloween, Murder Mystery 2, and Happy Gilmore 2. He also appeared with his wife and daughters in You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah.

Sandler has voiced Dracula in the first three Hotel Transylvania films and played the title voice role in the animated film Leo. His other voice and animation work includes Eight Crazy Nights and Hotel Transylvania 2.

He has recorded comedy albums featuring parody songs and sketches, including They're All Gonna Laugh at You!, What the Hell Happened to Me?, What's Your Name?, Stan and Judy's Kid, and Shhh... Don't Tell. “The Chanukah Song” became one of his best-known recordings.

Sandler returned to filmed stand-up with the Netflix special Adam Sandler: 100% Fresh in 2018, followed by Adam Sandler: Love You in 2024.

Sandler received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. In 2023, the Kennedy Center awarded him the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. He also received the People's Choice Icon award in 2024.

His loose, oversized clothing and basketball shorts became associated with an informal style that Vogue named a fashion trend in 2021. Sandler is also known for playing pickup basketball while traveling and during comedy tours.