This was a much-deserving win for Adam Sandler! The Hollywood royalty received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday (March 19) night at Washington’s Kennedy Center. The 56-year-old comedian first came to the limelight as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live”.
Adam Sandler Has Lasted Long!
American comedian Adam Sandler was recognised for his long-standing comedy career on Sunday (March 19) night at Washington’s Kennedy Center. The 54-year-old Hollywood royalty received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and among those scheduled to honour the man were Judd Apatow, Jennifer Aniston, Dana Carvey, Steve Buscemi, Drew Barrymore, Luis Guzman, Chris Rock, Ben Stiller and David Spade.
The above presenters showered praises on the iconic comedian as he receievd the honor. As he arrived on the red carpet, Dana Carvey stated, “Who has lasted this long and stayed this beloved? Nobody keeps this up for this long.”
His longtime writing and production partner, Tim Herlihy joked that the two were responsible for “31 motion pictures with a combined Rotten Tomatoes score of 59.” According to Kennedy Center President Deborah Rutter, “Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan-favourite cast member on SNL.”
Luis Guzman, who worked with Sandler in “Punch Drunk Love”, spoke about Sandler’s “total commitment to something that was so far out of his element.” FYI, Mark Twain Prize is named after the 19th-century humorist Mark Twain. The award is presented to individuals who have “had an impact on American society in ways similar to” Twain.
The award has been presented annually since 1998, except for the years 2020 and 2021. The recipients are honored with a night of video tributes and testimonials, often showcasing the previous winners. Those who have previously received this honor include, Richard Pryor, Bob Newhard, Carol Burnett and Dave Chappel.
Adam’s Successful Career…
Adam Sandler is undoubtedly the most beloved comedian out there. He came to light as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” in the early 90s. Sandler has since launched a wildly successful movie career that spans over 30 films, grossing over $3 billion.
His other comedic roles include “Billy Madison”, “The Waterboy”, “The Wedding Singer”, “Big Daddy”, “Blended”, “Murder Mystery”, “Hubie Nights” and “Dracula” in the first three films of the “Hotel Transylvania” franchise. Apart from this, he has also received critical acclaim for leading roles in comedy-drama films like “Punch-Drunk Love”, “Reign Over me”, “Uncut Gems” and “Hustle”.
Coming back to the ceremony, Sandler’s roommate, Judd Apatow (they lived together during their early days in LA), recalled the comedian’s boundless confidence and obvious talent. “The moment you met him, you knew Adam was going to be a big star,” Apatow said. “And so did Adam.”
Not only this, but he also played an old video of young Sandler, prank-calling a local deli in his spare time to work on his different comedic voices. Well, Sandler has come a long way, and since the beginning of his career, he is known for slapstick comedy and overgrown man-child characters. The ceremony will be broadcast nationally on CNN on March 26.