Adam Sandler honored with Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
Adam Sandler, whose career has spanned television, movies and even song, has been honored for his humor as the latest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Sandler was lauded at The Kennedy Center on Sunday as he was presented with the bronze bust of Twain. He put his own spin on it, saying that the award “one day might be the weapon used to bludgeon me in my sleep,” The Associated Press reported.
Typically dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, Sandler donned a suit for the event, telling reporters, “I don’t know if this suit fits me or not, I just threw it on … for the second time,” Reuters reported.
His mother joked, “I say he’s a slob,” before saying, “We are so proud of him,” Reuters reported.
Sandler, however, turned serious and added, “But everything else … the honor itself, never thought about this in my entire life, never expected anything like this.”
Friends of Sandler’s spoke about his creativity, including Drew Barrymore, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey and Luis Guzmán.
Writing and producing partner Tim Herlihy said he and Sandler were responsible for “31 motion pictures with a combined Rotten Tomatoes score of 59.”
Herlihy and Sandler co-produced or wrote such non-classics as “Jack and Jill,” which has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 3%, “Grown Ups 2″ which has an 8% score and “Blended” which has a 15% score.
Buscemi highlighted Sandler’s songwriting abilities, saying that “The Chanukah Song” and others “alone deserve this reward,” the AP reported.
Former roommate Judd Apatow said, “The moment you met him, you knew Adam was going to be a big star, and so did Adam.”
Sandler became a household name on “Saturday Night Live,” but was fired after five years. He found his second stardom on the big screen, appearing in more than 30 films that have grossed over $3 billion, such as “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer” and “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.”
While best known for his comedies, he has attempted to show his serious side with dramatic roles in “Punch Drunk Love” and “Uncut Gems.”
Sandler now joins the ranks of other Twain prize recipients such as Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg and Dave Chapelle. He is also among the seven “Saturday Night Live” cast members to win it, including Bill Murray, Will Ferrell and Eddie Murphy.
CNN will air the ceremony on March 26.
1992: Saturday Night Live — Episode 20 — Pictured: (l-r) Kevin Nealon, Adam Sander as Opera Man during the ‘Weekend Update’ skit on May 16, 1992 — (Photo by: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
1992: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – Season 18 Press Conference – Pictured: (back row l-r) Adam Sandler, David Spade, Ellen Cleghorne, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman, Tim Meadows (2nd row) Chris Rock, Julia Sweeney, Dana Carvey, Rob Schneider (front row l-r) Chris Farley, Al Franken, Melanie Hutshell on September 24, 1992 – Photo by: (Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
1994: Chris Farley, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and David Spade (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
1996: Bob Barker and Adam Sandler during "Happy Gilmore" Premiere at Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza Cinema in Century City, California, United States. (Photo by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
1998: Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler during "The Wedding Singer" New York City Premiere – After Party at Planet Hollywood in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
1999: New York City Adam Sandler On The Set Filming "Little Nicky" In Downtown New York City. (Photo By Mario Magnani/Getty Images)
2002: (L-R) Actors Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler watch the Sacramento Kings take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on May 24, 2002. The Kings won 103-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2002 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
2003: Adam Sandler poses with his bride model-actress Jackie Titone at their wedding June 22, 2003 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Nick Gossen Courtesy ofAdamSandler.com/Getty Images)
2003: MALIBU, CA – JUNE 22: Adam Sandler poses with his pet bulldog Meatball at his wedding June 22, 2003 in Malibu, California. Sandler married model-actress Jackie Titone. (Photo by Nick Gossen Courtesy of AdamSandler.com/Getty Images)
2005: Actor Adam Sandler competes in the fourth annual First Hawaiian Bank’s Pro-Junior Golf Challenge at Waialae Country Club January 11, a kick-off event for the 2005 Sony Open. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
2006: Actor Adam Sandler shoots a basketball during an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live at MTV Times Square Studios June 22, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
2008: Actor Adam Sandler speaks to a fan during the "You Don’t Mess With The Zohan" film premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on May 28, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
2008: Actor/musician Adam Sandler performs onstage during the 3rd Annual VH1 Rock Honors at UCLA’s Pauley Pavillion on July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2012: Actor/executive producer Adam Sandler attends the screening of Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Hotel Transylvania’ at Pacific Theatre at The Grove on September 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)
2019: Actor Adam Sandler at the premiere of A24’s "Uncut Gems" at The Dome at Arclight Hollywood on December 11, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2020: SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Adam Sandler attends the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
2020: SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Adam Sandler accepts the Best Male Lead award for ‘Uncut Gems’ onstage during the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 08, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
2022: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: (L-R) Queen Latifah and Adam Sandler attend the Netflix World Premiere of "Hustle" at Regency Village Theatre on June 01, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Netflix)
Adam Sandler onstage during the 24th Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center on March 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
