"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul." –Principal in Billy Madison. Best known for his comedic roles in Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, and The Waterboy, Adam Sandler has carved out an incredible career despite fairly harsh criticism for his later films. Here are a few things you might not know about Adam Sandler.
1. Where It All Began
Sandler was born in Brooklyn, New York. His mother Judy was a nursery school teacher, and his father Stanley was an electrical engineer. His family lineage traces back to Russian and Israeli Jewish immigrants.
2. Manchester Not By the Sea
He moved to Manchester, New Hampshire when he was six. Well, his parents moved. He went with them.
3. Young Buck
Adam started performing as a stand-up comedian when he was 17. There are clips online of a less confident, younger Sandler telling jokes in front of pretty small audiences.
4. Resident Gleeful
Sandler was a Resident Adviser for his fellow students during his time at New York University. Most of his advice probably consisted of him screaming, “No! They’re all gonna laugh at you!”
Advertisem*nt
5. The Goofy White Guy
One of Sandler’s first roles was Smitty, Theo Huxtable’s friend on The Cosby Show.
The Cosby Show(1984–1992), NBC
6. Where’s My Remote Control?
Hardcore Sandler fans might remember his wacky performances on the MTV show Remote Control because, seriously, pretty sure nobody else watched that show.
Remote Control(1987-1990), MTV
7. It’s Miller Time
While performing at comedy clubs in LA, he was discovered by comedian Dennis Miller who recommended him to Lorne Michaels and resulted in him getting a writing job on Saturday Night Live.
Getty Images
8. A Song For Every Holiday
A year after landing a writing gig, he became a featured player, making a name for himself by performing amusing original songs like “The Thanksgiving Song” and the “Chanukah Song.”
9. In Good Company
NBC fired Sandler from the show in 1995. Chris Farley was fired alongside him. Luckily for them, they went on to film success and neither had to move into a van down by the river.
Sign up to our newsletter.
History’s most fascinating stories and darkest secrets, delivered to your inbox daily. Making distraction rewarding since 2017.
10. Cruise Control
In his first film, Adam Sandler played an unsuccessful standup comic on a cruise ship that is taken over by terrorists. Having seen some seriously bad comedy, we’re sure audience members were probably relieved at the respite.
Going Overboard(1989), Trimark Pictures
Advertisem*nt
11. Tears of a Clown
In one of his first dramatic roles, Sandler earned positive reviews from Roger Ebert for his performance in Punch Drunk Love. Ebert concluded that Sandler had been wasted in his earlier films which had poor scripts with no character development. Since then, it seems that Sandler has gone back to his roots.
Getty Images
12. Living the Dream
In the film Billy Madison, Adam Sandler went full method and really whipped those dodgeballs at the children. Apparently, they cut the take right before a few kids started to cry.
Billy Madison(1995), Universal Pictures
13. Admit It!
Conan O’Brien was the deadpan voice of the Dean of Admissions on Sandler’s first comedy album, They’re All Gonna Laugh At You!
14. It’s All Academic
In 2010, Sandler, along with 134 other people, was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, which means he actually gets to vote on who wins Oscars.
15. Keeping it in the Family
Sandler provided the voice of Dracula in the animated film Hotel Transylvania. His wife and daughter provided the audio for Dracula’s wife and infant child.
16. Off His Rocket
Sandler was considered for the voice of Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy, but the role went to Bradley Cooper instead because when it comes to playing cartoon vermin, looks matter.
Advertisem*nt
17. Out-Foxxed
Sandler was considered for the role of Max the taxi driver in Tom Cruise’s film Collateral. The role went to Jamie Foxx instead, who received an Oscar nomination for his work.
18. Not Accounting for Taste
In 2015, Sandler starred in the Western comedy film The Ridiculous 6, distributed by Netflix. Despite being panned by critics, the film was viewed more times in 30 days than any other movie in Netflix history.
19. Don’t Encourage Him
Sandler has a four-movie deal with Netflix. Aparently, they were pretty stoked about the views on The Ridiculous 6.
20. The Maker of Mirth
Sandler has a film production company called Happy Madison Productions (The Happy is from Happy Gilmore and the Madison is from Billy Madison), which has produced most of his films since 1999.
21. They Was Robbed
The first film produced by Happy Madison Productions was Rob Schneider’s Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, where Rob Schneider has to become a male prostitute in order to buy a fish.
22. Quantity over Quality
The majority of Happy Madison’s films have unfortunately received negative reviews, including three films that made it onto the list of the worst films ever made (Master of Disguise, Jack and Jill, and That’s My Boy).
Advertisem*nt
23. He Doesn’t Give a Sheet
Before he became famous, Adam Sandler was roommates with Judd Apatow, sharing a $900/month apartment in the Valley where Sandler slept on a mattress with no sheets.
24. A Lovely Walk
Sandler received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2011. He got so famous that now people can walk all over him.
Getty Images
25. Rocky is Still the Champ
Having starred in more than his fair share of duds, Sandler is in second place for both Raspberry Award wins and nominations. In both cases he is second only to Sylvester Stallone.
26. Better Together
In 2003, Sandler married actress Jacqueline Titone and they have two children together. Fourteen years and still going.
27. Working for Peanuts!
In a bizarre case that started in 2010, Adam Sandler’s former nanny alleged that while she was working at their home and caring for his children, her work environment and compensation amounted to slavery. It sounds absurd, but it’s a common claim that personal assistants and live-in nannies make about celebritie. Adam Sandler decided to pay to make the matter go away: he paid $48,000 to the former nanny and $32,000 to her attorneys. In exchange, she agreed the matter was resolved and signed a confidentiality agreement. In 2014, she changed her mind and tried to sue HP Production. An arbitrator quickly ruled she violated the confidentiality agreement, and she had to pay back the $80,000 she was paid to keep quiet.
Getty Images
28. A Worthy Cause
In 2007, Sandler donated a million dollars to the Boys and Girls Club in his hometown of Manchester.
Want to tell us to write facts on a topic? We’re always looking for your input! Please reach out to us to let us know what you’re interested in reading. Your suggestions can be as general or specific as you like, from “Life” to “Compact Cars and Trucks” to “A Subspecies of Capybara Called Hydrocho*rus Isthmius.” We’ll get our writers on it because we want to create articles on the topics you’re interested in. Please submit feedback to contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your time!
Do you question the accuracy of a fact you just read? At Factinate, we’re dedicated to getting things right. Our credibility is the turbo-charged engine of our success. We want our readers to trust us. Our editors are instructed to fact check thoroughly, including finding at least three references for each fact. However, despite our best efforts, we sometimes miss the mark. When we do, we depend on our loyal, helpful readers to point out how we can do better. Please let us know if a fact we’ve published is inaccurate (or even if you just suspect it’s inaccurate) by reaching out to us at contribute@factinate.com. Thanks for your help!
