Adam Richard Sandler was born on September 9, 1966, in Brooklyn, New York, to Judith Levine, a dedicated teacher at a nursery school, and Stanley Alan Sandler, an electrical engineer with a strong foundation in his Russian Jewish heritage. At the tender age of 17, Sandler took his first bold step towards a career in stand-up comedy when he impulsively took the stage at a Boston comedy club, discovering a natural affinity for making people laugh. He continued to nurture his talent while pursuing his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at New York University, regularly performing in clubs and at universities to hone his craft.
During his freshman year, Sandler landed a recurring role as Smitty, the Huxtable family's friend, on the iconic television show The Cosby Show in 1984. After graduating from university in 1991, he worked at a comedy club in Los Angeles, where he was "discovered" by Dennis Miller, who enthusiastically recommended him to Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, citing Sandler's immense talent. This led to his casting on the show in 1990, where he not only performed but also wrote for the program.
Following his successful stint on Saturday Night Live, Sandler transitioned to the big screen, starring in a string of hit comedies, including Airheads in 1994, Happy Gilmore in 1996, Billy Madison in 1995, and Big Daddy in 1999. He also co-starred alongside Winona Ryder in Mr. Deeds in 2002, and lent his voice to the animated film Eight Crazy Nights, which tells the story of the Jewish festival of Chanukah. Additionally, Sandler starred in Punch-Drunk Love in 2002, a critically acclaimed film that showcased his dramatic range.
As a multi-talented artist, Sandler not only acts in his films but also writes and produces many of them, including The Wedding Singer in 1998. Furthermore, he has composed songs for several of his movies, which have charted on the "Billboard" charts, including the beloved classic "The Chanukah Song".
