Adam Sandler in Hustle (promo pic)
Adam Sandler is finally getting some recognition for his long career as a comic. The Saturday Night Live Alum has been named the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor for 2023. The prize is bestowed by the Kennedy Center.
The award signifies that Adam Sandler is being taken seriously as an American comic. When Sandler broke out in the 1990s with hit comedies like “The Wedding Singer” and “Happy Gilmore” people thought of him as nothing more than a silly physical comic – good for some laughs but not to be taken seriously. But more recently he has gotten recognition for some serious roles in movies like “Uncut Gems” and “Hustle.”
Now Adam Sandler will soon join the ranks of legends such as Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Tina Fey and Carol Burnett. The inaugural Mark Twain Prize was presented to Richard Pryor during the first annual Kennedy Center Celebration of American Humor, on October 20, 1998.
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“Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan favorite cast member on SNL Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing. We are looking forward to celebrating his career at a ceremony that is sure to bring together the best in comedy and provide all the laughs,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter.
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recognizes individuals who have had an impact on American society in ways similar to the distinguished 19th-century novelist and essayist Samuel Clemens, best known as Mark Twain. As a social commentator, satirist, and creator of characters, Clemens was a fearless observer of society, who startled many while delighting and informing many more with his uncompromising perspective on social injustice and personal folly.
So, Adam Sandler has come a long way from playing Canteen Boy opposite Alec Baldwin in Saturday Night Live sketches.
