Adam Sandler has been honored with the 24th Mark Twain Award for American Humor, regarded as one of the highest accolades in comedy.
The Kennedy Center explained the Mark Twain Prize is awarded to individuals who have had a major impact on American society, similarly to the 19th-century novelist and essayist, Samuel Clemens, also known as Mark Twain.
Sandler has an extensive resume that includes acting, writing, producing and songwriting in films such as Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, Grown Ups, Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer and the Netflix films Hustle and The Meyerowitz Stories.
He joins the ranks of the esteemed comedians who have previously won the Mark Twain Prize, including Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, George Carlin, Lily Tomlin, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jon Stewart.
Adam Sandler was presented with the 24th Mark Twain Award for American Humor, a highly esteemed honor in comedy. The Brooklyn native, who joined SNL at the young age of 23, is renowned for his characters such as Opera Man, The Herlihy Boy and Canteen Boy.
He is also remembered for his popular songs on the show, such as Lunch Lady Land and the iconic Chanukah Song, in which he lists prominent celebrities of Jewish descent.
Sandler returned to SNL in 2019 to host, singing a song about his and Chris Farley’s departure from the show, after they were both fired by NBC.
“NBC said that I was done.
Then I made over 4 billion dollars
At the box office.
So I guess you could say I won.”
“Adam Sandler has entertained audiences for over three decades with his films, music, and his tenure as a fan favorite cast member on SNL,” said Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter in a statement, “Adam has created characters that have made us laugh, cry, and cry from laughing
Adam Sandler will be presented with a bronze portrait bust of Mark Twain, crafted by Karl Gerhardt in 1884, at a special event at the Kennedy Center in March.