Adam Sandler is having a good month!
In early March, Sandler was given the King of Comedy Award at Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards. It was a fun award to celebrate him as a beloved comedian, especially for kids.
However, most of Sandler’s career has focused on entertaining adults, and on March 19, he was given a far more prestigious award: the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This is a huge honor that has previously been awarded to comedy icons like Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal, and Eddie Murphy.
Recognizing Sandler for this award shows that he has played an important role in American comedy.
What is the Mark Twain Prize?
The Kennedy Center awards the Mark Twain Prize to “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.”
Adam Sandler’s Comedy Career
Sandler has been performing in comedy since he was 17 years old.
He was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1990-1995, playing memorable characters like Opera Man, Tony Vallencourt (the Boston guy), Cajun Man, and Lucy Brawn (from the Gap Girls sketches). He also performed his own songs on the show, which established himself as both a comedian and a musician.
Sandler has won 3 Grammy Awards, 5 Emmy Awards, 1 Golden Globe Award, and 1 Screen Actors Guild Award. He may be known mostly for comedy (Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, The Longest Yard, Click, Grown Ups, and so on), but he also has a number of dramatic roles: Punch-Drunk Love, Uncut Gems, and Reign Over Me come to mind!
Sandler also does stand-up and is touring this spring.
Who Celebrated Adam Sandler at the Awards Ceremony?
Kennedy Center events tend to be quite star-studded, and this event was no different. We’ll find out what everyone said about the event during the live broadcast on March 26, but we know from reporting that Jennifer Aniston, Judd Apatow, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey, Tim Meadows, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade were all in attendance.
Where to Watch the Award Presentation
Although the award was presented on Sunday, March 19, it won’t be broadcast until Sunday, March 26 at 8 ET/7 CT.
You can watch the show on CNN.
Previous Winners of the Mark Twain Award
- 2022: Jon Stewart
- 2019: Dave Chapelle
- 2018: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
- 2017: David Letterman
- 2016: Bill Murray
- 2015: Eddie Murphy
- 2014: Jay leno
- 2013: Carol Burnett
- 2012: Ellen DeGeneres
- 2011: Will Ferrell
- 2010: Tina Fey
- 2009: No winner on record (The 2009 award was rescinded in 2018 due to Bill Cosby’s conviction that year)
- 2008: George Carlin
- 2007: Billy Crystal
- 2006: Neil Simon
- 2005: Steve Martin
- 2004: Lorne Michaels
- 2003: Lily Tomlin
- 2002: Bob Newhart
- 2001: Whoopi Goldberg
- 2000: Carl Reiner
- 1999: Jonathan Winters
- 1998: Richard Pryor
