Sandler receives Mark Twain prize
Adam Sandler placed his hand on the bronze bust of Mark Twain and speculated that it “one day might be the weapon used to bludgeon me in my sleep.”
A host of comedic and entertainment royalty gathered Sunday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as Sandler was presented with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Presenters — including Drew Barrymore, Conan O’brien, Chris Rock, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey and Luis Guzman — gave testimonials to Sandler’s creative longevity, while poking occasional fun at his uneven movie output and tendency to cast all his friends in his movies.
Sandler’s writing and production partner Tim Herlihy joked that the pair were responsible for “31 motion pictures with a combined Rotten Tomatoes score of 59.”
Buscemi portrayed a string of comedic characters in Sandler movies. “He takes his comedy very seriously. I laugh hard at everything I do with him,” he said.
Buscemi also singled out Sandler’s musical comedy, including “The Chanukah Song,” which became a multiplatinum hit. “His comedy songs alone deserve this reward,” Buscemi said.
At the end of the night, Sandler, who is from Manchester, New Hampshire, paid tribute to his parents and siblings for arming him with “that weird irrational confidence thing that I guess I still have.”
Sandler, 56, first came to national attention as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” before launching his movie career.
The ceremony will be broadcast this coming Sunday on CNN.
Actor Neill clarifies health
report: Sam Neill has reassured fans that he is “alive and kicking” and cancer-free after his recent lymphoma diagnosis caused a panic on social media.
In an Instagram post, the actor clarified that his cancer has “been in remission for eight months, which feels really good.” Though the Guardian reported that key detail Friday, headlines about Neill’s cancer battle sparked widespread concern for the 75-yearold nonetheless.
Neill revealed in the interview that he was diagnosed with stage 3 angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma — a blood cancer — shortly after he experienced swollen glands while promoting the 2022 film “Jurassic World Dominion.” Neill is able to manage the disease thanks to a chemotherapy drug.
Magician Dea dies: Gloria Dea, touted as the first magician to perform on what would become the Las Vegas Strip, has died at age 100. Dea died Saturday at her Las Vegas residence, said Lanae Jenkins, the director of clinical services for Valley Hospice.
Dea was 19 when she performed at El Rancho Vegas on May 14, 1941, the first recorded appearance by a magician in Las Vegas. She also appeared in several movies in the 1940s and ’50s.
March 21 birthdays: Actor Kathleen Widdoes is 84. Singer Rose Stone is 78. Actor Timothy Dalton is 77. Musician Rodger Hodgson is 73. Actor Gary Oldman is 65. Actor Matthew Broderick is 61. Comedian Rosie O’donnell is 61. Actor Cynthia Geary is 58. Producer DJ Premier is
57. Actor Sonequa Martingreen is 38. Actor Scott Eastwood is 37.