Adam Sandler honored with Mark Twain Prize

Adam Sandler became the latest big name to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, an honor recognizing the Brooklyn-born comedian's career of comic success.

Sandler accepted the award Sunday during a yet-to-be-televised ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Jennifer Aniston, Drew Barrymore and Chris Rock, who all starred in films with Sandler, were among those in attendance.

“The moment you met him, you knew Adam was going to be a big star. And so did Adam,” said filmmaker Judd Apatow, who lived with Sandler in Los Angeles toward the start of their careers.

Sandler is known for his five-year run on “Saturday Night Live” — where he starred in sketches such as “The Hanukkah Song” and “Opera Man” — and for comedy films such as “Happy Gilmore” and “Billy Madison.” He has enjoyed recent success in moves including the crime drama “Uncut Gems” and the basketball comedydrama “Hustle.”

The 56-year-old Sandler, who studied at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, joked Sunday that a Mark Twain bust at the ceremony “one day might be the weapon used to bludgeon me in my sleep.”

Sandler is the 24th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, joining a list that also includes Will Ferrell, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg.

“The Prize, which is named to honor one of the world's greatest humorists was awarded to Adam Sandler at a gala performance ... and will be broadcast nationally on CNN March 26, 2023 at 5 p.m. PDT,” the Kennedy Center said.