If you asked most people to name a famous comedic actor, Adam Sandler would likely be one of the first names they mention. He’s been a well-known figure for over three decades, starting with roles in movies like Airheads and on Saturday Night Live, and continuing with his current projects on Netflix. Now, he’s even receiving Oscar buzz for his impressive performance alongside George Clooney in Jay Kelly, which is currently available to stream on Netflix – a true example of achieving your goals.
For this comedian, who grew up in Brooklyn, achieving widespread fame was the ultimate goal. Early in his career, he looked up to Eddie Murphy’s incredibly fast rise to stardom. While being funny was important, Sandler has said that what he really wanted was to be recognized, as he explained in an interview with George Clooney for The Sunday Times. He put it simply:
When I was growing up, I definitely dreamed of being famous. When I started doing stand-up at seventeen, I wanted the kind of recognition Eddie Murphy had – people stopping you on the street and being amazed. That felt like the ultimate sign of success, and it was my initial aim. But after a couple of years, I realized I wanted to be good at stand-up, and that became my main focus.
It’s not surprising that when Adam Sandler was 17, he wasn’t thinking about becoming a dramatic actor, winning awards, or even working with his kids someday. Most teenagers don’t think that far ahead! At that age, he simply wanted to be like Eddie Murphy – he thought Murphy was the best.
It seems like Eddie Murphy was instantly famous. He started performing comedy at just 15, joined Saturday Night Live before turning 20, and his first three movies – 48 Hrs, Trading Places, and Beverly Hills Cop – were all huge successes. Even though I wasn’t particularly interested in becoming a stand-up comedian myself, I still admired Eddie Murphy and wished I could be like him – maybe with a little less adult humor.
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Although Adam Sandler didn’t get a part in the 1988 film Coming to America, he still found success in the 1990s, even if his career didn’t take off quite as quickly as Eddie Murphy’s. While Murphy released traditional stand-up albums like Raw and Delirious, Sandler created albums filled with silly sketches and songs that fit the humor of his movies, such as Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore. This approach proved to be very successful.
Audiences also showed they wanted to see a different side of Adam Sandler, which led him to create and star in many romantic comedies and family films alongside popular actresses like Drew Barrymore and Jennifer Aniston. His voice work as Dracula in the Hotel Transylvania movies broadened his appeal, and his partnership with Netflix ultimately established him as one of the most commercially successful comedic actors today.
Despite appearing in several poorly received comedies – like Jack and Jill and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan, films that could have derailed other actors’ careers – Adam Sandler has consistently avoided any long-term professional consequences. Remarkably, he often follows these critical and commercial failures with strong dramatic performances, as seen in movies like Punch Drunk Love, Funny People, and Uncut Gems.
In contrast, Eddie Murphy’s career has suffered from a series of unsuccessful movie choices. Despite the respect he’s earned, it’s easy to imagine how much more successful the 2000s could have been for him with different roles. His upcoming film is directed by Kyle Newacheck, who also directed Happy Gilmore, raising the possibility that Adam Sandler and Murphy might appear together in Playas Ball, potentially releasing in 2026.
Sandler says that after reaching his early goal of fame, he realized it’s like anything else in life – it’s not always perfect. He explained that:
Honestly, I don’t dwell on the past or wish things had gone differently. But everyone goes through tough times and has good days, just like you. People often forget that. It’s easy to be physically present somewhere while your mind is elsewhere, maybe preoccupied with work – that’s just part of life, and it happens in any job.
You can now watch Adam Sandler in his new movie, Jay Kelly, on Netflix, where he plays a dedicated manager. It’s just one of many Sandler films available to stream on the platform.
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2025-12-27 01:39