Adam Sandler has been named the latest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Sandler’s name Tuesday.
The Mark Twain Prize is given to well-known people who have “had an impact on American Society,” as Twain did, The New York Times reported.
Deborah Rutter, the center’s president, said Sandler “created characters that have made us laugh, cry and cry from laughing.”
A Kennedy Center news release cited Sandler’s career, which started on “Saturday Night Live” and evolved to films and music over the past 30 years.
Sandler is currently starring in “Hustle” on Netflix, which garnered the comedian a Gotham Award for the role of Stanley Sugerman.
He has also received several nominations and awards for his role as Howard Ratner in the film “Uncut Gems,” the Kennedy Center said.
Sandler, despite his goofiness, has nine People’s Choice Awards, five MTV Movie Awards, and 10 Kids’ Choice Awards. He has also been nominated for a Golden Globe Award, four Emmy Awards and three Grammy Awards.
Happy Madison Productions, founded by Sandler, has produced several films and television shows including “Mr. Deeds,” “Hotel Transylvania,” “The Goldbergs” and “Rules of Engagement.”
Sandler will receive the Mark Twain Prize during a ceremony at the center’s Concert Hall on March 19, The Washington Post reported. The broadcast information has not been released.
The Mark Twain Prize has been given by the Kennedy Center every year since 1998, except for 2020 and 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic forced its cancellation, the Times reported.
Past honorees include:
- Richard Pryor (1998)
- Jonathan Winters (1999)
- Carl Reiner (2000)
- Whoopi Goldberg (2001)
- Bob Newhart (2002)
- Lily Tomlin (2003)
- Lorne Michaels (2004)
- Steve Martin (2005)
- Neil Simon (2006)
- Billy Crystal (2007)
- George Carlin (2008)
- Bill Cosby (2009, rescinded in 2019)
- Tina Fey (2010)
- Will Ferrell (2011)
- Ellen DeGeneres (2012)
- Carol Burnett (2013)
- Jay Leno (2014)
- Eddie Murphy (2015)
- Bill Murray (2016)
- David Letterman (2017)
- Julia Louis-Dreyfus (2018)
- Dave Chapelle (2019)
- Jon Stewart (2022)
1992: Saturday Night Live — Episode 20 — Pictured: (l-r) Kevin Nealon, Adam Sander as Opera Man during the ‘Weekend Update’ skit on May 16, 1992 — (Photo by: Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
1992: SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE – Season 18 Press Conference – Pictured: (back row l-r) Adam Sandler, David Spade, Ellen Cleghorne, Kevin Nealon, Phil Hartman, Tim Meadows (2nd row) Chris Rock, Julia Sweeney, Dana Carvey, Rob Schneider (front row l-r) Chris Farley, Al Franken, Melanie Hutshell on September 24, 1992 – Photo by: (Al Levine/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
1994: Chris Farley, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler and David Spade (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
1996: Bob Barker and Adam Sandler during "Happy Gilmore" Premiere at Cineplex Odeon Century Plaza Cinema in Century City, California, United States. (Photo by Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
1998: Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler during "The Wedding Singer" New York City Premiere – After Party at Planet Hollywood in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
1999: New York City Adam Sandler On The Set Filming "Little Nicky" In Downtown New York City. (Photo By Mario Magnani/Getty Images)
2002: (L-R) Actors Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler watch the Sacramento Kings take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game three of the Western Conference Finals during the 2002 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on May 24, 2002. The Kings won 103-90. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2002 NBAE (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
2003: Adam Sandler poses with his bride model-actress Jackie Titone at their wedding June 22, 2003 in Malibu, California. (Photo by Nick Gossen Courtesy ofAdamSandler.com/Getty Images)
2003: MALIBU, CA – JUNE 22: Adam Sandler poses with his pet bulldog Meatball at his wedding June 22, 2003 in Malibu, California. Sandler married model-actress Jackie Titone. (Photo by Nick Gossen Courtesy of AdamSandler.com/Getty Images)
2005: Actor Adam Sandler competes in the fourth annual First Hawaiian Bank’s Pro-Junior Golf Challenge at Waialae Country Club January 11, a kick-off event for the 2005 Sony Open. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
2006: Actor Adam Sandler shoots a basketball during an appearance on MTV’s Total Request Live at MTV Times Square Studios June 22, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
2008: Actor Adam Sandler speaks to a fan during the "You Don’t Mess With The Zohan" film premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on May 28, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
2008: Actor/musician Adam Sandler performs onstage during the 3rd Annual VH1 Rock Honors at UCLA’s Pauley Pavillion on July 12, 2008 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2012: Actor/executive producer Adam Sandler attends the screening of Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation’s ‘Hotel Transylvania’ at Pacific Theatre at The Grove on September 22, 2012 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)
2019: Actor Adam Sandler at the premiere of A24’s "Uncut Gems" at The Dome at Arclight Hollywood on December 11, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
2020: SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 12: Adam Sandler attends the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on January 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Critics Choice Association)
2020: SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 08: Adam Sandler accepts the Best Male Lead award for ‘Uncut Gems’ onstage during the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards on February 08, 2020 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)
2022: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JUNE 01: (L-R) Queen Latifah and Adam Sandler attend the Netflix World Premiere of "Hustle" at Regency Village Theatre on June 01, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Netflix)
Adam Sandler onstage during the 24th Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at The Kennedy Center on March 19, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)
