washington –
A group of comedy and entertainment royalty gathered at the Kennedy Center in Washington to present comedy icon Adam Sandler with the Mark Twain Award for American Humor.
Planned Sunday night tribute to Sandler are Jennifer Aniston, Judd Apatow, Drew Barrymore, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey, Luis Guzman , Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade and Ben Stiller.
“Who lasted so long and left behind this beloved?” Carvey said upon arriving on the Kennedy Center red carpet. “Nobody lasted that long.”
Known primarily for dramatic and often violent roles, Buscemi portrayed a string of comedic roles in Sandler’s films.
“He took his comedy very seriously. I laughed out loud at everything I did to him,” he said.
Buscemi also singled out Sandler’s musical comedies, including the multi-platinum “Hanukkah Song.” “Only his comedy songs deserve this award,” he said.
Sandler, 56, first received national attention as a cast member of “Saturday Night Live.” After being fired from the actor after five years on the job, Sandler embarked on an extremely successful film career, with more than 30 films grossing more than $3 billion worldwide.
Sandler’s hits include “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer” and “Don’t Mess With Zohan.” Although he is primarily known for his slapstick comedies and overgrown boy characters, he has performed well in multiple dramatic roles in movies like Drunken Love and Uncut Gems.
Guzman, who co-starred in “Drunken Love,” praised Sandler’s “devotion to what he’s been good at so far.”
Mark Twain honorees receive a night of testimonials and video tributes, often including previous honorees. Other comedians to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award include Richard Pryor (inaugural recipient in 1998), Whoopi Goldberg, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett and Dave Chuck Pell. The 2009 winner, Bill Cosby, whose Mark Twain Award was revoked in 2019 amid multiple allegations of sexual assault.
Long-running comedy agency “SNL” offers its share of more than 24 Mark Twain winners. Sandler is the seventh to join Bill Murray, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Billy Crystal, Eddie Murphy and Julia Louise-Dreyfus An actor who received this award. Show creator and producer Lorne Michaels won in 2004.
The ceremony will air nationally on CNN on March 26.