For Adam Sandler, Movie-Making Has Become a Family Affair

Actor Adam Sandler waves as he steps on stage during the 24th Annual Mark Twain Prize For American Humor at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on March 19, 2023. Oliver Contreras/AFP via Getty Images

Actor Adam Sandler has long been known for casting his friends in his films but he’s now in the spotlight for appearing in movies alongside his wife and two daughters.

Mr. Sandler, who shares daughters, Sadie, 17, and Sunny, 15, with his wife Jackie, starred alongside the three in the film “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah” earlier this year.

Now, the “Billy Madison” star, 57, is once again appearing together with them in Netflix’s new animated film “Leo.” The musical comedy was released on the streamer Tuesday. Both girls voice characters in the film.

“Leo” centers around a 74-year-old lizard and his turtle friend who decide to escape from the terrarium of a Florida school classroom where they have been living for decades.

Acting Advice Passed Down

It was at the movie’s premiere on Sunday that Mr. Sandler, who is one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors/producers, shared the advice he’s bestowed upon his girls when it comes to their burgeoning acting careers.

“I tell them to make sure you feel good about what you do and how hard you worked, and you judge yourself,” Mr. Sandler told People. “Don’t let too many people try to get in your head. If you feel like you gave it your all, that’s all you can ask.”

Mr. Sandler went on to speak about experiencing the acting process with both his wife and daughters.

“It’s always fun to be with my family. It’s kind of what they are thinking about getting into their passion, and so it’s good to learn with them,” he said, noting the possibility of working together in the future.

“You never know, but we had a great time at that bat mitzvah movie,” said Mr. Sandler, who also noted his daughters like playing serious roles too. “And this one, we started doing this four years ago, and they grew up a little bit while doing this movie, so it’s been really nice.”

“Sandler unabashedly hires his friends and immediate family to flesh out his casts. He’s done so for decades with little to no blowback,” Christian Toto, host of The Hollywood in Toto Podcast, told The Epoch Times, noting the “semi-common practice in Hollywood.”

Like Martin Scorsese, who repeatedly teams up with Robert DeNiro, the familiarity with other actors and close confidantes can be constructive while in the creative process.

“You develop professional relationships and shortcuts along the way. Martin Scorsese won’t be surprised by what Robert DeNiro does on a movie set. They know each other’s tics and techniques so well after collaborating on so many projects together. That often makes the creative process easier,” said Mr. Toto.

Sandler’s Successful Family Dynamic

Sammi Cohen, director of “You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah,” spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about the family dynamic of the Sandlers on set.

“He’s hilarious, and he’s always making everything funnier. He really gave everyone space to do their thing, but when people needed support, he was there,” said Ms. Cohen, noting Mr. Sandler’s ability to juggle multiple roles at once.

“He’s wearing multiple hats—producing, acting, being an actual dad. It’s almost inhuman,” added Ms. Cohen. “Nothing suffers—he does it all 110 percent.

“I would say he’s a good coach. He knows when to push; he knows when to take a step back,” she added. “He just understands how to make a good movie, and he’s one of the funniest, kindest human beings.”

Sandler’s Daughters Have Racked Up Roles

In all, Mr. Sandler’s daughters have over 20 professional acting credits to their names, mostly in their father’s films. In all, the sisters have been working alongside their famous dad for more than a decade. Sadie first appeared in her dad’s “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan” in 2008, followed by “Bedtime Stories” that same year and in 2010 joined her younger sister Sunny in her first film, “Grown Ups.”

While Mr. Sandler and his wife Jackie married in 2003, Mrs. Sandler’s first acting credit was in her husband’s 1999 hit “Big Daddy” where she had a small role as a waitress.

Since then, she’s appeared in 2000’s “Little Nicky” and 2002’s “Eight Crazy Nights” as well as many of the movies their two daughters have made appearances in.

Popularity of ‘Grown Ups’ Films

In terms of films that Mr. Sandler has cast his friends in, while there are many, 2010’s “Grown Ups” stands out. Inspired to write the film because of his friends, the movie is made up of not just on-screen but real-life friends including David Spade, Kevin James, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, and Steve Buscemi.

“Sandler sits in a unique space in Hollywood. Critics dislike his comedies but adore his dramatic work. He stays above the political fray for the most part and no one pressures him to take a side,” said Mr. Toto. “And he has a posse of like-minded actors who enjoy reuniting every year or two for his projects.”

During the Aug. 5 “Literally! With Rob Lowe” podcast, Mr. Spade shared why Mr. Sandler has his friends star in his Happy Madison films. (Happy Madison is the name of Sandler’s production company.)

Mr. Spade noted how Mr. Sandler “made a smart move” with the “Grown Ups” movies, noting that the environment is conducive to all these comedians competing with each other. He likened the team of comic actors to “the Golden State Warriors.”

“Get guys that have their own movies and we’ll all be in one when there’s a lot of competition,” Mr. Spade explained. “It was a good trick. And when we shot it, he spread out the jokes, so we all got to score.”

“We all write jokes for him,” the actor added. “That move was like good, family, not-dirty, funny movie. And the second one, too.”

Mr. Spade counted as many as 40 flicks he had been in with Mr. Sandler.

“I mean, I sort of come in the fine print, you know what I mean,” he joked.

That’s while Mr. Schneider estimates he’s appeared in about 18 of Mr. Sandler’s films. For a time, they partnered in a film or two a year, but that track record slowed down after 2011 when Mr. Schneider made a conscious decision to spend more time with his family and focus on his stand-up career.