Adam Sandler

Adam Sandler was born on 9 September 1966 in Brooklyn, New York, and grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire. He made a sudden entrance into the world of stand-up comedy at the age of 17 when, on a night out in a Boston comedy club, he got up on stage and peformed an impromptu routine. A star was born. He continued to perform stand-up whilst a student at NYU and was spotted one night by an associate of Lorne Michaels, the producer of legendary comedy show Saturday Night Live. He made his first appearance on the show in 1990 and, before long, had become one its most popular comedians. His first major movie role came in 1995's Billy Madison, in which he starred as the son of a rich tycoon forced to go back to school to prove he's worth his inheritance. Sandler entertains in typical goofy style. Further film roles earned him big bucks and a huge fanbase but critical acclaim had always eluded him. However, his recent role in Paul Thomas Anderson's quirky romantic comedy Punch-Drunk Love has done much to improve his reputation amongst serious film fans and critics alike.