The budding actor was seen in the hit TV series, The Cosby Show in the 1980s, playing Smitty, a friend of Theo Huxtable in four episodes. His big break with a television audience came when he was discovered on the comedy club circuit and was signed up for Saturday Night Live, the launching pad of many a star. Adam Sandler appeared in the show from 1991 until 1995.

Sometimes it's difficult for an actor to break out of a particular genre. Adam Sandler built his career on his comedic roles and he has comic talent to spare. In recent years however, he has gained critical acclaim for more serious roles. Having showed his versatility, he is sure to have an enduring movie career.

The first lead role in a movie was in Going Overboard in 1989 in which he plays a comic trying to succeed on a cruise ship. In 1995, he showed off his writing talent by co-writing Billy Madison. Starring as Billy, Sandler is a 27-year-old man who must repeat all 12 grades of school in order to graduate and inherit his father's hotel business.

One of his best known films, Happy Gilmore, was released the following year. Once again, he shared the writing credits and played the lead. Happy Gilmore is a failed ice hockey player who turns to the golf tour to make enough money to save his Grandmother from losing her house. He discovers that he has an aptitude for the sport but the golf crowd are not used to his hockey temperament!Adam Sandler has other projects in the pipeline and can look forward to lots of good scripts landing on his doormat.

1998 brought another hit, with the romantic comedy, The Wedding Singer. Adam Sandler plays Robbie Hart, a professional wedding singer unlucky in love. He pursues a waitress called Julia, portrayed by Drew Barrymore. Rock singer Billy Idol provides a cameo role as himself. A part as the troubled businessman, Barry Egan in Punch Drunk Love in 2002 gave Sandler a Golden Globe nomination. The film, which also featured Emily Watson and Phillip Seymour Hoffman, was well received. Spanglish, co-starring Tea Leoni, Paz Vega and Cloris Leachman, followed two years later. Sandler gives a subtle performance as a successful chef struggling with a failing marriage.

A very dramatic and interesting movie further enhanced Sandler's reputation when Reign Over Me was released in 2007. Also featuring Don Cheadle and Donald Sutherland, it is a story of friendship and loss following the events of 9/11 in New York City.