Steve Buscemi has appeared in over 15 movies alongside Adam Sandler and he’s opened up about what it’s like working with his best friend
You may not like the idea of bringing your friends into your work life, but Adam Sandler’s friends regularly appear alongside him in movies.
A king of some of the silliest side-splitting comedies, Adam Sandler has appeared in many beloved classics in his time and what you may’ve noticed is they also feature many of the same actors – including his friend Steve Buscemi.
Buscemi has actually appeared in over 15 of Sandler’s comedies – a reported 16 to be precise – from The Wedding Singer (1998) to Grown Ups (2010) to Hotel Transylvania (2012) to Hubie Halloween (2020).Oh and who could forget 1994 release Airheads.
When Sandler was awarded The Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize in 2023 – named to honour one of the world’s greatest humorists – Buscemi gave a speech reflecting on Sandler’s career, whilst also taking the opportunity to roast him too – obviously.
Not only joking that he couldn’t remember who he’d spoken to all evening because it ‘all blends together – kinda like Adam’s movies,’ Buscemi added he was ‘a serious actor’ before he met his best pal.
“I did edgy indies. Have you ever tried that? I’m not talking about talking about playing yourself in Unedited Gems [referencing Sandler’s role in Uncut Gems]” he continued. “The whole time I was watching it I was thinking, ‘Stay in your lane, Waterboy.’”
Buscemi did however, take a moment to get serious and reflect on how Sandler makes movies ‘for so many people’ including ‘his friends,’ opening up about why he’s appeared in so many of his films.
Steve Buscemi has appeared alongside Adam Sandler in over 15 movies (Andrew Toth/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)
Buscemi said: “He does this for all his friends, he does this for so many people, all of the guys you came up with, they’re either writing, or directing, or producing, or acting in your films.
“I love it when you scream s**t at me off camera, like funny things to say, and I just try to say them like you and then when I hear you laugh at the funny thing you told me to say I’m in heaven. I love it.
“For me, the best part of working with Adam is just getting to hang out with you, man. Congratulations, Adam. You are deservedly getting this award for your legendary career and knowing you, your talent and your big heart, the best is yet to come.”
As a Twitter user resolved: “We all need a friend like Adam Sandler.”
