Adam Sandler says Hollywood success still surprises him as he nears AARP award
The actor credits a steady team and a willingness to evolve with the industry as his career spans more than three decades
Adam Sandler says his Hollywood success still surprises him after more than 30 years in the business, as he prepares to receive the AARP Movies for Grownups Career Achievement Award in January. In a conversation with AARP ahead of the ceremony, the actor reflected on how his career has unfolded and why he keeps moving forward.
"I never thought of this in my life. I was always trying to just continue marching forward, but it’s random moments like this that are interesting," Sandler said, describing the unlikely arc of his career and the moment he learned of the award. He noted that the pace of attention and press over the years has at times felt overwhelming, yet also propelled the run of opportunities he has enjoyed.
"I can’t tell you how bananas I go talking about myself too much. I just run to the hills, man," Sandler said, adding that the steady buzz of fame has been as much a challenge as a reward. The actor emphasized that he never set out to chase a particular outcome, but rather to keep moving forward as new chances arose. He also described the experience of being at the center of conversations around his work as something that demands a careful balance between honoring past choices and staying curious about what comes next.
Sandler also emphasized the importance of consistency in his professional circle. "I've had the same team for a very long time, since [I was] a young guy, and I see they feel very close to what I’ve done and the choices I’ve made. They’re a part of those decisions and thoughts, so it feels like [everyone feels] the ups and downs together," he said. That longtime collaboration has helped him maintain a steady pace through the highs and lows of a career that has included blockbuster comedies and a broad range of dramatic work.
Sandler’s path into film followed a high-profile stint on Saturday Night Live, where he performed from 1990 to 1995 before transitioning to the movie world. Early in his acting career, he built a reputation with a string of popular comedies that became defining titles of the era, including Happy Gilmore, The Waterboy and Billy Madison. Those films helped shape him as a performer and established the template for a career that would persist long after the late-1990s thrill of SNL.
The interview with AARP also comes in the context of two decades’ worth of reflection Sandler has offered about his past roles. In 2022, he joined the Little Gold Men podcast and discussed how he views the body of work he has produced over the years. He said he often looks back with a sense of humility rather than triumph. "I feel the same in the way that I was always pretty excited to be doing it. I don't look back at any of my old stuff and go, 'Wow, you nailed it there, man.' I'm usually like, ‘Wow, you were just getting by, man,’" he explained. He also noted that with time comes a more nuanced understanding of his own acting choices, admitting that some past performances might have been bolder or less measured than they needed to be. "Maybe I played it too big or maybe I played it – I was too trying to show what I was feeling in that moment or the joke was over the top or whatever the hell it was. But it meant a lot to me and I believed in it then, so I still back it up," he added. He went on to say that his approach has continued to evolve as he became more settled as a person.
In a separate conversation in July with Fox News Digital, Sandler elaborated on the practical side of sustaining a long-running comic career. He described the mindset and teamwork required to keep material fresh and relevant. "We work hard with a bunch of people who like to create, write stuff down, try to make it fresh as much as we can and think about the audience," he said. The comments underscored a philosophy of collaboration and adaptation that has informed much of his work across three decades.
The forthcoming AARP award places Sandler within a broader conversation about longevity in entertainment. The Movies for Grownups program has long celebrated actors who continue to pursue meaningful work later in their careers, and Sandler’s candid reflections on motivation, collaboration and growth align with the organization's emphasis on sustained relevance. While the exact projects ahead for the actor have not been publicly disclosed, his remarks illuminate a career built not only on a string of hit films but also on a willingness to assess and refine his craft with each new opportunity.
As the January ceremony approaches, Sandler’s statements about his career serve as a reminder of the balance many performers strive for: to honor what brought them to prominence while continuing to explore, experiment and grow as storytellers. His humility about past work, paired with a practical view of how to sustain momentum—through trusted collaborators, a clear creative process and attention to audience response—illustrates a professional philosophy that resonates beyond comedy. Culture and entertainment observers note that his ability to adapt, while staying true to core strengths, has been central to Sandler’s enduring appeal.
In the end, the AARP recognition is less a sudden capstone than a milestone within a continual journey. Sandler has repeatedly shown that long-running success in Hollywood often hinges not on a single breakout moment but on a steady commitment to evolving craft, dependable partnerships and a willingness to march forward, even when the path remains surprising.