Adam Sandler honored with Mark Twain Prize for American Humor

Adam Sandler, whose career has spanned television, movies and even song, has been honored for his humor as the latest recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

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Sandler was lauded at The Kennedy Center on Sunday as he was presented with the bronze bust of Twain. He put his own spin on it, saying that the award “one day might be the weapon used to bludgeon me in my sleep,” The Associated Press reported.

Typically dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, Sandler donned a suit for the event, telling reporters, “I don’t know if this suit fits me or not, I just threw it on ... for the second time,” Reuters reported.

His mother joked, “I say he’s a slob,” before saying, “We are so proud of him,” Reuters reported.

Sandler, however, turned serious and added, “But everything else ... the honor itself, never thought about this in my entire life, never expected anything like this.”

Friends of Sandler’s spoke about his creativity, including Drew Barrymore, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Buscemi, Dana Carvey and Luis Guzmán.

Writing and producing partner Tim Herlihy said he and Sandler were responsible for “31 motion pictures with a combined Rotten Tomatoes score of 59.”

Herlihy and Sandler co-produced or wrote such non-classics as “Jack and Jill,” which has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 3%, “Grown Ups 2″ which has an 8% score and “Blended” which has a 15% score.

Buscemi highlighted Sandler’s songwriting abilities, saying that “The Chanukah Song” and others “alone deserve this reward,” the AP reported.

Former roommate Judd Apatow said, “The moment you met him, you knew Adam was going to be a big star, and so did Adam.”

Sandler became a household name on “Saturday Night Live,” but was fired after five years. He found his second stardom on the big screen, appearing in more than 30 films that have grossed over $3 billion, such as “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer” and “You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.”

While best known for his comedies, he has attempted to show his serious side with dramatic roles in “Punch Drunk Love” and “Uncut Gems.”

Sandler now joins the ranks of other Twain prize recipients such as Richard Pryor, Whoopi Goldberg and Dave Chapelle. He is also among the seven “Saturday Night Live” cast members to win it, including Bill Murray, Will Ferrell and Eddie Murphy.

CNN will air the ceremony on March 26.

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