Funnyman Adam Sandler was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1966. From an early age, he was the family clown, and at 17 his brother urged him onto the stage of a Boston comedy club on an amateur night. He's never looked back. While a student at New York University, he began making the standup rounds, and after he graduated he landed the role of Smitty, Theo's friend on "The Cosby Show." This turned into an ongoing part on MTV's game show "Remote Control."

While performing on stage in Los Angeles, Dennis Miller caught his act and recommended Sandler to SNL producer Lorne Michaels. After spending a few seasons as a featured player, Sandler became a full-fledged member of the cast in the 1993-94 season. Characters like Cajun Man, Opera Man, and his own songs ("The Chanukah Song") made him an instant fan favorite. Sandler's fame and popularity continued to rise when he left SNL to pursue a film career. Though not always loved by critics, movies like "Billy Madison," "Happy Gilmore," and "Big Daddy" connected with audiences, making Sandler one of the top paid comic actor/writers working in Hollywood.