While many people are familiar with Adam Sandler from his memorable roles in Happy Gilmore, Grown Ups, and Click, not everyone knows much about his family—particularly his siblings.
Adam Sandler is the youngest of four children. His older brother, Scott Sandler, works as the vice president of Happy Madison Inc., a TV production company founded by Adam in 1999. Adam’s other siblings include Elizabeth Sandler, who works as a dentist, and Valerie Sandler, who works in the food industry and has largely stayed out of the public eye.
Here are some fun facts about the Sandler siblings.
1. Scott Encouraged Adam to Persue a Career In the Entertainment Industry
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Scott Sandler has always been openly supportive of Adam Sandler’s acting career, a bond that goes back to their childhood. In fact, it was Scott who helped organize Adam’s first-ever comedy gig in Boston.
In a 1994 interview with Interview Magazine, Adam recalled feeling worried that their parents might disapprove of his decision to pursue comedy but Scott reassured him, saying their parents respected his choice no matter what and that it was worth a shot. Scott even drove his younger brother to Stitches Comedy Club for the performance.
Adam remembered Scott asking what jokes he had planned, to which Adam blankly responded, “I’ll just wing it,” admitting he didn’t realize he was supposed to prepare beforehand. And although Adam bombed his performance, Scott made him feel like the best comedian who performed that night.
“He’s like, you just gotta prepare next time. But they loved you,” Adam said. “And in my head, I was like, they did?”
2. Scott Helped Adam Realize His Potential as an Actor
Adam Sandler and Scott Sandler the actor’s Footprint Ceremony at Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California, United States.
Upon graduating from high school, Adam Sandler had no clear idea of what career path to pursue. It was his brother Scott who suggested that he become an actor.
Although Adam had an interest in comedy, he had never seriously considered turning it into a career. When Adam questioned whether pursuing acting was actually feasible, Scott confidently responded, “You’re as funny as Rodney Dangerfield and Eddie Murphy.”
Adam had never viewed himself as particularly entertaining, but his family’s belief in his abilities helped him see his potential. It just goes to show how much of an influence family can have on shaping one’s perception of themselves and their career.
3. Today, Scott Sandler Is the Vice President and Secretary of Happy Madison Inc.
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore at their “50 First Dates” premiere in L.A. in 2004.
Happy Madison Inc. is a firm and TV production company founded in 1999 by Adam Sandler. The company produced movies like Little Nicky (2000), Joe Dirt (2001), Anger Management (2003), 50 First Dates (2004), Click (2006), and other well-known comedy movies starring Adam Sandler.
Having been a big part of his career, Adam Sandler enlisted Scott as the company’s vice president and secretary, a position he holds to this day.
Happy Madison Inc. is now one of the most well-known production companies in Hollywood, with reports stating that the company made around $3.9 billion in 2020.
Most of the movies produced by Happy Madison Productions are highly profitable, with hits like Grown Ups (2010), Pixels (2015), and Click (2006) earning $250 million, $244 million, and $240 million at the box office, respectively, on budgets of around $80 million each.
4. Elizabeth Sandler’s Son, Tyler, Is a Hollywood Director
Adam Sandler and Tyler Spindel attend Netflix’s Special Screening of “The Out-Laws”.
Elizabeth Sandler is the second-oldest sibling in the Sandler family and prefers to live a life away from the studio lights. She’s a dentist and currently acts as the president of the NH Women’s Dental Society, according to her LinkedIn.
However, her son Tyler decided to follow in the footsteps of his uncle and pursued a career in the entertainment industry.
After graduating from Harvard in 2007, Tyler got a job as a scriptwriter and transitioned into directing. Since then, he’s directed well-known movies like Father of the Year (2018), The Wrong Missy (2020), and The Out-Laws (2023) which performed impressively well at the box office.
Tyler later revealed in a 2017 interview with The Crimson that his uncle, Adam Sandler, had been an instrumental part of his career. “He’s been a huge influence on me,” he said, “I honestly wouldn’t be out here if it wasn’t for him.”
5. Valerie Sandler Lives a Life Away From the Spotlight
Adam Sandler and his mother Judy Sandler attend Netflix’s “Hustle” Philadelphia Special Screening in 2022.
Unlike her brothers Adam and Scott Sandler, who are constantly in the limelight due to their professions in Hollywood, Valerie likes to live a private life. Though openly supportive of both her brothers’ careers, she rarely appears in red-carpet events and other celebrity-focused gatherings.
Valerie’s most recent public appearance was in 2015 on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, where she attended as an audience member as Fallon interviewed her brother, Adam Sandler.
Beyond that, not much is known about Valerie’s personal life. She’s married to Steven Gervickas, but little information is available about him or their life together.
It’s also unclear whether Valerie has children or where she currently resides. Even her exact birthdate remains uncertain—some sources claim she was born on January 15, 1980, while others suggest it may be closer to 1959.
6. Valerie Sandler Is a Huge Jimmy Fallon Fan
Valerie Sandler in the audience for ‘The Tonight Show’.
It’s no surprise that Valerie Sandler appeared as an audience member on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon—she’s a big fan of the host. “She loves you, more than anything,” Adam told Jimmy during the introduction of his sister.
According to Adam, Valerie had been texting him non-stop about getting tickets to the show, completely unaware that Adam himself was the guest star. When he finally revealed the news, Valerie’s reaction was amusingly indifferent, as she seemed far more excited about seeing Jimmy Fallon than her own brother on the show.
7. Valerie Sandler Appeared In Several of Adam Sandler’s Movies
Valerie Sandler isn’t an actress and isn’t planning to be one in the near future. However, she did make brief appearances in some of Adam’s movies as an extra. She appeared as a teacher in Bedtime Stories (2008) and a nurse in Grown Ups 2 (2013).
Wrapping Up
Adam Sandler is the youngest of four children. He’s close to all his siblings, regularly expressing his admiration and love towards them. Though his siblings prefer to be out of the spotlight, they openly support him and his career.
