In his long career, Adam Sandler is known for playing a variety of comedic roles, from man-child characters to slapstick humor.
So this might come as a shock to some of his fans when he says that ‘comedy’ wasn’t his first passion. Instead, it was music, the actor says.
“I’ve always used music. It’s always made me the happiest,” the star says, adding that he first formed a band when he was 12.
These revelations come during the 2026 ASCAP Experience, where he was not only the guest of honor but also received the ASCAP Founders Award for his work in songwriting and performance.
Sandler is also excited about his daughters, Sadie and Sunny, who he says continue his passion for music.
“Both my daughters are jamming around the house all day, just like I used to,” he continues. “I was walking by last night and my only child was playing the piano and writing a song.”
“My other child is in New York now. Every time I visit her, all her friends say, ‘All she does is play guitar all day.’ It’s really cool. Music is the best.”
Elsewhere in the interview, Sandler recalls making money playing guitar at subway stations in Manhattan while attending NYU.
“It was always nerve-wracking,” the Happy Gilmore star notes. “I played ‘We’ve Only Just Begun’ on guitar and sang it the whole time.”
“Always the showstopper. Always changed everyone’s mood – maybe they just didn’t like the way I sang it,” Sandler concludes.
