Teenage Dream To Comedy King How Eddie Murphy Inspired A 17 Year Old Adam Sandler To Chase Stardom
OMG you guys, can you even IMAGINE a world without Adam Sandler? No Happy Gilmore, no Billy Madison, no Opera Man on Saturday Night Live. It’s a chilling thought, right? Well, get this, we almost lived in that world. But before The Sandman became a global superstar with a massive Netflix deal, he was just a 17 year old kid from New Hampshire with a wild dream. And the person who lit that fire? None other than the electrifying, the legendary, the one and only Eddie Murphy.
Seriously, this is the Hollywood origin story you absolutely need to hear.
The 80s Vibe: Eddie Murphy Was The Moment
Let’s set the scene. It’s the early 1980s. VCRs are the hottest tech, hair is huge, and on Saturday nights, everyone is glued to their televisions for one reason: Eddie Murphy on SNL. At just 19 years old, Murphy wasn't just a cast member; he was a cultural phenomenon. He single handedly revitalized the show with iconic characters like Gumby, Buckwheat, and Mister Robinson's Neighborhood.
For a teenage Adam Sandler watching from his family's living room, Murphy wasn't just funny. He was a force of nature. He was cool, confident, and had an energy that leaped through the screen. Sandler has said in interviews that seeing Murphy, someone so young and so brilliant, made the impossible feel possible. It wasn't some old guy in a suit telling jokes; it was a kid, not much older than him, who was the biggest star in the country. That was the spark. The teenage dream was born right there.
From Bedroom Dreamer To Boston Stage
Seeing your idol on TV is one thing. Actually getting up on a stage is a whole other level of terrifying. But the dream of SNL stardom, fueled by visions of Murphy’s leather-clad stand-up specials like Delirious, was too strong to ignore.
At 17, Sandler's older brother Scott knew his little bro had the chops and basically forced him to take the plunge. The setting? A gritty Boston comedy club. We’re talking sticky floors, a tough crowd, and the kind of open mic night that could make or break a person’s spirit. A nervous, lanky teenager stepped into the spotlight for the very first time. He was raw, he was unpolished, but the seeds of the Sandler we know and love were there. That one night, that one brave step, was the beginning of everything. He chased that feeling, honing his craft in clubs all over the Boston area, all while that SNL goalpost loomed in the distance.
Chasing The SNL Ghost
The path to Saturday Night Live is basically the Mount Everest of comedy. It's the big league. For Sandler’s generation, it was the ultimate validation, the place where comedy gods were made. And the god who ruled that pantheon was Eddie Murphy.
When Sandler finally got his shot at SNL in 1990, first as a writer and then as a cast member, it was a total full circle moment. He was walking the same halls as his hero. He was performing on the same stage in Studio 8H. He became part of a new golden era of 90s comedy, joining a murderer's row of talent like Chris Farley, David Spade, and Chris Rock, who, by the way, was also massively influenced by Murphy. It was more than just a job; it was the realization of a dream that started in front of a TV set years ago.
From Idol To Peer: A Hollywood Legacy
Talk about an epic glow up! Adam Sandler went from a kid who worshipped Eddie Murphy to a certified comedy legend in his own right. Both have become Hollywood A listers, dominating the box office for decades and now, in a wild twist of fate, both have become kings of Netflix, signing massive multi million dollar deals with the streaming giant.
When Sandler hosted SNL in 2019 and performed his now famous song about being fired from the show, it was a moment. Later that same year, Eddie Murphy made his own triumphant return to host for the first time in 35 years, proving his legendary status is still unmatched.
It’s a powerful reminder that inspiration is everything in Hollywood. One person's incredible success can light a fire in a 17 year old kid and set them on a path to their own superstardom. So next time you're quoting The Waterboy or laughing at a classic Sandler movie, just remember it all started with a teenage dream and the electric, game changing talent of Eddie Murphy.
By: koalafriend
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