OMG You Guys! Before He Was The Sandman Adam Sandler Was A Cosby Show Extra And It Is Everything
By: koalafriend
Get ready to have your minds blown because we are about to drop some major 90s nostalgia that will literally change how you see one of Hollywoods biggest comedy legends. We all know Adam Sandler. The man, the myth, the oversized t-shirt icon. From Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore to his mega Netflix deals and critically acclaimed work in Uncut Gems Adam Sandler is a certified A list king.
But hold on to your remote controls because before he was dominating the box office or singing about Chanukah on Saturday Night Live The Sandman was just another struggling student in New York City looking for his big break. And where did he get his first real taste of the spotlight? On the single biggest show of the 80s. We are talking about The Cosby Show.
Can you even believe it?!
From NYU Dorms to the Huxtable Household
Picture this. It is the late 1980s. Adam Sandler is a student at New York Universitys Tisch School of the Arts honing his now legendary comedic chops. Like any aspiring actor in the city he was grinding doing stand up at comedy clubs and going on auditions hoping for that one role that would change everything.
For Sandler that life changing moment came in the form of a recurring guest spot on The Cosby Show. Between 1987 and 1988 a baby faced Sandler appeared in four episodes of the ratings juggernaut. He was not just a blurry figure in the background either. He had a name and everything! Sandler played Smitty one of Theo Huxtables high school friends.
Go ahead and look it up. In episodes like The Locker Room and Dance Mania you can spot Sandler rocking some peak 80s fashion and delivering lines with that signature goofy charm we have all come to love. He was the quintessential high school sidekick part of Theos crew who would pop in to talk about girls grades and all the typical teenage drama. Even back then you could see the glimmers of the superstar he would become. The awkward energy and the unique line delivery were already there. It is a total throwback and an amazing piece of Hollywood history.
The Stepping Stone to Studio 8H
Okay so a few guest spots are cool but how did that lead to comedy Valhalla aka Saturday Night Live? This is where the story gets really good. Landing a role any role on the number one show in America was a massive deal. It did more than just get him a paycheck. It got him his Screen Actors Guild card a crucial step for any professional actor. It gave him invaluable experience on a real life high pressure television set and most importantly it put him on the map.
This on set experience and the confidence boost that came with it fueled his passion. He continued to kill it on the New York stand up circuit which is where he was famously discovered by SNL cast member Dennis Miller. Miller saw Sandlers raw talent and immediately recommended him to the big boss Lorne Michaels.
The timeline is everything. His last appearance as Smitty was in 1988. Just two years later in 1990 Adam Sandler was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live. Coincidence? We think not! That Cosby Show gig was the perfect resume builder. It showed he could handle himself on a professional set and hang with the big dogs. It was the crucial first domino to fall in a long line of career wins paving the way for his big break at SNL.
The Sandman Era Begins
Once Sandler got his foot in the door at 30 Rockefeller Plaza there was no stopping him. He quickly went from a writer to a featured player becoming one of the most popular cast members of the 90s. He gave us iconic characters like Opera Man Canteen Boy and Cajun Man. He serenaded the world with The Thanksgiving Song and The Chanukah Song becoming a holiday hero in the process.
His time on SNL launched him into movie stardom creating a comedy empire that is still going strong three decades later. From his early hits that defined a generation to his current status as a beloved movie icon his journey has been incredible to watch.
So next time you are flipping through the channels and land on a classic Cosby Show rerun keep your eyes peeled for Smitty. You are not just seeing a funny side character. You are watching the secret origin story of a comedy legend. It is proof that every superstar has to start somewhere and for Adam Sandler it all started on the front steps of the Huxtable house. A true Hollywood glow up for the ages
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