‘I Thought I Was Becoming A Star’: The Humbling Experience Adam Sandler Had When Hanging Out With George Clooney Early In His Career

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I’m really excited about Adam Sandler’s new movie, Jay Kelly, coming to Netflix in 2025! What surprised me most is that George Clooney is co-starring – that’s a pairing I never saw coming, but I’m totally on board with it. From what I understand, the movie is about the close bond between a big-time actor and his agent, and they’re traveling around Europe while it unfolds. Apparently, these two have been friends for a while, but Sandler once had an experience with Clooney that really gave him a reality check!

Considering how popular Adam Sandler and George Clooney were in the 2000s, it’s surprising they didn’t collaborate on a movie sooner. In a recent interview with The New York Times, both actors discussed how they first met after Clooney hosted Saturday Night Live in 1995. Sandler, who was gaining recognition as a cast member on the show, felt like his career was taking off around then, but a trip to a New York Knicks game with Clooney changed his perspective.

It was during the peak of ‘ER’s’ popularity when I went to a Knicks game with George. I distinctly remember feeling completely unnoticed. I was starting to become well-known, so I expected some attention, but it was like nobody even saw me. All the women were looking at George, and all the men seemed to wish they were in his place.

Given Adam Sandler’s well-known love of basketball, it makes perfect sense his first meeting with George Clooney involved a Knicks game. While I’d feel bad for Sandler during that potentially awkward first encounter, it’s amusing that everyone was focused on Clooney. Ultimately, it seems like the experience helped Sandler realize he could later joke about it.

The actors who appeared alongside Jay Kelly went on to have very successful careers after 1995. Adam Sandler became known for his hit comedies produced through his company, Happy Madison, while George Clooney starred in both massive blockbuster films and critically acclaimed movies. Years after attending that game together, Clooney recently told The New York Times that he’s always hoped to work with Sandler again.

That was really fun. We’ve always kept in touch but never found a project. Then Noah called.

Thanks to Noah Baumbach for bringing Sandler and Clooney together! It’s fantastic he cast them as friends – their combined dramatic and comedic talents really shine. And because they were already close in real life, their on-screen chemistry feels natural and comfortable.

As I’ve been watching the press for Jay Kelly, I’m really struck by how much George Clooney seems to have influenced Adam Sandler. It’s funny – apparently Clooney’s been gently pushing Sandler to wear suits more often! And honestly, it’s working. Sandler’s really stepped up his style game on the red carpet lately, and he looks fantastic.

Beyond just fashion choices, George Clooney has been highlighting Adam Sandler’s skills as an actor, not just a comedian. If Sandler gets nominated for an Oscar for his role in Jay Kelly – as some experts are predicting – who better than a close friend like Clooney to support him?

It’s great to learn this celebrity friendship really took off at a Knicks game in 1995, where Adam Sandler first noticed how charismatic George Clooney was. Sandler might have felt overlooked at the time, but it’s safe to say nobody would ignore him at a game now!

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2025-11-23 19:39