“You’re One of the Best Actors of All Time”: Timothée Chalamet Praises Adam Sandler at “Sandler x Chalamet” Event

Timothée Chalamet and Adam Sandler took a break from their respective schedules to spend an evening together in Fairfax High School’s gymnasium in Los Angeles. To play a game of pickup? Well, kind of, but first, they broke down their most iconic roles.   

On Saturday night, November 15, the “Sandler x Chalamet” event commenced with a packed crowd of students and other audience members. The pair gave a sneak peek of their respective upcoming films. Sandler in Jay Kelly, directed by Noah Baumbach, and Chalamet in Marty Supreme, directed by Josh Safdie, who was in the audience and directed the critically acclaimed Uncut Gems with his brother, Benny, that starred a stellar Sandler in 2019. The two also showed and discussed clips from Uncut Gems, as well as Dune: Part Two, Call Me by Your Name, and both actors’ Saturday Night Live appearances. 

Earlier this year, Chalamet addressed the SAG Actor Awards audience with his unfiltered goal, “The truth is I’m really in pursuit of greatness…I want to be one of the greats. I’m inspired by the greats.” Citing Daniel Day-Lewis, Marlon Brando, and Viola Davis as inspirations, Chalamet added Sandler to that list this weekend. He praised Sandler’s performances in the classic/beloved comedies, but also his ability to contrast that with Paul Thomas Anderson’s 2006 Punch-Drunk Love, saying, “Wow, this is a f**king incredible actor. I hope I can give a performance like this.” 

Sandler has starred in over 60 films. Chalamet expressed his admiration for Sandler’s career and talent, stating, “I know it’s not about awards, blah, blah, blah, but you should have a golden man in your hand, because, man, you’re one of the best f**king actors of all time.” 

Sandler delivered similar praise, expressing his excitement to see what Chalamet brings in the future, telling Chalamet, “What you continue to do for cinema and for all of us is beyond it all.”  

After chatting about their careers, the two actors challenged audience members to a game of 2-on-2 half-court basketball. Chalamet recalled playing basketball there as a high schooler, and the pair joked about their shared love for basketball, often playing together at Fairfax High. The night celebrated where the stars started, showcased their undeniable greatness in the film industry, and tested their greatness on the court.  

Featured image: Emily Watson and Adam Sandler in a scene from the film ‘Punch-Drunk Love’, 2002. (Photo by Columbia Pictures/Getty Images)