Steve Buscemi gave incredible explanation when asked why Adam Sandler casts him in so many of his movies

Adam Sandler is often accused of making movies just so he can go somewhere, hang out with his friends and occasionally shoot some scenes while on holiday.

There's a number of actors he likes to take along with him on projects, and one of those is the venerable star of the screen Steve Buscemi.

The Emmy-award winning actor and former firefighter (who took up his previous profession to help out in the aftermath of 9/11) has been cast in a lot of Sandler's films.

Let's run through the list, this may take a while.

So far, Sandler and Buscemi have appeared in the following films together: Airheads, Billy Madison, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Mr. Deeds, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry, Grown Ups, Hotel Transylvania, Grown Ups 2, The Cobbler, Hotel Transylvania 2, The Ridiculous 6, Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation and Hubie Halloween.

Speaking at the The Kennedy Center’s Mark Twain Prize, which Sandler was awarded in 2023, he took the chance to roast his colleague for some of his past career decisions.

Steve Buscemi knows Adam Sandler has got him. (Andrew Toth/Getty Images for The Webby Awards)

The Reservoir Dogs actor didn’t hold back when the time came to roast Sandler. He admitted he had no idea how many people have spoken before him that evening because ‘it all blends together – kinda like Adam’s movies’.

“I was a serious actor before I met you, man! I did edgy indies. Have you ever tried that? I’m not talking about talking about playing yourself in Unedited Gems,” he said, referencing Sandler’s acclaimed thriller Uncut Gems.

“The whole time I was watching it I was thinking, ‘Stay in your lane, Waterboy.'"

Of course the roast did come to an end, and Buscemi then laid out exactly why he liked getting cast in Sandler's movies.

They've appeared in a lot of movies together over the years, and Buscemi likes getting cast in Sandler's productions. (Evan Agostini/ImageDirect/Getty)

Buscemi’s speech took a more serious note as he thanked Sandler for taking good care of him in the industry.

He said: “He does this for all his friends, he does this for so many people, all of the guys you came up with, they're either writing, or directing, or producing, or acting in your films.

"I love it when you scream s**t at me off camera, like funny things to say, and I just try to say them like you and then when I hear you laugh at the funny thing you told me to say I’m in heaven. I love it.

"For me, the best part of working with Adam is just getting to hang out with you, man. Congratulations, Adam. You are deservedly getting this award for your legendary career and knowing you, your talent and your big heart, the best is yet to come."

That's pretty sweet.

Additional words by Gregory Robinson.