Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler’s Friendship Through the Years: From a Deli Meet-Cute to Costars and Beyond
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The power of the sandwich! Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler first crossed paths at Jerry’s Famous Deli in the early ‘90s — and they’ve been close ever since.
“We were very young. One of my buddies and Jennifer were dating. And we had breakfast,” Sandler told Jimmy Kimmel in May 2019. “It was fun.”
They didn’t appear onscreen together until 2011’s Just Go With It that they acted together, and they reconnected again for 2019’s Murder Mystery. While promoting the Netflix film that year, Aniston gushed about Sandler.”He’s such a mensch and you just love each other, he takes you in, and I’m very much the same way, and then you become family,” the star told E! News at the time. “It’s like second nature.”
The following year, Sandler confirmed that a Murder Mystery sequel was in the works and proceeded to sing Aniston’s praises, exclusively telling Us Weekly in January 2020: “She works well without me. I’m just glad when she invites me for the ride!”
Deal of the Day
Scroll down to see some of Aniston and Sandler’s sweetest BFF moments:
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1991
The Rock Star actress and the Big Daddy actor first met at Jerry’s Famous Deli in Los Angeles.
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2003
When Sandler married Jacqueline Titone in Malibu, Aniston was one of the famous guests in attendance.
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January 2011
Aniston presented Sandler with Favorite Comedic Star Awards at the 2011 People’s Choice Awards. “Thank you very much. I appreciate this,” he said during his speech before joking about his dynamic with the She’s Funny That Way star. “By the way, I’m a huge fan. I’ve never met you. … You’re fantastic. Never mind this, when do you have a movie coming out?”
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February 2011
The pair first collaborated on screen in Just Go With It. In the movie, Aniston plays Danny’s (Sandler) assistant, Katherine, who pretends to be his ex-wife after he tells his new girlfriend, Palmer (Brooklyn Decker), that he was once married and has two children.
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February 2012
The Little Nicky actor was one of the stars who spoke when Aniston received her Hollywood Walk of Fame. “Gather around, people of Hollywood because it’s fairy tale story time. Once upon a time, there was a poor little Greek girl, growing up in Manhattan by the name of Jeneefer Anistuffelupagus,” he joked. “Now every night before going to sleep … the 600 pound, 4-year-old Jeneefer would kneel beside her bed in her pajamas and pray to the Greek god of coolness.”
Sandler continued: “She prayed for three things: To have everyone in the entire world be fascinated with her haircut. To one day star in a movie about an evil leprechaun who kills people. And most importantly, receive a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame. Well, today Jennifer, the trifecta is here.”
The New York native poked fun at Aniston a little more before he instructed the crowd to give her a round of applause. “It hasn’t been an easy road for that poor little rollie, pollie Greek girl. Sorry. She endured many professional disappointments before landing the part of Rachel Green on a show called Friends at the age of 52,” he said with a laugh. “But by the time that show ended its run she had obtained five real-life friends, a permanent place in America’s heart and what we in the business refer to as ‘Seinfeld money.’ … Ladies and gentlemen, the people of Hollywood, the great Jeneefer Anistuffelupagus!”
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August 2018
“Had a blast with this young lady!” Sandler wrote via Instagram after filming Murder Mystery with Aniston.
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May 2019
The longtime pals gushed over their connection during a joint appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! “We were friends before Friends,” Aniston teased, confirming the pair met in the early ‘90s. “We must’ve been real family in another life.”
Sandler agreed, saying that the Mother’s Day actress is “the best” and someone that he’s “real comfortable” with after years of knowing each other.
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June 2019
The pair joined forces for Netflix’s Murder Mystery, playing husband and wife duo Nick and Audrey Spitz. In the film, the couple find themselves on the run in Europe after they are framed for murder.
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June 2019
“We do enjoy each other’s company. We like acting together,” Sandler told NBC News while promoting Murder Mystery. “I always talk about how great she is as costar. I always feel alive during every scene. We have a great time together.”
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November 2019
“You are an icon, so thanks for still doing movies with me,” the Saturday Night Live alum told Aniston as he presented her with the 2019 People’s Icon Award at the People’s Choice Awards.
The We’re the Millers actress gushed over their friendship during her speech, saying, “Adam! When did you get so mushy? Oh, my God, I love this man with all my heart. This is one of the kindest human beings you’ll ever meet.”
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January 2020
“Congrats to the great @jenniferaniston for her SAG award and her just being the best,” Sandler wrote via social media after the Morning Show actress took home the trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Drama Series.
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October 2020
The comedian got real about his favorite TV wives, Drew Barrymore and Aniston, during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show. Sandler has worked with both women on multiple projects, which has sparked social media debates on which actress is his perfect onscreen match.
“I love you and you know I love Aniston. We’re all great friends. And some debate sounded nuts to me,” Sandler told Barrymore, who replied, “I loved it. Because what I wanted to say was respond and say, ‘I would pick her too.’ And let everyone know that we’re, like, a triangle.”
The Happy Gilmore actor confessed: “Somehow I lucked into both of your lives and I’m staying there.”
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December 2021
The Grown Ups actor revealed that Aniston works in tandem with his wife to make sure he’s eating healthy when they collaborate together. “She’s certainly not afraid to have me show up on a set, and in my trailer is a whole bunch of whatever shake I should be drinking and it’s usually green,” Sandler told the Hollywood Reporter of his longtime friend. “And I actually drink it so I can look her in the eye.”
He added: “She and my wife have a nice time tag-teaming to try to make me a healthier human being. Like, they want me to stretch more — eventually be able to touch my toes, which I’m about 9 inches away from.”
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April 2022
The duo documented their time in Paris filming Murder Mystery 2.
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May 2022
The Friends alum was one of the many famous faces at Sandler’s daughter Sunny’s bat mitzvah.
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March 2023
The twosome reunited on screen for Netflix’s Murder Mystery 2.
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March 2023
The Cake actress revealed that Sandler isn’t afraid to call her out for her relationship choices. “If I get anything from him, it’s ‘What are you doing?'” Aniston told Jimmy Fallon during an appearance on The Tonight Show. “Usually based on someone I’m dating.”
The Emmy winner, however, confessed that she also tells Sandler the truth about aspects of his life. “I very much love to take care of him,” she explained. “He’s so concerned with taking care of everybody else, which he really does, and he doesn’t take care of himself.”
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August 2023
Aniston told .WSJ Magazine that Sandler and his wife send her flowers every Mother’s Day. (The actress had previously opened up about infertility struggles.)
