No one is a bigger fan of Adam Sandler than Jennifer Aniston.
Former Friends actress presented the longtime friend and frequent co-star with the People’s Icon Award at Sunday’s 2024 People’s Choice Awards.
“I’m here tonight to honor a very good friend of mine. My brother from another mother. And an amazing father, husband, and one of the most loyal friends you could ever, ever have,” began Aniston, 55. “People’s icon, Adam Sandler! ”
“No, sit down, Adam, I’m not done! Sit down!” she continued after Sandler, 57, rose from his seat in the audience. “Can’t wait to get up there! I love you.”
“I mean, The Sandman. Who’s more iconic than Adam Sandler, seriously?” Aniston asked the cheering audience from her seat at the microphone on stage.
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Adam Sandler accepts the People’s Choice Award.
Rich Polk/NBC/Getty
Lenny Kravitz will receive the People’s Music Icon Award at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards.
The actress went on to give a brief summary of Sandler’s body of work, from its beginning in Saturday night live to his comedies and dramas, music tours and everything in between.
“And yet, in all of this extraordinary success, he’s stuck to his roots; he’s never strayed from the friends he’s had for 35 years and counting,” she said. “He’s created a world where he brings them into his movies — he actually hangs out with his friends all day. And it doesn’t hurt that his friends are some of the most talented and funniest writers and actors.”
“Being his friend was one of the greatest joys of my life,” Aniston continued. “I’m proud to honor him tonight and I’d love to continue to honor him for decades and decades because he deserves all the love in the world.”
After the crowd played a reel of some of Sandler’s best-known work, Aniston introduced him: “Please say hello to the people’s icon, Adam Sandler!”
Sandler is the sixth recipient of the People’s Icon Award, following Aniston, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Melissa McCarthy and Ryan Reynolds.
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Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston. Steve Granitz/WireImage Inside Jennifer Aniston and Adam Sandler’s Friendship: ‘We Must Have Been Family in Another Life’
Aniston and Sandler starred in the film for the first time Keep going (2011) before reuniting for Netflix A murder mystery (2019) play a married couple caught in the middle of an argument.
Speaking to PEOPLE at the film’s Los Angeles premiere Murder mystery 2 last April, Sandler shared the story of his first impression of Aniston, after they first met decades ago.
We had breakfast together and I thought she was funny as hell, Sandler said. “Then I saw her a few more times and she always… made me happy when I saw her.”
“We have each other’s backs,” Aniston interjected. “We care about each other. Neutral, we deeply respect each other.”
The 2024 People’s Choice Awards, hosted by Sim Liu, airs live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California on NBC and E!, and is carried on Peacock.
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Source: HIS Education