Adam Sandler’s longtime manager, Sanford “Sandy” Wernick, has passed away at the age of 86 following a brief illness.
Wernick died on Thursday in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by family and loved ones. He served as a talent manager and partner along with senior executive vice president at Brillstein Entertainment Partners.
A private service will occur in Palm Desert, followed by a memorial celebration in Los Angeles to celebrate his legacy.
Connection to Adam Sandler
Sandler drew inspiration from Wernick for his role in the 2017 Netflix film Sandy Wexler, where he portrayed a 1990s Los Angeles talent manager helping launch the career of a talented young singer played by Jennifer Hudson. Wernick appeared in a cameo in the movie.
During his tenure managing Sandler, Wernick acted as executive producer on several of the comedian’s successful films, including Billy Madison (1995), Happy Gilmore (1996), Bulletproof (1996), and The Wedding Singer (1998).
Other Notable Clients
Beyond Sandler, Wernick represented talents such as Jeff Ross, Lorne Michaels, Rob Schneider, Tim Herlihy, and Colin Quinn.
