Big Daddy is a 1999 comedy film starring Adam Sandler as Sonny Koufax, a lazy law school graduate who adopts a five-year-old boy to impress his girlfriend. The film was a huge hit, grossing over $234 million worldwide and becoming Sandler’s highest-grossing film at the time. It also featured a talented ensemble of supporting actors, such as Joey Lauren Adams, Jon Stewart, Rob Schneider, Leslie Mann, and the Sprouse twins. But what happened to the Big Daddy cast after the film’s success? How did their careers and lives change over the years?
In this article, we will take a look at the Big Daddy cast then and now, and see what they have been up to since the film’s release. You might be surprised by some of the transformations and achievements of these actors. Let’s get started!
Adam Sandler as Sonny Koufax
Adam Sandler was already a well-known comedian and actor when he starred as Sonny Koufax, the immature protagonist of Big Daddy. He had previously been featured in movies such as “Billy Madison,” “Happy Gilmore,” “The Wedding Singer,” and “The Waterboy.” Big Daddy was his first film under his production company, Happy Madison Productions, which he founded in 1999.
Since Big Daddy, Sandler has continued to be one of the most prolific and successful actors in Hollywood, starring in dozens of films, such as Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, Click, Grown Ups, Hotel Transylvania, and Uncut Gems. He has also ventured into drama, earning critical acclaim for his performances in Punch-Drunk Love, Spanglish, Reign Over Me, and The Meyerowitz Stories. He has won several awards, including a Golden Globe nomination, an Independent Spirit Award, and a People’s Choice Award.
Sandler is also known for his musical comedy, having released several albums and songs, such as The Chanukah Song, The Thanksgiving Song, and I Wanna Grow Old With You. Adam Sandler has been a host on Saturday Night Live on four occasions, with his most recent appearance being in 2019. During this episode, he honored his deceased colleague and fellow actor Chris Farley.
Sandler is currently married to actress Jackie Sandler, whom he first met while filming the movie Big Daddy. Together, they have two daughters named Sadie and Sunny.
Sandler often casts his wife and children in his films, as well as his friends and former co-stars, such as Rob Schneider, David Spade, Kevin James, Steve Buscemi, and Jon Stewart. He is also an avid basketball fan and a supporter of various charities, such as the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Stand Up To Cancer campaign.
Joey Lauren Adams as Layla Maloney
Joey Lauren Adams played Layla Maloney, Sonny’s girlfriend who breaks up with him after he refuses to commit to their relationship. She later becomes a lawyer and helps Sonny in his custody battle for Julian. Before this, Adams had acted in Kevin Smith’s movies Mallrats and Chasing Amy. Her performance in the latter resulted in a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
She also appeared in Coneheads, Dazed and Confused, and Bio-Dome. After Big Daddy, Adams continued to act in films such as Beautiful, The Break-Up, and Trucker. She also made guest appearances on TV shows such as Grey’s Anatomy, The L Word: Generation Q, and Still the King, which she also directed two episodes of.
In 2006, Adams made her directorial debut with Come Early Morning, a drama starring Ashley Judd as a woman who struggles with her past and her relationships. The film earned positive feedback and a nomination for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival.
Adams has been married to Brian Vilim, an actor and producer, since 2014. She also enjoys country music and contributed two songs that she wrote and sang to the Sleep with Me soundtrack.
Rob Schneider as Nazo
Rob Schneider played Nazo, the delivery guy who befriends Sonny and helps him take care of Julian. He also provides some comic relief with his catchphrase “You can do it!”
Before his appearance in the film Big Daddy cast, Schneider was already a renowned comedian and actor. He was a writer and Big Daddy cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1988 to 1994, which made him famous. He also played memorable roles in movies like Surf Ninjas, Judge Dredd, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.
After Big Daddy, Schneider went on to star in several comedy films, most of them produced by his friend Adam Sandler. He is best known for his roles in Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo and its sequel, The Animal, The Hot Chick, The Benchwarmers, and Big Stan. In addition, he made brief appearances in numerous films starring Adam Sandler, including The Waterboy, Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds, 50 First Dates, and Grown Ups.
Schneider is also a stand-up comedian, having released several albums and specials, such as Registered Offender, Soy Sauce, the Holocaust, and Woke Up in America. He has also ventured into drama, starring in the Netflix series Real Rob, which he created, wrote, and directed. The show is loosely based on his life and features his wife Patricia and their daughter Miranda.
Schneider has three children from his three marriages. His first wife, London King, was a model and actress. Their daughter, Elle King, is a singer and songwriter. He divorced his second wife, Helena Schneider, a film producer, in 2005. He married Patricia Azarcoya Arce, a television producer and actress, in 2011. They have two daughters, Miranda and Madeline.
Leslie Mann as Corinne Maloney
Leslie Mann played Corinne Maloney, Layla’s sister and Sonny’s love interest. She is a lawyer who initially dislikes Sonny but later falls for his charm and sincerity.
Mann had previously starred in The Cable Guy, where she met her future husband Judd Apatow, who was a producer on the film. She also appeared in George of the Jungle, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, and Knocked Up, which were all directed by Apatow.
After Big Daddy, Mann continued to act in comedies, such as Funny People, This Is 40, The Other Woman, and Blockers. She also lent her voice to animated films, such as Mr. Peabody & Sherman, Rio 2, and The Croods: A New Age. She received positive reviews and award nominations for her performances, especially for This Is 40, which was based on her marriage with Apatow.
Mann and Apatow have been married since 1997 and have two daughters, Maude and Iris, who frequently appear in their films. Mann is also involved in various charities, such as the UCLA Rape Treatment Center, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, and the Children’s Defense Fund
Dylan and Cole Sprouse as Julian McGrath
Dylan and Cole Sprouse shared the role of Julian McGrath, the adorable five-year-old boy who is adopted by Sonny. Julian, also known as Frankenstein, is a sweet and innocent kid who loves ketchup, Halloween, and Scuba Steve.
Big Daddy was the first major film role for the Sprouse twins, who were only six years old at the time. They had previously appeared in a few commercials and TV shows, such as Grace Under Fire and Mad TV.
After Big Daddy was cast, the Sprouse twins continued to act in films and TV shows, such as The Astronaut’s Wife, The Master of Disguise, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and That’s So Raven. They also voiced characters in animated films and video games, such as The Nightmare Before Christmas: Oogie’s Revenge, Holidaze: The Christmas That Almost Didn’t Happen, and Kingdom Hearts.
In 2005, the Sprouse twins experienced their breakthrough when they were cast in the Disney Channel sitcom “The Suite Life of Zack & Cody.” They portrayed two mischievous twin brothers who reside in a hotel with their mother, and the show became immensely popular. This success led to a spin-off series titled “The Suite Life on Deck” and a movie called “The Suite Life Movie.” The Sprouse twins became teen idols and household names, earning millions of fans and dollars.
After the conclusion of The Suite Life on Deck in 2011, the Sprouse twins decided to temporarily step away from acting. They pursued higher education at New York University and completed their studies in 2015. Dylan’s major was in video game design, while Cole focused on archaeology.
Bottom Line
Big Daddy was a comedy film that made us laugh and cry with its heartwarming story and hilarious characters. The Big Daddy cast has come a long way since then, and we hope you enjoyed this update on their lives and careers.