Kathy Bates shared a surprising story about “The Waterboy,” admitting that she initially threw out the script and had no idea who Adam Sandler was. The Oscar-winning actress almost passed on the hit comedy before reconsidering and joining the project. The two eventually formed a real bond, with Bates reflecting warmly on her experiences working with Sandler.
Kathy Bates is considered one of the most versatile actresses in Hollywood, and she has built a versatile career in various roles in different genres. When she received the script for “The Waterboy,” which Adam Sandler co-wrote, she gave it a chance but threw it away after reading a few pages.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reportersaid the actress, “I didn’t know who Adam Sandler was, and I got a script. It was a football script, and I was like, ‘Oh, let’s give me a football.’ I read twelve pages and I thought, ‘Oh man, I can’t do this. This is ridiculous.”
“The Waterboy” follows Bobby Boucher (Sandler), a socially awkward 31-year-old working as a water boy for a college football team, who discovers an unexpected talent for tackling.
Bates threw the script in the trash and her niece, who worked with her, found it. Luckily, her niece knew Sandler. “So I looked at it again and thought, I’ll do this for Linda,” Bates said.
The actress had the most fun on set
Bates agreed to play Helen “Mama” Boucher, Bobby’s devoutly Christian, overprotective and domineering mother who provides him with shelter.
“It turns out we’re having the most fun. He’s brilliant. He’s a genius,” Bates said of Sandler. “I dove in and just had a great time. I just messed around. And I loved working with him,” she continued.
Bates recalled Sandler’s reaction after the film’s release in 1998. “We made $34 million in one weekend.” He was so surprised. It was a lot of fun,” she said.
“The Waterboy” was a success, earning $185 million at the worldwide box office on a budget of $23 million.
Adam Sandler knew Kathie Bates threw out his script
At the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in February Sandler recalled how Bates almost passed on the role of Mama Boucher. “I remember we sent Kathy Bates the script for ‘The Waterboy’ to play my mother. I don’t know if I have the story 100% correct, but apparently she read the first page and threw it in the trash,” Sandler said.
After Bates agreed to participate in the film, she met with Sandler to talk about the film. The latter said he enjoyed spending time with the award-winning actress, adding that they had forged a true friendship. Sandler also revealed that when he has a serious role, Bates calls him to provide support and encouragement. “We are very close. I love her very much,” Sandler said.
What the actress said to Adam Sandler about his critics
Sandler knew that not everyone would like the films he made. When “The Waterboy” came out, he had already made other films, such as “Billy Madison” and “Happy Gilmore,” and read the negative reviews.
On the “Happy sad confusedpodcast in 2022, Sandler told host Josh Horowitz that after filming, people would tell him how critics would feel about the movie. “And I’d say, ‘Oh no, no, they’re going to say bad things, and they’re probably going to say bad things about you being in it,’” Sandler said.
The “SNL” alum then recalled talking to Bates about it and telling her that she probably shouldn’t read the “bad things” about “The Waterboy.” “She said, ‘I liked it, so that’s all that matters,’ or something like that. She was cool,” Sandler said of Bates.
Kathy Bates and Adam Sandler support each other
Bates and Sandler have remained closely linked over the years. In 2020, there was a lot of fuss surrounding Sandler after he was snubbed from the Academy Awards. Many felt he deserved a Best Actor nomination for his role in “Uncut Gems.” That same year, Bates was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Richard Jewell.”
Sandler tweeted that he “got no love from the Academy,” but congratulated the other nominees and gave a special shoutout to Mama Boucher.
In response, Bates wrote, “I love you my Bobby Boucher!!! You got robbed!! But momma loves you!!! I learned a new urban slang word for you! You da GOAT!! Not the one we eat at home, son.”
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