Kathy Bates almost skipped The Waterboy: 'I didn't know Adam Sandler'
Synopsis
Kathy Bates nearly passed on one of her most iconic roles — she binned The Waterboy script after just 12 pages because she had never heard of Adam Sandler. It was her niece's insistence on 'The Chanukah Song' that saved the role of Mama Boucher, and arguably one of the film's most memorable performances.
Key Takeaways
Kathy Bates discarded the script for The Waterboy (1998) after reading just 12 pages , unfamiliar with Adam Sandler .
Her niece retrieved the script from the bin and convinced her by referencing Sandler's The Chanukah Song , first performed on Saturday Night Live in 1994 .
Bates went on to play Mama Boucher , calling Sandler 'brilliant' and 'a genius'.
The film was directed by Frank Coraci and written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy .
Bates currently stars in the TV series Matlock and has spoken about the industry's changing landscape for actors.
Oscar-winning actress Kathy Bates has revealed she discarded the script for the 1998 sports comedy The Waterboy after reading just 12 pages — because she had no idea who Adam Sandler was. The admission, made in a candid interview with The Hollywood Reporter, sheds new light on how one of the film's most beloved performances nearly never happened.
How the Script Ended Up in the Bin
Bates, now 78, recalled her initial reaction to the screenplay with characteristic bluntness. '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.' Twelve pages I read and I thought, 'Oh man, I can't do this thing. This is ridiculous',' she said.
She tossed the script into the waste basket — only for her niece, who works alongside her, to retrieve it. 'She said, 'What is this?' So I said, 'It's a script that some kid Adam Sandler (wrote),' and she went, 'Adam Sandler! You don't know the Hanukkah song?'' Bates recounted.
The Chanukah Song That Changed Everything
The niece was referring to Sandler's novelty track The Chanukah Song, which he first performed on Saturday Night Live in 1994 and which had already made him a cultural phenomenon among younger audiences. The reference was enough to prompt Bates to give the script a second look.
'So I took another look at it, and I thought, well, I'll do this for Linda,' she said, referring to her niece by name.
No Regrets: 'He's a Genius'
Bates went on to play Mama Boucher, the fiercely overprotective mother of Sandler's socially awkward character Bobby Boucher — a role that became one of the film's most memorable. She has no regrets about the decision.
'Turns out we had the most fun. He's brilliant. He's a genius. I dove in the deep end and just had a great time. Just screwed around. And I loved working with him. That's when he first started really getting known and people really flocking to see him,' she said.
About The Waterboy
The Waterboy was directed by Frank Coraci and written by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy. The ensemble cast includes Fairuza Balk, Henry Winkler, Jerry Reed, Lawrence Gilliard Jr., Blake Clark, Peter Dante, and Jonathan Loughran.
Where Bates Is Now
The actress is currently starring in the TV series Matlock and has spoken openly about her gratitude for continued work as the entertainment industry undergoes significant structural shifts for actors. Her reflections on The Waterboy come as the film approaches its 27th anniversary and Sandler's cultural legacy only continues to grow.
Point of View
Even in Hollywood — a veteran Oscar winner had simply never encountered Sandler's SNL-era fame. What's more telling is that a niece's offhand reference to a novelty song, not the script itself, sealed the deal. It raises a quiet question about how many other casting near-misses of the 1990s came down to generational blind spots rather than creative judgment. As Sandler's critical rehabilitation accelerates — from Uncut Gems to his Netflix dominance — stories like this reframe what was once dismissed as lowbrow comedy into something more culturally significant.
NationPress
22 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Kathy Bates almost turn down The Waterboy?
Kathy Bates initially discarded the script after reading just 12 pages because she did not know who Adam Sandler was. She described the football-themed script as 'ridiculous' at first glance.
How did Kathy Bates end up taking the role in The Waterboy?
Her niece retrieved the script from the waste basket and convinced her by asking if she knew Sandler's Chanukah Song from Saturday Night Live. Bates agreed to take another look and ultimately accepted the role.
What role did Kathy Bates play in The Waterboy?
Bates played Mama Boucher, the fiercely overprotective mother of Adam Sandler's character Bobby Boucher in the 1998 sports comedy directed by Frank Coraci.
What does Kathy Bates think of Adam Sandler now?
Bates has praised Sandler unreservedly, calling him 'brilliant' and 'a genius' and saying the two had 'the most fun' on set. She has no regrets about taking the role.
What is Kathy Bates currently working on?
Bates currently stars in the TV series Matlock and has spoken about her gratitude for continued work amid significant changes in the acting industry in recent years.
