Adam Saunders

Last updated
Adam Saunders
Adam Saunders at San Diego International Film Festival.jpg
Saunders at San Diego International Film Festival - 2022
Education Duke University (BA)
Yale University (MFA)
Occupation(s)Actor, writer, director, and producer

Adam Saunders is an American actor, writer, director, [1] [2] and producer. He is the CEO and a founding member of Footprint Features. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Biography

Saunders graduated high school at Richardson High School, earned a drama degree from Duke University, and a master's in acting from the Yale School of Drama. [4] [5] [6]

In 2007, Saunders started Footprint Features, a Los Angeles-based production company. [3]

In 2011, Saunders produced and acted in Family Weekend , starring Kristin Chenoweth, and Joey King. The film was written by Matt K. Turner, directed by Benjamin Epps, and executive produced by the Bedford Falls Company. [7] In 2013, he produced and acted in About Alex , starring Aubrey Plaza, Max Greenfield, Jason Ritter, and Jane Levy, and written and directed by Jesse Zwick. The film was executive produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz and played at the 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival. [8] In 2017, he produced and acted in Oren Uziel's crime thriller Shimmer Lake which was named as Variety’s 2017 standout for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. [9]

In 2018, Saunders produced the Netflix romantic comedy When We First Met starring Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario, written by John Whittington (screenwriter) and directed by Ari Sandel. The film was produced alongside Mason Novick and Wonderland Sound and Vision. [10]

In 2022, Saunders made his directorial film debut with Dotty & Soul , [11] an indie comedy [6] in which he starred alongside Tony and Emmy winner Leslie Uggams. [2] [12] Dotty & Soul premiered at the 2022 San Diego Film Festival. [13] [14] In 2023, it sold to Showtime. [15]

Also in 2022, Saunders produced Darby and the Dead starring Riele Downs and Auli'i Cravalho for 20th Century Studios. The film was directed by Silas Howard, shot in Cape Town, South Africa and was released on December 2, 2022 on Hulu. [16] [17]

In 2023, Saunders signed on to star in the comedy Re-Election, alongside television icon Tony Danza and Bex Taylor-Klaus. [13] Re-Election was Saunders' second directorial effort. The film was set in Richardson, Texas and shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. [6]

Filmography

YearTitleDirectorProducerWriter
2013 Family Weekend NoYesNo
2014 About Alex NoYesNo
2017 Shimmer Lake NoYesNo
2018 When We First Met NoYesNo
2022 Darby and the Dead [4] NoYesNo
2022 Dotty & Soul YesYesYes
2024Re-ElectionYesYesYes

Acting roles

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Brendan Cory1 episode
2007-2008 The Game Waiter2 episodes
2008Meet Me in the GraveyardAce
2020 The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez Informant (voice)1 episode

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2011 The Roommate Handsome Guy
2013 Family Weekend Rick
2014 About Alex Night Editor
2017 Shimmer Lake State Trooper [5] [18]
2018ConfidenceBossShort film
2022 Dotty & Soul Ethan Cox [1] [6] [11] [19]
2024Re-ElectionJimmy Bauer [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andie MacDowell</span> American actress and model (born 1958)

Rosalie Anderson MacDowell is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell is known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. She has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lori Petty</span> American actress (born 1963)

Lori Petty is an American actress, director, and screenwriter. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1990 comedy film Cadillac Man and later starred in films Point Break (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), Free Willy (1993), In the Army Now (1994), The Glass Shield (1994) and played the title role in Tank Girl (1995). She created and starred in the short-lived Fox sitcom Lush Life in 1996 and acted in number of independent and smaller-scale movies in later career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie Uggams</span> American actress and singer (born 1943)

Leslie Marian Uggams is an American actress and singer. After beginning her career as a child in the early 1950s, she garnered acclaim for her role in the Broadway musical Hallelujah, Baby!, winning a Theatre World Award in 1967 and the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968. Uggams gained wider recognition for portraying Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries Roots (1977), earning Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations for her performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam Scott (actor)</span> American actor (born 1973)

Adam Paul Scott is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Ben Wyatt in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation, for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He has also appeared as Derek Huff in the film Step Brothers, Johnny Meyer in The Aviator, Henry Pollard in the Starz sitcom Party Down, Ed Mackenzie in the HBO series Big Little Lies, and Trevor in the NBC series The Good Place. In 2022, he began starring in the Apple TV+ psychological drama series Severance, for which he received numerous award nominations, including for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, as well as best actor nominations from the Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, Critics' Choice, and more.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leslie Jordan</span> American actor, comedian, writer and singer (1955–2022)

Leslie Allen Jordan was an American actor, comedian, writer, and singer. His television roles include Beverley Leslie on Will & Grace, several characters on television in the American Horror Story franchise (2013–2019), Sid on The Cool Kids (2018–2019), Phil on Call Me Kat (2021–2022), and Lonnie Garr on Hearts Afire (1993–1995). On stage, he played Earl "Brother Boy" Ingram in the 1996 play Sordid Lives, later portraying the character in the 2000 film of the same name. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jordan became an Instagram contributor, amassing 5.8 million followers in 2020, and published his autobiography How Y'all Doing? Misadventures and Mischief from a Life Well Lived in April 2021.

Lillian Irene Hayman was an American actress and singer. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Hayman was known for her role as Sadie Gray in the ABC television soap opera One Life to Live (1968–1986). She was also a notable actress on Broadway, originating roles in several new musicals including Doctor Jazz, Hallelujah, Baby!, 70, Girls, 70, and Kwamina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rhys Darby</span> New Zealand actor and comedian

Rhys Montague Darby is a New Zealand actor and comedian, known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime, and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals. He was nominated for the Billy T Award in 2001 and 2002. He also won the 2012 Fred (Dagg) award at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, for best NZ show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alley Mills</span> American actress

Allison Mills, also known as Alley Bean, is an American actress, known for her roles on television. She starred as Norma Arnold, in the coming-of-age ABC comedy series, The Wonder Years (1988–1993). In 2006 she began playing the role of Pamela Douglas, the sister of the late Forrester matriarch Stephanie Forrester, on the CBS soap operaThe Bold and the Beautiful. From 2022 to 2024, Mills also portrayed antagonistic Heather Webber on the ABC soap opera, General Hospital, for which she received a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diablo Cody</span> American writer and producer

Brook Maurio, known professionally as by the pen name Diablo Cody, is an American writer and producer. She gained recognition for her candid blog and subsequent memoir, Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unlikely Stripper (2005). Cody received critical acclaim for her screenwriting debut film, Juno (2007), winning both the Academy Award and the BAFTA Award for Best Original Screenplay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keli Price</span> American film producer and actor

Keli Price is an American actor, film producer, and musician known for executive producing the biographical crime film Bandit (2022), and for his roles as Bobby Love in Nickelodeon's The Naked Brothers Band "Battle of The Bands" (2007) TV movie episode, and Chris Abeley in the Warner Bros. film The Clique (2008), based on the best-selling young adult book series of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexandra Daddario</span> American actress (born 1986)

Alexandra Anna Daddario is an American actress. She had her breakthrough portraying Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson film series (2010–2013). She has since starred as Paige in Hall Pass (2011), Heather Miller in Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013), Blake Gaines in San Andreas (2015), Summer Quinn in Baywatch (2017), and Alexis Butler in We Summon the Darkness (2019).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Schilling</span> American actress (born 1984)

Taylor Jane Schilling is an American actress. She is known for her role as Piper Chapman on the Netflix original comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black (2013–2019), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series and two Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actress – Television Series Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Television Series Drama. She made her film debut in the 2007 drama Dark Matter. She also starred as Nurse Veronica Flanagan Callahan in the short-lived NBC medical drama Mercy (2009–2010). Her other films include Atlas Shrugged: Part I (2011), the romantic drama The Lucky One (2012), the comedy Take Me (2017), and the science-fiction thriller The Titan (2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adam DeVine</span> American actor, comedian and writer (born 1983)

Adam Patrick DeVine is an American actor, comedian, producer and screenwriter. He is one of the stars and co-creators of the Comedy Central comedy television series Workaholics and Adam DeVine's House Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dotty Cotton</span> Fictional character from EastEnders

Kirsty "Dotty" Cotton is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Molly Conlin from 2008 to 2010 and Milly Zero from 2019 to 2022. She was introduced on 26 December 2008 as the daughter of established character Nick Cotton. Nick uses Dotty as his partner-in-crime; they plan to kill his mother Dot Branning and inherit the money from her will. She and Dot subsequently become close after Dotty sabotages Nick's murder attempt at the last minute. In her final storyline which aired on 23 February 2010, she left with her mother Sandy, who she believed died. On 3 October 2019, Dotty returned, with the role recast to Milly Zero. In December 2021, Sandy tells her that she is not Nick's daughter and that her father is Tom "Rocky" Cotton. However, in September 2022, this is revealed to be a lie. On 13 November 2022, it was announced that Zero had quit the show and Dotty left on 16 December 2022.

<i>When We First Met</i> 2018 American film

When We First Met is a 2018 American romantic comedy film directed by Ari Sandel, written by John Whittington, and starring Adam DeVine, Alexandra Daddario, Shelley Hennig, Andrew Bachelor and Robbie Amell. It was released worldwide on Netflix on February 9, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kevin J. Walsh</span> American film producer

Kevin J. Walsh is an American film and TV producer. Walsh is best known for producing the critically acclaimed films Napoleon, House of Gucci, and Manchester by the Sea, in which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture with Matt Damon, Kimberly Steward, Chris Moore, and Lauren Beck. The film received 18 major award nominations and won two Academy Awards.

<i>Darby and the Dead</i> 2022 film directed by Silas Howard

Darby and the Dead is a 2022 American supernatural teen comedy film directed by Silas Howard, written by Wenonah Wilms and Becca Greene, and starring Riele Downs as Darby Harper, along with Auliʻi Cravalho, Chosen Jacobs, Asher Angel, Wayne Knight, Derek Luke, and Tony Danza.

<i>Palm Royale</i> 2024 comedy-drama television series

Palm Royale is a period comedy-drama television series created by Abe Sylvia, based on the 2018 novel Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel. The series premiered on March 20, 2024, with the first three episodes on Apple TV+. The series was renewed for a second season in June 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vivica A. Fox filmography</span>

Vivica Anjanetta Fox is an American actress, producer, director and television host. She appeared in more than 250 feature films, made-for-television movies, and television series. She produced more than 40 feature and television films.

<i>Dotty & Soul</i> Comedy film by Adam Saunders

Dotty & Soul is an 2022 American comedy film written and directed by Adam Saunders in his directorial debut. The Paramount+ with Showtime film stars Leslie Uggams, Saunders, David Koechner and Gary Owen. The film follows Ethan Cox (Saunders), the owner of a self-driving car company, who finds himself cancelled when his controversial Halloween costume grabs the attention of the public on social media and puts his career at risk. To mitigate the damage, he hires Dotty (Uggams), a 71-year-old snack cart vendor, as the company's new CEO.

References

  1. 1 2 Philbrick, Jami (2023-05-19). "Leslie Uggams Talks 'Dotty and Soul' and playing Blind Al in 'Deadpool 3'". Moviefone. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. 1 2 White, Armond (2023-05-19). "The Wit and Resistance of Dotty & Soul". National Review. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  3. 1 2 "North Texas producer screens debut feature 'Family Weekend'". Dallas News. 2013-03-26. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  4. 1 2 3 Yanes, Nicholas (2023-01-09). "Adam Saunders on his career and producing "Darby and the Dead"". SciFiPulse.Net. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  5. 1 2 3 Peterson, Aaron B. (2017-06-09). "Interview with Producer Adam Saunders | Netflix's Shimmer Lake". The Hollywood Outsider - Film and Television Podcast | Reviews. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Jorgenson, Todd (2023-05-18). "Dallas Native Adam Saunders Wants to Use Social Satire to Reexamine Our Priorities". D Magazine. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  7. "Family Weekend: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  8. Chang, Justin (2014-08-09). "Film Review: 'About Alex'". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  9. Tapley, Kristopher; Riley, Jenelle (2017-06-22). "Oscars: 13 Deserving Contenders From 2017 So Far". Variety. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
  10. Sandel, Ari (2018-02-09), When We First Met (Comedy, Fantasy, Romance), Adam Devine, Alexandra Daddario, Shelley Hennig, Footprint Features, Wonderland Sound and Vision, MXN Entertainment, retrieved 2024-03-20
  11. 1 2 Witherspoon, Patrice (2022-10-24). "Dotty & Soul Review: Saunders' Timely Feature Debut Is Heartfelt & Humorous". ScreenRant. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  12. Bruno, Yanette (2023-04-29). "NYC Screening of Film Dotty & Soul". The Knockturnal. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  13. 1 2 3 Grobar, Matt (2023-03-31). "Tony Danza & Bex Taylor-Klaus To Star Opposite Adam Saunders In His Indie Comedy 'Re-Election'". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  14. Billington, Alex (2023-04-14). "Leslie Uggams Takes Over a Company in Comedy 'Dotty & Soul' Trailer | FirstShowing.net". www.firstshowing.net. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  15. "Dotty & Soul | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. 2023-05-19. Retrieved 2024-02-28.
  16. Yanes, Nicholas (2023-01-09). "Adam Saunders on his career and producing "Darby and the Dead"". SciFiPulse.Net. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  17. "Adam Saunders | Actor, Producer, Writer". IMDb. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
  18. "Adam Saunders | Movies and Filmography". AllMovie. Retrieved 2024-02-25.
  19. "Adam Saunders | Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved 2024-02-25.