Adam Sandler Says He’s ‘More Thankful Than Ever’ as He Nears 60: It’s ‘Been a Very Cool Life’ (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW

• Adam Sandler opened up about aging and his life as he approaches 60 while speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of his new movie, Jay Kelly

• The star said that he is “more thankful than I’ve ever been” about life, adding that he is thrilled to be with his family, including wife Jackie Sandler and their daughters Sadie and Sunny

• Jay Kelly, out in theaters on Nov. 14 and on Netflix Dec. 5, is drumming up Oscar buzz for Adam

Adam Sandler is feeling grateful as he approaches a landmark birthday.

The Jay Kelly star turned 59 on Sept. 9. With his 60th birthday less than a year away, Sandler tells PEOPLE that he’s “just more thankful than I’ve ever been” while attending the movie’s Los Angeles premiere at the Egyptian Theater on Tuesday, Nov 11.

Continuing, he explains, “Happy I got to do this life, happy all the people who’ve been with me during all this stuff, and helped me out, and just been a phenomenal time.”

“My whole family’s always been great to me. My wife and I talk about stuff, and what to do, and what to do next, and it’s just been a very cool life. I’ve had a great time on the streets, saying, ‘Hi,’ to kids. And people watch the movies, nothing makes me feel better,” he gushes.

Sandler credits his wife, Jackie Sandler, for a great deal of his happiness in life, saying, “We’re very close. We like to talk, like to laugh, like to have fun, and like to think about things and take care of our kids.”

The couple met in 1999 on the set of Adam’s movie Big Daddy, which Jackie appeared in. They exchanged vows four years later on June 22, 2003.

Jackie and their daughters — Sadie, 19, and Sunny, 17 — joined Adam at the premiere. The happy quartet posed for photos together. While Adam opted for a navy blue suit, which he paired with a lilac shirt and a purple tie, all three women coordinated in monochromatic black.

Adam, who is notorious for his more casual sense of style, has dressed up while promoting his new movie, which premieres in theaters on Friday, Nov. 14 and arrives on Netflix on Dec. 5.

“It’s been horrendous,” the actor admitted to Entertainment Tonight about his more traditional wardrobe while promoting the movie with costar Laura Dern. “I don’t like the feeling.”

He continued, saying, “I think I only have three different suits, and one of them I don’t like.”

For him, there’s not a single draw to putting on the more traditional red carpet look. He explained, saying, “I can’t stand the pants. I can’t stand the jackets, the stupid shirts. Hate them all.”

In September, Adam’s other Jay Kelly costar, George Clooney, told PEOPLE that he has been partly responsible for the Uncut Gems star’s style evolution.

“I actually [have] been making Adam wear suits,” he admitted, asking, “Don’t you think he looks nicer instead of those big baggy shorts?”

Clooney complimented his costar, adding, “I love him. He’s the sweetest man in the world. He’s a dear friend and the fact that I got to work with him again is [great].”

In the movie, Clooney plays an unhappy movie star, while Adam is his manager.

“Everybody knows Jay Kelly, but Jay Kelly doesn’t know himself,” a tagline for the movie reads.

According to a synopsis, the film “follows famous movie actor Jay Kelly (Clooney) and his devoted manager Ron (Sandler) as they embark on a whirlwind and unexpectedly profound journey through Europe. Along the way, both men are forced to confront the choices they’ve made, the relationships with their loved ones, and the legacies they’ll leave behind.”

The role is drumming up Oscars buzz for Adam, who tells PEOPLE that the chatter is “real cool and real nice.”

However, he adds, “I’m just happy I got to be in it,” saying, “My man Noah Baumbach wrote it, kind of put it all together, got the performances he wanted out of everybody, and I’m proud to be in it.”

Read the original article on People