Adam Sandler Reveals Kathy Bates Almost Declined 'The Waterboy' Role

The iconic mother-and-son duo in the 1990s film almost never made it to the screen.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Adam Sandler shared that Kathy Bates, who played his mother in the 1998 film The Waterboy, initially wanted to turn down the role after reading just the first page of the script. However, Bates reconsidered after someone close to her encouraged her to fully read the script, and she ended up accepting the part, which she later called "one of my favorite all-time experiences."

Why it matters

The Waterboy was a major hit in the late 1990s, and the dynamic between Sandler and Bates as mother and son was a key part of the film's success. Sandler and Bates' close working relationship and Bates' initial hesitation to take on the role provide an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the making of the beloved comedy.

The details

Sandler revealed that when they sent Bates the script for The Waterboy, she "kind of read the first page and went [shrugs] threw it in the garbage." However, someone close to Bates encouraged her to give the script another chance, and after fully reading it, she decided to accept the role as Mama Boucher, the fiercely protective mother of Sandler's character, Bobby Boucher.

  • In 2024, Bates shared a similar story on The Drew Barrymore Show, recalling that she had made it to at least page 12 in her initial read-through before tossing the script.

The players

Adam Sandler

An American actor, comedian, screenwriter, film producer, and musician who starred as Bobby Boucher in The Waterboy.

Kathy Bates

An American actress who played the role of Mama Boucher, the mother of Sandler's character, in The Waterboy.

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What they’re saying

“I remember we sent Kathy Bates the script for The Waterboy to play my Mama. I don't know if I have the story 100% right, but apparently she kind of read the first page and went [shrugs] threw it in the garbage.”

— Adam Sandler (Parade)

“The guy who works with Kathy, picked it up and read it and said, 'Kathy, I think you should read that script. It's pretty funny.'”

— Adam Sandler (Parade)

“one of my favorite all-time experiences.”

— Kathy Bates (The Drew Barrymore Show)

The takeaway

This behind-the-scenes story about the making of The Waterboy highlights the close working relationship between Sandler and Bates, and how a simple recommendation from someone close to Bates led her to reconsider and ultimately embrace a role that became iconic in the beloved 1990s comedy.