How the Actors From “50 First Dates” Have Changed After 16 Years

In 2004, we all fell in love with the romantic comedy 50 First Dates and many even saw it more than once. Maybe one of the things that made it click with us was how much we admired Henry’s perseverance when pursuing Lucy. She woke up every morning believing it was October 13, 2002 because she was suffering from amnesia, meaning that she had lost her memory after that day. Still, Henry didn’t give up and made every date unique until he made her fall in love with him time and time again, despite the fact that she wouldn’t remember him the next day.

After 16 years, Bright Side thought that compiling some of the actor’s changes was a great way of paying tribute to this iconic rom-com. So let’s get to it! Check out what your favorite actors have been up to over the past few years.

1. Adam Sandler as Henry Roth

The lead actor from this comedy is the iconic Adam Sandler, who has starred in a number of Hollywood films that have made us laugh, cry, or both at the same time. During his career, Sandler has been involved in all aspects of film production. From helping screenwriters to develop their work to working as an executive producer in different shooting sessions, Sandler has proven his multifaceted approach to cinema. In 1999 he even founded his own production company called Happy Madison.

At 53, Sandler doesn’t seem to have aged much. In his spare time he likes to play music and, after starring together with Jennifer Aniston in the popular Netflix film Murder Mystery and shining in Uncut Gems, Sandler is now working on new film projects. In fact, he just signed a new contract with Netflix to release 4 new movies.

2. Drew Barrymore as Lucy Whitmore

Drew Barrymore, 45, has had a great track record on the big screen since she started acting when she was just a kid. In addition to playing Lucy in 50 First Dates, she and Adam Sandler have also made an excellent couple in other well-known romantic comedies like The Wedding Singer and Blended, which was produced by Happy Madison.

Not only does Barrymore stand out in her role as a comedian, but later in her career she also proved her versatility and talent as a director, producer, and even as a photographer. On her Instagram account — with more than 13 million followers — she shows her life and activities in a very natural way. She often uploads new videos to share anecdotes and everyday situations with her fans.

3. Rob Schneider as Ula

Rob Schneider, now 56, began his career as a comedian while graduating from high school. He is generally known for playing humorous characters. Schneider has never been without work and always manages to bring out smiles among fans. The last project he took part in was The Wrong Missy, an American comedy that premiered on Netflix on May 13, 2020, in which he plays a character named Komante.

4. Sean Astin as Douglas ’Doug’ Whitmore

Sean Astin, 49, has also had a long and fruitful career in the world of acting. He landed his first acting role in 1981 in a TV movie called Please Don’t Hit Me, Mom and from then on he’s hardly ever stopped working. One of his most important roles was of course in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003), where he played one of the main characters, Sam, Frodo’s faithful friend and sidekick.

On his website, Astin defines himself as an actor, director, producer, runner, activist, writer, husband, and father. That’s because in addition to acting, Astin has other passions, like being a long-distance marathon runner and he has also served as a board member of several non-profit organizations with the interest of raising awareness about mental health and helping to promote civic engagement.

5. Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Keats

Dan Aykroyd, 67, is a Canadian writer, actor, singer, and screenwriter who, thanks to his many film roles, has become a renowned comedian. But just like any good actor, his versatility has led him to take part in various projects and other film genres like drama, which included the film Driving Miss Daisy, for example.

His latest project is still in the works — the highly anticipated Ghostbusters: Afterlife, often referred to as “Ghostbusters 3,” where he plays Dr. Raymond Stantz. This film is intended to be released in March 2021. Besides acting, he has also stood out as a musician and has recorded many blues albums.

6. Lusia Strus as Alexa

Lusia Strus, 50, was born in Chicago, but actually comes from a Ukrainian family. Her career has managed to successfully combine theatre and film for almost 2 decades. However, her most recognized role in the film industry remains precisely the one she played in 50 First Dates as Henry’s (Adam Sandler) eccentric assistant.

7. Blake Clark as Marlin Whitmore

Blake Clark, 74, has devoted himself to comedy and voice acting and has worked on films like Toy Story 3 and Toy Story 4, where he voiced the dog, Slinky. It’s not uncommon to see him in other comedies that star Adam Sandler.

For the last 20 years, Clark has been performing in stand-up shows for different comedy clubs and on shows like The Tonight Show and many HBO comedy specials. In addition, he has made several special appearances and starred in over 50 movies and TV shows.

8. Amy Hill as Sue

Amy Hill, 67, is an American film and theater actress. She’s of Japanese and Finnish descent. In addition to live acting and performances (which were actually her main activity before entering Hollywood), she has also done voiceovers for various animated series and films like Lilo & Stitch.

Currently, Hill is still up and running and appears regularly as Mama P on Amazon’s Just Add Magic. She also appears in the series Unreal where she plays Dr. Wagerstein, broadcast by the Lifetime cable network and in the romantic comedy musical Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, as Lourdes Chan.

9. Allen Covert as Ten-Second Tom

Allen Covert, 55, is actually very close to Adam Sandler in real life. They studied together in college and have not been apart since, so it has become common for Covert to partner with him on several of his productions. In addition to being a comedian, he is also a screenwriter and producer. In 2006, Covert starred in the comedy Grandma’s Boy, produced by Sandler. This was his first (and only) leading role.

In recent years, Covert has not appeared in many films. However, he has been actively working behind the scenes for Adam Sandler’s production company, Happy Madison. There, he has undertaken many roles, starting off as a co-writer, to later become an executive producer and even a composer of original soundtracks for films.

10. Maya Rudolph as Stacy

Maya Rudolph, 47, in addition to being an actress and comedian, is also a singer and vocal artist. For example, in 2019, she gave a voice to Matilda in The Angry Birds Movie 2. Rudolph has been in a relationship with director Paul Thomas Anderson since 2001 and they have 4 children together.

She has over 475,000 followers on her Instagram account and publishes photos and videos about her life and performances there.

11. Pomaika’i Brown as Nick

Pomaika’i Brown, who is 59 years old now, played the peculiar chef in 50 First Dates. However, his main profession is not that of an actor — he’s actually a musician. He began his musical career playing the ukulele as early as the age of 12.

Currently, Brown and his wife Toni run their own production company called Hollywood Brown Entertainment. They specialize in producing contemporary Polynesian music, television productions, and live folkloric shows for a very exclusive clientele.

Does this romantic comedy bring back any special memories for you? What were your favorite scenes? Do you know anyone who has experienced a comparable situation to the film in real life? Let us know in the comments!