Sandler offers help to gay-rights groups

Sandler offers help
to gay-rights groups

MEXICO CITY — Adam Sandler says he would like to work alongside gay-rights groups after starring in “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry.” Sandler, who was in Mexico with co-star Kevin James to promote the film’s opening in theaters here, told a news conference: “If I can help anybody in any way, I certainly would.” But the 41-year-old actor-comedian stopped short of calling himself a potential gay icon. “I don’t think that’s gonna happen, dude, certainly not,” Sandler said. “If I was a gay man, I wouldn’t want me to represent” the gay community. “I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry,” scheduled to be released on DVD in the U.S. in November, tells the story of two straight firefighters who pretend to be gay domestic partners for pension benefits. The movie raked in about $35 million in U.S. box-office sales on its opening weekend despite weak reviews and some complaints of homophobia. “Of course, we didn’t want to offend anybody or hurt anybody,” James said at the news conference Thursday. Sandler described the kiss the two actors shared during filming as “not bad.” “He was clean, and he seemed to brush his teeth and all that,” he said.

Today’s birthdays

Actress Deborah Kerr is 86. Author Elie Wiesel is 79. Actress Angie Dickinson is 76. Singer Cissy Houston is 74. Singer Johnny Mathis is 72. Singer Marilyn McCoo is 64. Pop singer Sylvia Peterson (The Chiffons) is 61. Singer Deborah Allen is 54. Actor Barry Williams is 53. Actor Vondie Curtis-Hall is 51. Actress Fran Drescher is 50. Country singer Marty Stuart is 49. Actress Debrah Farentino is 48. Actress Crystal Bernard is 46. Actor Eric Stoltz is 46. Rapper-producer Marley Marl is 45. Country singer Eddie Montgomery (Montgomery-Gentry) is 44. Rock singer Trey Anastasio is 43. Rock musician Robby Takac (Goo Goo Dolls) is 43. Actress Lisa Thornhill is 41. Actress Andrea Roth (“Rescue Me”) is 40. Actress Monica Bellucci is 39. Actor Tony Hale is 37. Actress Jenna Elfman is 36. Actor Ashley Hamilton is 33. Actor Mike Damus is 28. Tennis player Martina Hingis is 27. Olympic gold medal gymnast Dominique Moceanu is 26. Actress Lacey Chabert is 25. Actor Kieran Culkin is 25. Singer-rapper T-Pain is 23.