Adam Sandler On Taming His Jokes

Adam Sandler goes to dark places in Judd Apatow's new film Funny People, which is not to say there aren't a lot of laughs. But instead of his usual funny-guy role, Sandler takes on the most challenging character of his career as a famous comic who goes off the deep end after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. The 42-year-old funnyman, who is dad to Sadie, 3, and Sunny, 8 months, opened up to Parade about connecting to the film and how family life has kept his jokes G-rated.

On telling dirty jokes: "I haven't talked that filthy in front of people probably ever. We had real audiences and I'd go on stage being as filthy as can be and I'm seeing people are into it, and some people are going, 'No, don't go there.' And then I would drive home and I'd be in my driveway alone in front of my house where my two little kids are sleeping and I just felt like the biggest, dirtiest human being. I tell you one thing, having two daughters eliminated any vagina jokes we thought about doing."

On needing a break after Funny People: "I needed a break. I don't know how these other actors go movie to movie and lose their minds in their roles and still find time to have a real life. I was happy to jump back into my real life and be with my kids and wife and work on that. But I'll get back in it. It's just that at night I'm not thinking, 'God, I've got to get there again.' But I'm happy I did this one."

On how he connected to the dark side of the film: "I went through stuff with my dad before he died. I saw firsthand what goes on with people who are incredibly sick. So I wasn't excited about diving into that, but I knew it had to be done and I just did it. The only thing I'd have in my head was, 'Apatow will take care of me. I've got to let my secret out,' and I guess I just did."

To read the full interview go to Parade.