{{Short description|American actor and filmmaker}} {{Infobox person | name = Adam Saunders | image = Adam Saunders at San Diego International Film Festival.jpg | caption = Saunders at San Diego International Film Festival - 2022 | birth_date = | birth_place = United States | education = Duke University (BA)<br>Yale University (MFA) | occupation = Actor, director, producer, and writer }} '''Adam Saunders''' is an American actor, director,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Philbrick |first=Jami |date=2023-05-19 |title=Leslie Uggams Talks 'Dotty and Soul' and playing Blind Al in 'Deadpool 3' |url=https://www.moviefone.com/news/dotty-and-soul-interview-leslie-uggams/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Moviefone |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=White |first=Armond |date=2023-05-19 |title=The Wit and Resistance of Dotty & Soul |url=https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/05/the-wit-and-resistance-of-dotty-soul/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=National Review |language=en-US}}</ref> producer, and writer. He is a founding member of Footprint Features.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2013-03-26 |title=North Texas producer screens debut feature 'Family Weekend' |url=https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/2013/03/26/north-texas-producer-screens-debut-feature-family-weekend/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=Dallas News |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Yanes |first=Nicholas |date=2023-01-09 |title=Adam Saunders on his career and producing "Darby and the Dead" |url=https://www.scifipulse.net/adam-saunders-on-his-career-and-producing-darby-and-the-dead/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=SciFiPulse.Net |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Peterson |first=Aaron B. |date=2017-06-09 |title=Interview with Producer Adam Saunders {{!}} Netflix's Shimmer Lake |url=https://www.thehollywoodoutsider.com/interview-with-producer-adam-saunders-shimmer-lake/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=The Hollywood Outsider - Film and Television Podcast {{!}} Reviews |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Biography == Saunders graduated high school at Richardson High School, earned a drama degree from Duke University, and a master's in acting from the Yale School of Drama.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Jorgenson |first=Todd |date=2023-05-18 |title=Dallas Native Adam Saunders Wants to Use Social Satire to Reexamine Our Priorities |url=https://www.dmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/2023/05/dallas-native-adam-saunders-wants-to-use-social-satire-to-reexamine-our-priorities/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=D Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2007, Saunders started Footprint Features, a Los Angeles-based production company.<ref name=":8" />
In 2011, Saunders produced and acted in ''Family Weekend'', starring Kristin Chenoweth, and Joey King. The film was written by Matt K. Turner, directed by Benjamin Epps, and executive produced by the Bedford Falls Company.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-03-28 |title=Family Weekend: Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/family-weekend-film-review-431540/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2013, he produced and acted in ''About Alex'', starring Aubrey Plaza, Max Greenfield, Jason Ritter, and Jane Levy, and written and directed by Jesse Zwick. The film was executive produced by Edward Zwick and Marshall Herskovitz and played at the 2013 TriBeCa Film Festival.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2014-08-09 |title=Film Review: 'About Alex' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/film-review-about-alex-1201278863/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2017, he produced and acted in Oren Uziel's crime thriller ''Shimmer Lake'' which was named as Variety’s 2017 standout for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Tapley |first1=Kristopher |last2=Riley |first2=Jenelle |date=2017-06-22 |title=Oscars: 13 Deserving Contenders From 2017 So Far |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/in-contention/oscars-halfway-mark-deserving-contenders-1202473420/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2018, Saunders produced the Netflix romantic comedy ''When We First Met'' starring Adam Devine and Alexandra Daddario, written by John Whittington (screenwriter) and directed by Ari Sandel. The film was produced alongside Mason Novick and Wonderland Sound and Vision.<ref>{{Citation |last=Sandel |first=Ari |title=When We First Met |date=2018-02-09 |type=Comedy, Fantasy, Romance |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5783956/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |others=Adam Devine, Alexandra Daddario, Shelley Hennig |publisher=Footprint Features, Wonderland Sound and Vision, MXN Entertainment}}</ref>
In 2022, Saunders made his directorial film debut with ''Dotty & Soul'',<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Witherspoon |first=Patrice |date=2022-10-24 |title=Dotty & Soul Review: Saunders' Timely Feature Debut Is Heartfelt & Humorous |url=https://screenrant.com/dotty-and-soul-2022-movie-reviews/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> an indie comedy<ref name=":4" /> in which he starred alongside Tony and Emmy winner Leslie Uggams.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Bruno |first=Yanette |date=2023-04-29 |title=NYC Screening of Film Dotty & Soul |url=https://theknockturnal.com/nyc-screening-of-film-dotty-soul/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=The Knockturnal |language=en}}</ref> Dotty & Soul premiered at the 2022 San Diego Film Festival.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |last=Grobar |first=Matt |date=2023-03-31 |title=Tony Danza & Bex Taylor-Klaus To Star Opposite Adam Saunders In His Indie Comedy 'Re-Election' |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/tony-danza-bex-taylor-klaus-re-election-comedy-1235314762/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Billington |first=Alex |date=2023-04-14 |title=Leslie Uggams Takes Over a Company in Comedy 'Dotty & Soul' Trailer {{!}} FirstShowing.net |url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2023/leslie-uggams-adam-saunders-in-comedy-dotty-soul-trailer/ |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=www.firstshowing.net |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2023, it sold to Showtime.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-05-19 |title=Dotty & Soul {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dotty_and_soul |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref>
Also in 2022, Saunders produced ''Darby and the Dead'' starring Riele Downs and Auli'i Cravalho for 20th Century Studios. The film was directed by Silas Howard, shot in Cape Town, South Africa and was released on December 2, 2022 on Hulu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yanes |first=Nicholas |date=2023-01-09 |title=Adam Saunders on his career and producing "Darby and the Dead" |url=https://www.scifipulse.net/adam-saunders-on-his-career-and-producing-darby-and-the-dead/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=SciFiPulse.Net |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adam Saunders {{!}} Actor, Producer, Writer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2259350/ |access-date=2024-03-21 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, Saunders signed on to star in the comedy ''Re-Election'', alongside Tony Danza and Bex Taylor-Klaus.<ref name=":9" /> Re-Election was Saunders' second directorial effort. The film was set in Richardson, Texas and shot in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.<ref name=":4" /> The film was distributed theatrically by Picturehouse and was released on October 10, 2025. The film debuted in New York City at the Regal Union Square, Angelika in Dallas and the Springs Cinema in Atlanta.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Re-Election (2025) |url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Re-Election-(2025)#tab=summary |access-date=2025-12-22 |website=www.the-numbers.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27391045/releaseinfo/ |title=Re-Election (2025) - Release info - IMDb |language=en-US |access-date=2025-12-22 |via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Director !Producer !Writer |- | 2013 | ''Family Weekend'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2014 | ''About Alex'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2017 | ''Shimmer Lake'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2018 | ''When We First Met'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2022 | ''Darby and the Dead''<ref name=":0" /> | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} |- | 2022 | ''Dotty & Soul'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |- | 2025 | ''Re-Election'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes}} |}
===Acting roles=== '''Television''' {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- | 2006 | ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'' | Brendan Cory | 1 episode |- | 2007-2008 | ''The Game'' | Waiter | 2 episodes |- | 2008 | ''Meet Me in the Graveyard'' | Ace | |- | 2020 | ''The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez'' | Informant (voice) | 1 episode |}
'''Film''' {| class="wikitable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes !Ref. |- | 2011 | ''The Roommate'' | Handsome Guy | | |- | 2013 | ''Family Weekend'' | Rick | | |- | 2014 | ''About Alex'' | Night Editor | | |- | 2017 | ''Shimmer Lake'' | State Trooper | |<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Adam Saunders {{!}} Movies and Filmography |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/adam-saunders-vn15616121 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=AllMovie |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2018 | ''Confidence'' | Boss | Short film | |- | 2022 | ''Dotty & Soul'' | Ethan Cox | |<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |title=Adam Saunders {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/adam_saunders_2 |access-date=2024-02-25 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> |- | 2025 | ''Re-Election'' | Jimmy Bauer | |<ref name=":9" /> |}
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == * {{IMDb name|2259350|Adam Saunders}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saunders, Adam}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American male actors Category:Film directors from Texas Category:Film producers from Texas