# Adam Saunders

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{{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](/source/Duke_University) ([BA](/source/Bachelor_of_Arts))<br>[Yale University](/source/Yale_University) ([MFA](/source/Master_of_Fine_Arts))
| 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](/source/Richardson_High_School), earned a drama degree from [Duke University](/source/Duke_University), and a master's in acting from the [Yale School of Drama](/source/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](/source/Family_Weekend)'', starring [Kristin Chenoweth](/source/Kristin_Chenoweth), and [Joey King](/source/Joey_King). The film was written by Matt K. Turner, directed by Benjamin Epps, and executive produced by the [Bedford Falls Company](/source/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](/source/About_Alex)'', starring [Aubrey Plaza](/source/Aubrey_Plaza), [Max Greenfield](/source/Max_Greenfield), [Jason Ritter](/source/Jason_Ritter), and [Jane Levy](/source/Jane_Levy), and written and directed by Jesse Zwick.  The film was executive produced by [Edward Zwick](/source/Edward_Zwick) and [Marshall Herskovitz](/source/Marshall_Herskovitz) and played at the 2013 [TriBeCa Film Festival](/source/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](/source/Oren_Uziel)'s crime thriller ''[Shimmer Lake](/source/Shimmer_Lake)'' which was named as [Variety](/source/Variety_(magazine))’s 2017 standout for the [Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay](/source/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](/source/When_We_First_Met)'' starring [Adam Devine](/source/Adam_DeVine) and [Alexandra Daddario](/source/Alexandra_Daddario), written by [John Whittington (screenwriter)](/source/John_Whittington_(screenwriter)) and directed by [Ari Sandel](/source/Ari_Sandel). The film was produced alongside [Mason Novick](/source/Mason_Novick) and [Wonderland Sound and Vision](/source/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](/source/Dotty_%26_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](/source/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](/source/Showtime_(TV_network)).<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](/source/Darby_and_the_Dead)'' starring [Riele Downs](/source/Riele_Downs) and [Auli'i Cravalho](/source/Auli'i_Cravalho) for 20th Century Studios.  The film was directed by [Silas Howard](/source/Silas_Howard), shot in Cape Town, South Africa and was released on December 2, 2022 on [Hulu](/source/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](/source/Re-Election_(film))'', alongside [Tony Danza](/source/Tony_Danza) and [Bex Taylor-Klaus](/source/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](/source/Picturehouse_(company)) and was released on October 10, 2025. The film debuted in [New York City](/source/New_York_City) at the [Regal Union Square](/source/Regal_Cinemas), [Angelika](/source/Angelika_Film_Center) in Dallas and the Springs Cinema in [Atlanta](/source/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](/source/Family_Weekend)''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2014
| ''[About Alex](/source/About_Alex)''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2017
| ''[Shimmer Lake](/source/Shimmer_Lake)''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2018
| ''[When We First Met](/source/When_We_First_Met)''
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2022
| ''[Darby and the Dead](/source/Darby_and_the_Dead)''<ref name=":0" />
| {{no}}
| {{yes}}
| {{no}}
|-
| 2022
| ''[Dotty & Soul](/source/Dotty_%26_Soul)''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|-
| 2025
| ''[Re-Election](/source/Re-Election_(film))''
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
| {{yes}}
|}

===Acting roles===
'''Television'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
| 2006
| ''[Law & Order: Criminal Intent](/source/Law_%26_Order%3A_Criminal_Intent)''
| Brendan Cory
| 1 episode
|-
| 2007-2008
| ''[The Game](/source/The_Game_(2006_TV_series))''
| Waiter
| 2 episodes
|-
| 2008
| ''Meet Me in the Graveyard''
| Ace
|
|-
| 2020
| ''[The Trials of Gabriel Fernandez](/source/The_Trials_of_Gabriel_Fernandez)''
| Informant (voice)
| 1 episode
|}

'''Film'''
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
!Ref.
|-
| 2011
| ''[The Roommate](/source/The_Roommate)''
| Handsome Guy
|
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[Family Weekend](/source/Family_Weekend)''
| Rick
|
|
|-
| 2014
| ''[About Alex](/source/About_Alex)''
| Night Editor
|
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[Shimmer Lake](/source/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](/source/Dotty_%26_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](/source/Re-Election_(film))''
| 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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Adam Saunders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Saunders) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Saunders?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.