Allen Stephen Covert is an American comedian, actor, writer, and producer. Best known for his starring role in the 2006 comedy film Grandma's Boy, he is a frequent collaborator with actor and friend Adam Sandler with prominent roles in such films as Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer, Big Daddy, Little Nicky, Mr. Deeds, Anger Management, 50 First Dates, Strange Wilderness, and Just Go with It.
Early and personal life
Covert was born in West Palm Beach, Florida, the son of Elizabeth Ann and Stephen Covert. He studied theater at New York University, where he was a classmate of Adam Sandler. Covert has served as a performer, writer, and/or producer for almost every film and comedy album Sandler has ever released. Covert currently resides in California. Covert's father was Jewish and his mother was a Southern Baptist. Covert co-founded a young children's publishing company geared towards basic American history. On July 18, 2019, he got a divorce from his wife.
Career
Covert's first film role was a cruise ship bartender in Sandler's 1989 filmGoing Overboard which also was Sandler's first cinematic appearance, he played Shecky, who aspired to be the cruise ships house comedian. Covert had minor parts in several subsequent Sandler films before his first prominent role in 1998'sThe Wedding Singer alongside Sandler and Drew Barrymore. Covert would continue to have fairly large roles in Sandler's next four films, including one in Little Nicky for which he gained 40 pounds. He eventually settled back into smaller walk-on and single-scene appearances in Sandler's films beginning with 50 First Dates in 2004. However, in 2006 Covert starred in the comedy film Grandma's Boy, his first lead role. Sandler didn't act in that film but served as an executive producer. Covert has also had small roles in four films that neither star or are produced by Sandler: Never Been Kissed, Late Last Night, Heavyweights, and The Cable Guy. Although Covert's on-screen presence has been reduced in recent years, he has continued to serve an active role in Adam Sandler's movie production company, Happy Madison Productions, where Covert is an executive producer and sometimes co-writer on most of the company's films. In addition, Covert has contributed heavily to Sandler's many comedy albums, and frequently receives co-songwriting credits on the original songs that Sandler performs in many of his films. Covert also appeared as himself, along with Adam Sandler, in an episode of the television series Undeclared. The show's creator, Judd Apatow, is another friend and former college classmate of Covert and Sandler. Covert is also a cofounder of Cherry Tree Books, a publisher of eBooks for children.
