Summary
Farmer Fran is a hilarious side character in Adam Sandler’sTheWaterboyand viewers may recognize the actor from similar parts he’s played.Adam Sandler is well known for casting his friends in his movies, and it’s always fun to wait and see when Kevin James is going to appear or if Nick Swardson will have a cameo. Sandler’s older films can be bittersweet for this same fact when the late Chris Farley or Norm Macdonald comes on the screen. This “acting-troupe” style of filmmaking makes Sandler’s films just that much more comfortable and fun.
The Waterboyhas many interesting casting choices, including the expected recurring actors from Sandler’s other projects. A sports comedy film,The Waterboyis usually ranked underBilly MadisonandHappy Gilmorewhen it comes to his early period comedies, but it still ranks high in the echelons of his outrageous and beloved filmography. The film follows the socially inept Bobby Boucher (Sandler) who’s a college football water boy from Louisiana, only for the team to discover he’s a talented linebacker. One of Bobby’s biggest fans is Farmer Fran.
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Comedian Blake Clark Plays Farmer Fran In The Waterboy
Farmer Fran Is A Local Fan Of The Mud Dogs
Farmer Fran is a local farmer who is one of the longtime fans of South Central Louisiana State University Mud Dogs despite their 40-game losing streak. Fran, played by comedian Blake Clark, is completely unintelligible, but that doesn’t stop him from constantly offering advice to Coach Klein (Henry Winkler), Bobby, and the rest of the Underdogs, who generally just give him a confused look before moving on. It’s a funny joke every time it happens andgets to the point that viewers start laughing whenever Farmer Fran even walks on screen.
But he’s so memorable and delightful, he feels like a much bigger part of the story than he is.
Clark is a stand-up comedian and comedy actor, and he completely becomes Fran in the same way thatFarley would give a part all his effort in something likeBilly Madisonas the bus driver. Fran affects an exaggerated Cajun accent for the role, and the only one or two words that can ever be made out are “Bobby” and “Boucher”. Fran does not really have any effect on the plot ofThe Waterboy, few side characters do in Sandler movies. But he’s so memorable and delightful, he feels like a much bigger part of the story than he is.
Blake Clark reprises the role of Farmer Fran in a cameo inJoe Dirt.
Blake Clark Is A Frequent Adam Sandler Collaborator
Clark Has Appeared In 13 Adam Sandler Movies
Not only is Clark a talented comedian, he’s also a frequent collaborator of Adam Sandler. He has appeared in supporting roles in 13 Adam Sandler movies:The Waterboy,Little Nicky,Mr. Deeds,Eight Crazy Nights,50 First Dates,Click,I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry,Bedtime Stories,Grown Ups,That’s My Boy,The Ridiculous 6,Hubie Halloween, andLeo. This makes Clark one of Sandler’s most frequent collaborators. Nearly ranking him equal withKevin James and Adam Sandler collaborations, of which there are 14.
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Golfer #1
Clark has appeared in roles beyondThe Waterboyand other Sandler films. He plays Chet Hunter onBoy Meets Worldand Harry “The Hardware Store Guy” onHome Improvement. In film, Clark plays Murray inThe Maskand voices Buford inRango. Notably,he took over for the voice of Slinky Dog inToy Story 3after Jim Varney passed away from lung cancer in 2000. Varney and Clark were good friends and Clark took inspiration for his role from his late pal. The director ofToy Story 4toldComicBook,
“The thing I love, Blake Clark does the voice now of Slinky and he was best friends with Jim Varney. Really, really close. And so he, it’s amazing because he’s like, ‘I’m channeling Jim, I’m channeling my best friend here’…”
The Waterboy
Cast
The Waterboy is a comedy film directed by Frank Coraci, featuring Adam Sandler as Bobby Boucher, a socially awkward waterboy for a college football team who discovers a talent for tackling. Set in Louisiana, the story follows Bobby as he transforms from a ridiculed waterboy into a star player, under the guidance of Coach Klein, portrayed by Henry Winkler. Kathy Bates co-stars as Bobby’s overprotective mother.
