Happy Gilmore star dies

Published: Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 11:00 am

Happy Gilmore Alligator, Morris, Dies at 80: A Hollywood Legend

Denver, CO - The world is mourning the loss of Morris, the alligator who charmed audiences in numerous films and television shows, most notably the 1996 Adam Sandler comedy *Happy Gilmore*. The beloved reptile, estimated to be at least 80 years old, passed away at the Colorado Gator Farm in Mosca, Colorado, the farm announced on Sunday.

Morris, who measured nearly 11 feet long and weighed 640 pounds, began his Hollywood career in 1975 and retired to the Colorado Gator Farm in 2006. He was rescued from a backyard in Los Angeles, where he was kept as an illegal pet. During his acting career, Morris appeared in a variety of films, including *Interview with the Vampire*, *Dr. Dolittle 2*, and *Blues Brothers 2000*. He also made appearances on popular TV shows like *Coach*, *Night Court*, and *The Tonight Show with Jay Leno*, often alongside the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin.

However, Morris's most iconic role was undoubtedly in *Happy Gilmore*. In the film, Adam Sandler's character famously confronts Morris after a golf ball lands in the alligator's mouth. Sandler himself paid tribute to Morris on Instagram, remembering the alligator's demanding nature on set.

The Colorado Gator Farm, which opened to the public in 1990, plans to preserve Morris's body through taxidermy. "We have decided to get Morris taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come," the farm stated on Facebook, reflecting on his legacy.

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