- Hollywood alligator Morris has died aged 80
- Morris starred with Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore
- He also worked with Steve Irwin
One of Hollywood’s most famous alligators has made his way to the great swamp in the sky and his big-name co-star Adam Sandler has paid a heartfelt tribute to his scaly pal.
Morris was one of the movie industry’s most reliable reptiles. He featured in a number of films, including Sandler’s 1996 golfing classic Happy Gilmore. Reports emerged earlier this week that Morris had sadly passed away. He was believed to have been around 80-years old.
Read more: Happy Gilmore 2: Everything we know so far
Sandler famously faced-off against Morris in Happy Gilmore. Here, Morris played the one-eyed beast who snapped off the hand of Carl Weathers’ Chubbs, golf-coach to Gilmore.
After finding him on the green, Gilmore and the gator get into a wrestling match.
Read more: When is Happy Gilmore 2 released?
Learning of Morris’s death, Sandler took to social media to post a touching tribute, telling his 21.8 million followers “we are all gonna miss you.”
Happy Gilmore alligator: What did Adam Sandler say about Morris?
Sandler told his followers about his time working with Morris in a lengthy social media post.
“Goodbye, Morris. We are all gonna miss you. You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers – really anyone with arms or legs – but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film,” explained Sandler in the caption to a classic Happy Gilmore still.
“The day you wouldn’t come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art. I will never forget at craft service that time when we split the Three Musketeers bar and you let me have the bigger half. But that’s who you were.
Sandler continued, adding: “I know your character’s decapitation in the first movie precluded your participation in the sequel, but we all appreciated the fruit basket and the hilarious note.
“I will miss the sound of your tail sliding through the tall grass, your cold, bumpy skin, but, most of all, I will miss your infectious laugh. Thanks to Mr. Young for taking care of you all these years, and vaya con dios, old friend.”
What other movies did Morris star in?
It wasn’t just Sandler that counted Morris as a co-star. During his length screen career, this particular gator appeared in a number of well-known movies.
Among them is Dr Dolittle 2 with Eddie Murphy and Interview With The Vampire alongside Tom Cruise and Christian Slater.
He even starred alongside Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin on talk show appearances. Morris died at the Colorado Gator Farm where he had been living for the past two decades.
“His exact age was unknown but he was 9 feet long in 1975 and by his growth rate and tooth loss, we can estimate his age at over 80 years,” said a Facebook post issued by the park.
“While we knew this was inevitable, we are very saddened by his passing to old age. RIP Morris.”
