See ya later, alligator. There will never be another reptile like you in Hollywood.
Sad news. Morris, the famous 640-pound and 11-foot gator, who captured audiences’ hearts playing the hand-chomping menace in Happy Gilmore, passed away at the ripe old age of 80. And many are mourning his loss, including his former co-star, Adam Sandler.
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. The day you wouldn’t come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce… pic.twitter.com/iQlkne4fwJ
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) May 14, 2025
“Goodbye, Morris. We are all gonna miss you,” the actor wrote in a tribute post on X. “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.”
Sandler went on to describe how Morris always put his best food forward during filming, reminding everyone what being a professional in the industry looks like.
“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.”
The actor ended his loving tribute by telling Morris everything he will miss about him, now that he’s departed from this mortal coil.
“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.”
The Colorado Gator Farm, which looked after the gator following his retirement from the limelight in 2006, broke the unfortunate news in a video posted to their Facebook page. According to his caretaker, Jay Young, the gator died from old age.
Colorado Gators is sad to report the passing away of our oldest alligator, Morris. Morris was known for his work in many movies and TV shows from 1975 to 2006, when he retired to live out his days at Colorado Gators. 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. While we knew this was inevitable, we are very saddened by his passing to old age. RIP Morris
Posted by Colorado Gator Farm on Sunday 11 May 2025
“He started acting strange about a week ago. He wasn’t lunging at us, and he wasn’t taking food,” Young said in the video, while tearfully stroking Morris’ head. “I know it’s strange to people that we get so attached.”
After Sandler uploading his tribute to Morris on social media, other users began to follow suit, sharing posts expressing their devastation over his loss.
“This is heartbreaking,” a Morris fan posted on X.
Others agreed, writing: “NOOO😭 we lost another legend….”
NAW IM EMOTIONAL https://t.co/F1oGjhwmlL
— ⚔️👹⚔️ (@_creature_only) May 15, 2025
https://t.co/8jjhkO2hgy pic.twitter.com/E65AS6ptKd
— Apache (@RedBulletX1) May 15, 2025
https://t.co/JdOfswXheW pic.twitter.com/O8emLr2dMY
— Vince (@VET_999) May 13, 2025
https://t.co/xp4Stw6WYm pic.twitter.com/AWQapoUOLt
— Jeff Crash Davis (@megaphone06) May 13, 2025
I’ll bring the beers. I’ll bring the beers. https://t.co/AscFWypUvi pic.twitter.com/VW6KQupX3W
— Colorado Texan (@jakegotbaked) May 15, 2025
Rest in peace, Morris—you were a one of a kind gator. We hope you’re swimming through a swamp in heaven.
The post Adam Sandler Mourns ‘Happy Gilmore’ Alligator Who Passed Away at Age 80 appeared first on The Daily Beast.
