Comedian Adam Sandler has shared a touching tribute to Morris, the 9-foot-long alligator who starred alongside the actor in the 1996 sports comedy “Happy Gilmore.” Morris died last week.
“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 share a few anecdotes about his time working with Morris on the set.
“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 wrote.
“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.”
Colorado Gators Reptile Park, a Mosca-based wildlife rescue owned and operated by Jay Young, confirmed Morris’s death in a May 11 Facebook post.
Although Morris’s exact age was unknown, the reptile park, located about 50 miles north of the New Mexico border, noted that the alligator was estimated to be more than 80 years old due to his growth rate and tooth loss.
“While we knew this was inevitable, we are very saddened by his passing to old age,” the park added. “RIP Morris.”
The reptilian movie star’s long line of credits included “Alligator” (1980), “Alligator II: The Mutation” (1991), “Interview with the Vampire” (1994), “Eraser” (1996), and “Dr. Dolittle 2” (2001), among other films. He also appeared in several television shows, including “Coach” and “Night Court.”
Following Morris’s death, the reptile park took to Instagram to share that the alligator would undergo taxidermy “so that he can continue to scare children for years to come.”
