Alligator that starred in ‘Happy Gilmore’ dies of old age in Colorado

By THOMAS PEIPERT Associated Press DENVER AP An alligator that appeared in numerous TV shows and films over three decades the greater part notably the Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore has died at a gator farm in southern Colorado Based on his expansion rate and tooth loss Morris the alligator was at least years old when he died the Colorado Gator Farm stated in a Facebook post Sunday He was nearly feet long and weighed pounds He started acting strange about a week ago He wasn t lunging at us and wasn t taking food Jay Young the farm s owner and operator announced in a video as he tearfully stroked Morris head in an animal enclosure Related Articles Final Destination Bloodlines gives horror franchise a shot in the arm Tom Cruise brings Final Reckoning to Cannes but won t bid Mission Impossible adieu yet Max streaming system to change name back to HBO Max Sew Torn gives Calum Worthy a crash curriculum in bad choices things to look for at this year s Cannes Film Festival I know it s strange to people that we get so attached to an alligator to all of our animals He had a happy time here and he died of old age he noted Morris who was identified in the backyard of a Los Angeles home as an illegal pet started his Hollywood career in and retired in when he was sent to the Colorado Gator Farm in the tiny town of Mosca He appeared in several films including Interview with the Vampire Dr Dolittle and Blues Brothers He also appeared on Coach Night Court and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno featuring the late wildlife expert Steve Irwin But his greater part famous role was in Happy Gilmore a film about a failed and ill-tempered hockey participant who discovers a talent for golf The title character played by Sandler confronts Morris after hitting a golf ball that ends up in the gator s mouth Sandler posted a tribute to Morris on Instagram on Wednesday 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 Sandler wrote The day you wouldn t come out of your trailer unless we sent in heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson never compromise your art The Colorado Gator Farm which opened to the constituents in mentioned it plans to preserve Morris body We have decided to get Morris taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come It s what he would have longed the farm posted on Facebook on Monday