Later, alligator: Adam Sandler pens tribute to his reptilian 'Happy Gilmore' co-star

Adam Sandler has nary crocodile tears for “Happy Gilmore” co-star Morris the alligator — helium has fond jokes instead.

The “Punch-Drunk Love” histrion and comedian connected Wednesday shared a playful tribute honoring his reptilian co-star who died Sunday of aged property astatine a gator workplace successful confederate Colorado. In the tribute, shared to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), Sandler remembered the alligator’s clip connected the acceptable of his quirky 1996 play comedy.

“We are each gonna miss you. You could beryllium hard connected directors, make-up artists, costumers — truly anyone with arms oregon legs,” Sandler captioned a movie inactive featuring himself and Morris, “but I cognize you did it for the eventual bully of the film.”

Jay Young, the proprietor and relation of Colorado Gator Farm, announced Morris’s decease successful an affectional video shared to Facebook. “He started acting unusual astir a week ago. He wasn’t lunging astatine america and wasn’t taking food,” Young said, stroking the reptile’s head.

“I cognize it’s unusual to radical that we get truthful attached to an alligator, to each of our animals,” Young added. “He had a blessed clip here, and helium died of aged age.”

In “Happy Gilmore,” Sandler’s improbable play prima confronts the feisty gator played by Morris aft a play shot lands successful his toothy jaws. After an unsuccessful attempt, Happy dives into the play people pond wherever helium pummels the reptile and retrieves the ball.

Morris was champion known for “Happy Gilmore,” but besides appeared successful galore surface projects including “Interview with the Vampire,” “Dr. Dolittle 2” and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” earlier helium retired successful 2006. He was recovered arsenic an amerciable favored successful the backyard of a Los Angeles location and sent to the Colorado Gator Farm.

In his tribute, Sandler said helium learned a “powerful lesson” from Morris connected the acceptable of their movie aft helium refused to “come retired of your trailer” without the bait of 40 heads of lettuce: “Never compromise your art.” The “Wedding Singer” and “50 First Dates” prima besides reminisced connected wholly existent encounters with the gator including sharing a candy bar.

“You fto maine person the bigger half,” helium joked. “But that’s who you were.”

According to Sandler, Morris was a Hollywood seasoned with classy habits. The “Uncut Gems” prima joked that the alligator, contempt his character’s decease successful the archetypal film, sent the “Happy Gilmore” squad a “fruit handbasket and [a] hilarious note” up of the long-anticipated sequel, which premieres successful July.

“I volition miss the dependable of your process sliding done the gangly grass, your cold, bumpy skin, but, astir of all, I volition miss your infectious laugh,” Sandler concluded his eulogy. “Thanks to Mr. Young for taking attraction of you each these years, and vaya con dios, aged friend.”

Colorado Gator Farm announced connected Monday that it decided to sphere Morris’ assemblage via taxidermy “so that helium tin proceed to scare children for years to come.”

“It’s what helium would person wanted,” the workplace said connected Facebook.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.