‘Memory alive': Late star's mum speaks out following Adam Sandler's touching tribute in Happy Gilmore 2
Happy Gilmore 2 has fans in tears — and not just from laughter.
Viewers noticed that Adam Sandler subtly paid tribute to the late Cameron Boyce, a moment that hit home for many fans.
Boyce, best known for his work on Disney's comedy series Jessie and the Descendants franchise, died in 2019 at just 20 years old after suffering a seizure.
Early in the film, shortly after Sandler's character approaches a golf check-in booth, the scene cuts to two individuals seated behind the counter, watching a show on a small television.
Adam Sandler subtly paid tribute to the late Cameron Boyce in Happy Gilmore 2. Photo: Netflix
That's when viewers catch a glimpse of Boyce on the screen, in an episode of Jessie, where he portrayed Luke Ross from 2011 to 2015.
Eagle-eyed Jessie fans were quick to spot the tribute, and it's clear it hit a chord with many.
'Adam put a tiny Cameron Boyce (played his son in Grown Ups) tribute in Happy Gilmore 2. Excuse me while I sob,' one user wrote on X.
Eagle-eyed Jessie fans spotted the touching tribute. Photo: X
'It's 10am and I'm crying seeing that Adam Sandler put a Cameron Boyce cameo in Happy Gilmore 2,' another added.
The late star's mother has now taken to social media to express gratitude for the moment.
'Thank you @adamsandler for honouring Cam's legacy in Happy Gilmore 2,' Libby Boyce wrote alongside a gold emoji, an angel wing emoji, and a purple heart emoji in an Instagram post.
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Libby also shared an article about the tribute on Instagram and added more about the bond her son shared with the Billy Madison comedian.
'Adam and Cameron talked quite a bit in the days leading up to his death,' Libby began.
'Cameron was supposed to be in Hubie Halloween and they were strategising.'
'They had a bond I think related to being authentic, funny and just keeping it real,' she added.
'They had a bond I think related to being authentic, funny and just keeping it real,' Libby Boyce shared about Cameron and Adam. Photo: Libby Boyce/Instagram
'Adam always finds a way to keep Cam's memory alive which warms our heart.'
Years before his passing, Boyce and Sandler starred together as father and son — Lenny and Keithie Feder — in Sandler's 2010 comedy Grown Ups, and again in its 2013 sequel.
Though Boyce wasn't able to appear in Hubie Halloween, Sandler honoured him with a tribute midway through the film's credits. The screen featured a photo of Boyce and the message:
'In loving memory of CAMERON BOYCE. Gone way too soon and one of the kindest, coolest, funniest, and most talented kids we knew. You live on forever in our hearts and are truly missed every day.'
Boyce and Sandler starred together as father and son in Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2. Photo: Happy Madison Productions
Boyce shot to fame on Disney as Luke Ross in Jessie. Photo: Disney
Sandler was also among the first to publicly mourn Boyce after his death in 2019.
'Too young. Too sweet. Too funny,' he wrote on social media at the time.
'Just the nicest, most talented, and most decent kid around. Loved that kid. Cared so much about his family. Cared so much about the world.'
'Thank you, Cameron, for all you gave to us. So much more was on the way. All our hearts are broken,' Sandler continued.
'Thinking of your amazing family and sending our deepest condolences.'
On what would have been Cameron's 21st birthday in May 2020, the Uncut Gems star posted again in remembrance:
'Happy birthday to Cameron. Would have been 21 years old. Such a great kid. We all miss him a lot. Especially his incredible family,' he wrote on Instagram.
Originally published as 'Memory alive': Late star's mum speaks out following Adam Sandler's touching tribute in Happy Gilmore 2
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