Morris, the alligator from Happy Gilmore, dies aged over 80
The famous alligator that appeared in films such as Happy Gilmore and Doctor Dolittle 2 has passed away, aged 80.
Morris the alligator, whose film career spanned three decades from 1975 to 2006, is perhaps best known for biting off the hand of former golf pro Chubbs Peterson (in Happy Gilmore, not real life).
His filmography also transcended genres, including horror films such as Interview with the Vampire and ALLIGATOR, and action films such as Eraser alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger. The famous alligator that appeared in films such as Happy Gilmore and Doctor Dolittle 2 has passed away, aged 80. Pic: Universal/Everett/REX/Shutterstock
He retired in 2006 to Colorado Gator Farm, which announced his passing on social media — admitting that while they knew it was coming, they were still sad to see him pass.
'Colorado Gators is sad to report the passing away of our oldest alligator, Morris,' the gator farm wrote. '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.'
With such a distinguished career, the gator farm added that they were going to taxidermy him 'so that he can continue to scare children for years to come,' adding 'it's what he would've wanted.'
Speaking to USA Today, Jay Young, who runs the farm, said that he knew something was wrong when Morris wasn't eating after he was given his breakfast.
'I thought 'Well, maybe, he's just not hungry. He ate too much the other day,'' he said. 'Two weeks ago, he was trying to eat dogs and kids through the fence. He was fine a couple weeks ago.
'A lot of the times, it's like 'Oh, we could have done this differently or sooner,' Mr Young added. 'In this case, I don't think there's anything we could have done differently… it's sad, but not as tragic.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Sunday World
9 hours ago
- Sunday World
One new theme park, five new worlds and possibly the best rollercoaster of all
thrill-ogy | Stardust Racers in EPIC competes the Universal coaster thrill-ogy Set over five distinct worlds, the expansive theme park promises a lot but never in my wildest dreams did I think that one of the new rollercoasters would have such an impact on me and be able to compete with Hagrid and Velocicoaster in the other established nearby parks. Step forward Stardust Racers, which is just one of the four new coasters to accompany 16 new attractions designed and created since 2019 when EPIC was announced and costing an estimated €6bn in total. Last week I was invited to get a sneak peek at the park and enjoy its offerings for two days before they opened the over-the-top gates to the public. I even got to stay in one of their three new hotels, The Stella Nova, which is just a two-minute bus journey from the park. So, armed with enough SPF50 to bathe in, a selection of hats almost as over the top as the park itself and the all-important 'media' lanyard to get me in through the spectacular 'Chronos' clock gates, I did the Lord's work to be able to tell you if the reality of EPIC matches the hype. Daragh at Super Nintendo World It is 6.30am and I've been in America for less than 11 hours and the jetlag is real. But there is no time for self pity as we are herded off to the makeshift media centre where travel bloggers, influencers, content creators and one pasty white Irish travel editor are prepared for what lies ahead at the opening of the first theme park to open in the Floridian city for a quarter of a century. Since Universal broke ground in 2019, it has spent an estimated €6.2bn on turning the 'wasteland' adjoining their other three theme parks into what we now known as Universal's Epic Universe. There has been a lot of hype building up to this week, the kind of hype that can damage a brand in advance of opening due to the heavy burden of expectation. But Universal is unlike any other brand in the travel industry. Whether it is the duelling rollercoaster Stardust Racers (way more on this later), the Frankenstein-shaped pretzels at Dark Universe or the French-speaking staff at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (1920s Paris setting), every little detail has been cleverly crafted and thought out to ensure the user experience is second to none. How to Train Your Dragon Since 1990, this sun-soaked city in Florida has been home to the iconic Universal Studios and the accompanying Islands of Adventure (which opened in 1999) and Volcano Bay (2017), and has become synonymous with theme parks. Which is saying something, considering Walt Disney World is just 14km south on Highway 4. But this week, Universal has gone one step further towards the title of being the ultimate Orlando theme park by opening the stunning gates to Epic. Divided into five Worlds, the gathered media all got exclusive access to each one throughout the two days. Told at the outset to try to do anything and everything we wanted, we headed off to delve into the various lands. First up was How to Train your Dragon: Isle of Berk — an instant hit with everyone gathered. It brings the enchanting world of Berk to life, and I got to take on the first new rollercoaster of the week: Hiccup's Wing Gliders. In fact, I got to do it twice and loved every second of it. It is ridiculously smooth and fun. The Grand Helios Hotel stands tall at the front of the new theme park There is also the Dragon Racer's Rally, which is a pretty good attraction for younger thrill seekers but won't give you the rush of the Wing Gliders. A brilliant 18-minute show in a giant theatre wouldn't look out of place in the West End, by the way, offering guests welcome respite from the heat outside too. If you are into the How To Train Your Dragon franchise, you will adore this. Personally, I don't know the difference between Hiccup and Fishlegs (I had to look them up), but it is still amazing. Luckily for me though, my favourite video game from my childhood was next up on the to-do list. Quite simply, I challenge anyone to mount the green escalator to Super Nintendo World and walk out on level 3 and not say 'wow' to yourself... or even out loud for that matter. Power-up wrist bands allow you to collect gold coins and points around the park, adding to the clever, user-friendly gaming element that has already proven to be a huge success in similar worlds in Los Angeles and Japan. You and your family can play interactive activities all over this world as you encounter Goombas, Piranha Plants and more. Daragh at the gates to Epic You also get to steer through iconic Mario Kart courses (pangs of nostalgia coursed through my veins, to be honest), search for the glowing eggs on Yoshi's Adventure and speed through Donkey Kong Country on a mine cart. I know full well that this world won't excite some as much as me but for anyone who grew up on the NES game from the late '80s, the whole place is a joy. Third up on my whistle-stop tour was The Ominous World of Dark Universe, which is dedicated to Universal's Classic Monsters (if anyone is familiar with Halloween Horror Nights, you'll know) that brings beloved characters like Dracula, Frankenstein and the Wolfman to life through an array of attractions and genuinely spine-tingling experiences. You can escape science gone wrong in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment or speed through the woods on Curse of the Werewolf (so good I did it a handful of times) before heading to Darkmoor Village to become a Shopping Monster, or enjoy scarily good drinks in the Burning Blade pub. The final (almost) world was The Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Ministry of Magic, which is a magical space where adults can be kids and kids… can just be themselves. Inspired by the Fantastic Beasts, it is Parisian 1920s in style compared to Hogwarts or Diagon Alley (like in Universal Studios down the road). We took the Métro-Floo to the British Ministry of Magic and were plunged into a brilliantly fun interactive ride that uses technology and animatronics really well. You could spend hours here watching the world go by, but if it is adrenaline fuelled fun you want then be prepared to queue as the Ministry of Magic ride is surely going to be one of the biggest draws in Epic for years to come. The Ominous World of Dark Universe Those four worlds are all separate areas of Epic Universe and are entered through unique portals to add some more wow to the theme park, but in the middle of the whole area is a world called Celestial Park, which somehow seems calm and tranquil with luscious green space and hypnotic fountains. The bosses claim it puts the 'park' back in themepark, but I would love to see what it looks like in the height of summer. There are giant restaurants, merchandise shops, old-world carousels and it became a go-to for 'quiet' this week. But there is a giant asterisk on that calm, because just off to the left is what I think may actually be the company's best ever rollercoaster. Currently, I rate Velocicoaster and Hagrid as their top two, but now you can add Stardust Racers to the thrill-ogy. I did it a half dozen or so times over the two days and each time it got better. The creators here decided to run two coasters side by side in a race against each other. With each meander and undulation you edge ahead of the other and there are times when you are travelling upside down looking at the others. It is pure genius. This park may not be a household name yet, but it won't take long for Universal's Epic Universe to gain momentum and popularity. There are already plans to expand on some of the Worlds, so you can expect even more from Epic. But for now, you will just have to make do with a very-family friendly theme park with exhilarating rides, brilliantly genius attractions, stylish merch, delicious food and possibly the greatest roller coaster I have ever been on. ■ Daragh was a guest of Universal Studios. ■ Single day tickets start from around $139 (€123) to $199 (€175), depending on the day, but you can also buy multi-day and multi-park tickets. The Universal Express Pass, from $140 (€123) per person, lets you jump into shorter queues. ■ There are direct flights from Dublin to Orlando with Aer Lingus. Alternatively, British Airways Holidays is running a series of deals to mark the launch of the new theme park, flying out of Gatwick.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Theatre review: A Midsummer Night's Dream beguiles in Lismore
A Midsummer Night's Dream: Lismore; County Waterford ★★★★★ With an idyllic backdrop of a castle worthy of a fairytale, Britten's Shakespearean opera delving into an enchanted world of mischief and magic was an ideal choice for the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival. Many elements combined to beguile in this production on a summer night in Lismore, not least the weather which stayed fair throughout. Director Patrick Mason's production sets the drama in two eras. The fairies are dressed in Elizabethan costumes, shimmering in silver while the mortal lovers evoke the 60s — the decade when the opera premiered at Aldeburgh. The 'rustic craftsmen' don bowler hats for a Morris dance accompanied by a fairy recorder ensemble, (the excellent Piccolo Lasso Children's Chorus). Festival director, Dieter Kaegi assembled a large ensemble of young Irish and international artists active in the European opera scene. Actor, Barry McGovern adds gravitas in the speaking role of Puck. Barry McGovern as Puck. Picture: Frances Marshall Underpinning the drama, the Irish Chamber Orchestra under David Brophy was terrific, giving a solid instrumental foundation throughout. It was good to see an ensemble back in front of the singers and not tucked away to the side. There is much exposed writing for solo instruments; trumpet and horns excelled — and the opening bass glissandi set the mood of magic and menace from the opening bars. Aside from the headline opera productions, there was much to enjoy with an attractive programme of events over the week. At St Carthage's Cathedral, baritone Rory Dunne and soprano Amy Hewitt impressed in the rarely heard one act operetta; The Tinker and the Fairy with music by Michele Esposito and libretto by Douglas Hyde. Later, writer George Bernard Shaw was the focus of an entertaining programme featuring the voices of Gemma Ní Bhriain and Sean Tester. While the closing numbers from My Fair Lady would have benefitted from a lighter touch, the acerbic wit of Shaw's reviews and the songs of Oscar Straus from The Chocolate Soldier drew the loudest cheers from the house. It is good to see the festival continue to build momentum in its 15th year in one of Ireland's most beautiful settings.
The Irish Sun
27-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
JoJo Siwa confirms romance with Chris Hughes after dedicating song to him again
JOJO Siwa has finally confirmed her romance with Chris Hughes after weeks of speculation. The 22-year-old once again dedicated a song to the Love Island star as she performed in London for the second night in the row. 3 JoJo Siwa has confirmed her romance with Chris Hughes Credit: itsjojosiwa/Instagram 3 The pair have been keeping fans guessing for weeks Credit: itsjojosiwa/Instagram During her performance of Kim Carnes' Bette Davis' Eyes, she once again changed the words to " And afterwards the crowd couldn't resist pushing her for answers about Chris. She told her excited fans: 'I'll tell you this much, if it's not obvious, that ending lyric is very much true.' Chris was unable to attend the show, but JoJo showed he was clearly on her mind as she wore his orange beanie hat and confirmed she had spent the evening with him. Read More on JoJo Siwa She explained: 'This morning I woke up and all I heard was [sings Nobody Can Change me] he was singing, so I figured today I'd bring a little bit of him while I sing this next song.' As the show came to an end JoJo broke down in tears and told fans: 'London can I just say, as Joelle a very serious thank you I'm going to take my last two minutes to get a little deep with you all. 'I've gone through a lot of phases in my life, it's crazy what I'm about to say out loud. 'Since I was nine, I've gone through phases of my life where, at times, I have been one of the most hated people in the world. Most read in Reality 'I'm not asking for sympathy, it's OK, but I've been hanging onto things that are out of my control. 'It was really really bad when I was 14. But, right now, personally and professionally I feel incredibly loved. Watch as JoJo Siwa makes Chris Hughes blush with cute tribute as he proudly watches her perform in London 'And it just, nights like this, I don't cry that often, nights like this it just it really hit me, and I can be up here an sing my songs and commit to the bit, but I just want you to know inside my heart is smiling. 'And I feel like, I just feel so grateful because in my life right now, in rooms like this and at home I feel so loved and I feel so special. 'I wanna take a second, and remind everybody if you're doing through a hard time, I promise it gets good, just keep pushing troops.' Last night JoJo Since leaving Celebrity Big Brother last month, the pair have remained in contact and over the last two weeks have been jet-setting together. Mexico before heading to Orlando , Florida , for the launch of Universal's Epic Celestial Carpet Opening Celebration. Photos later revealed pool in Orlando. But the pair have not publicly spoken about if they are a couple or not. 3 JoJo has been performing in London Credit: Doug Seeburg
