Adam Sandler speaks out on Cameron Boyce's ‘Happy Gilmore 2' tribute
The actor, 58, is addressing the heartfelt tribute he filmed in honor of Cameron Boyce in 'Happy Gilmore 2.'
Sandler and Boyce, who died at age 20 in 2019 after suffering an epileptic seizure, starred in the 2010 comedy 'Grown Ups' and the 2013 sequel 'Grown Ups 2' together.
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They portrayed the father-son duo Lenny and Keithie Feder.
In 'Happy Gilmore 2,' the clerk is watching the Disney Channel show 'Jessie' on a small TV on his desk. Boyce starred as Luke Ross in 'Jessie' from 2011 to 2015.
9 Cameron Boyce and Adam Sandler at the 2017 Radio Disney Music Awards.
Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images
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9 Cameron Boyce's tribute in 'Happy Gilmore 2.'
Netflix
'Love that kid,' Sandler told The Hollywood Reporter in an interview published July 29. 'He was one of the sweetest persons I've ever met — just constantly in a good mood, constantly great energy, loving to everybody.'
'He felt like a family member to us when we were shooting 'Grown Ups,'' he added. 'Of course, we were going to shoot with Cameron on 'Hubie Halloween,' and we were getting ready to have a great time together, and we lost him. We think of him all the time.'
Sandler came up with the idea with writer Tim Herlihy.
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'This was just a moment where we were like, 'What should we throw on the TV?' We said, 'Might as well throw Cameron in there. He's the man. Keep him part of our family.' And so that's why we did it.'
In the 2020 Netflix comedy 'Hubie Halloween,' Sandler wrote a touching message in remembrance of Boyce.
'In loving memory of CAMERON BOYCE,' the tribute read. '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.'
9 Adam Sandler stars in 'Happy Gilmore 2.'
Courtesy of Netflix
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Eagle-eyed viewers flocked to social media after they spotted Sandler's tribute to Boyce in 'Happy Gilmore 2.'
'Adam put a tiny Cameron Boyce (played his son in 'Grown Ups') tribute in 'Happy Gilmore 2.' Excuse me while I sob,' one viewer wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Boyce's mom, Libby Boyce, also shared how much she appreciated the tribute.
'Adam always finds a way to keep Cams memory alive,' she wrote via Instagram on July 27, 'which warms our heart.'
9 Adam Sandler and Cameron Boyce in 'Grown Ups 2.'
©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
9 Adam Sandler, Jake Goldberg, Salma Hayek, Cameron Boyce, Alexys Nycole Sanchez in 'Grown Ups 2.'
©Columbia Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
'Adam and Cameron talked quite a bit in the days leading up to his death,' she recalled. 'Cameron was supposed to be in 'Hubie Halloween' and they were strategizing. They had a bond I think related to being authentic, funny and just keeping it real.'
Boyce was also well known for his work in 'Descendants' and 'Mrs. Fletcher.' He passed away in his sleep on July 6, 2019.
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'It is with a profoundly heavy heart that we report that this morning we lost Cameron,' a family rep said in a statement at the time. 'He passed away in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated.'
9 The cast of Disney Channel's 'Descendants.'
Disney Channel via Getty Images
9 Sofia Carson, BooBoo Stewart, Cameron Boyce, Brenna D'Amico in 'Descendants 3.'
'The world is now undoubtedly without one of its brightest lights, but his spirit will live on through the kindness and compassion of all who knew and loved him,' the statement continued. 'We are utterly heartbroken and ask for privacy during this immensely difficult time as we grieve the loss of our precious son and brother.'
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In the young star's honor, his family started the Cameron Boyce Foundation to raise money for research, education and awareness surrounding epilepsy.
Sandler was one of the first people to pay tribute to the Disney vet after his passing.
9 Cameron Boyce poses on the carpet in 2019.
AFP via Getty Images
9 Cameron Boyce attends the Radio Disney Music Awards at CBS Studios in June 2019.
WireImage
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'Too young. Too sweet. Too funny,' he wrote on social media. '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 concluded. 'Thinking of your amazing family and sending our deepest condolences.'
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