July 28, 2025: “Happy Gilmore 2,” the long-awaited sequel to Netflix’s hit show, came out on July 25. People are talking about it not just because of the famous cameos and funny scenes, but also because it pays tribute to the late actor Cameron Boyce. Sadly, Boyce died in 2019. He was in “Grown Ups” and “Grown Ups 2” alongside Adam Sandler.
In “Happy Gilmore 2,” there is a little nod to Boyce that you might miss if you don’t pay attention. When Sandler’s character, Happy Gilmore, arrives for a tee time, one of the people who works at the golf club is watching TV on a laptop. People who pay close attention will see that the video on the television is from an episode of “Jessie,” a popular Disney Channel show that Boyce appeared in. A lot of people on social media have noticed and praised this subtle but moving reference.
This is the second time Adam Sandler has honored the young actor in a movie. Boyce was supposed to be in the 2020 Netflix movie “Hubie Halloween” with Sandler. After he died, the movie was dedicated to him, and the credits had a touching message: “In loving memory of Cameron Boyce.” He left us way too young. He was one of the kindest, coolest, funniest, and most brilliant kids we knew. You will always be in our hearts, and we miss you every day.
As a kid actor on the Disney Channel, Cameron Boyce became well-known for playing Luke Ross in “Jessie” (2011–2015) and Carlos in “The Descendants” movie series. He was also in “Mirrors” (2008) and “Eagle Eye” (2008) before playing Keithie Feder, Sandler’s son, in both “Grown Ups” (2010) and its 2013 sequel.
Boyce died suddenly at the age of twenty on July 6, 2019, after he had an epileptic attack while he was sleeping. After he died, several of his performances, such as those in “Descendants 3,” “Mrs. Fletcher,” “Paradise City,” and “Runt,” were made available.
Adam Sandler posted a moving memorial on X (previously Twitter) when Boyce passed away. He said, “Too young.” Too nice. Very funny. The best, friendliest, and most gifted kid around. That kid was great. Loved his family very lot. Loved the planet so much. Thank you for everything you did for us, Cameron. There was so much more to come. Our hearts are all broken. Sending our heartfelt condolences and thinking about your wonderful family.
The deliberate inclusion of Cameron Boyce in “Happy Gilmore 2” shows how much of an impact he had on the people he worked with and the entertainment industry as a whole.