How this Colorado alligator ended up in 'Happy Gilmore' movie
An alligator living in Colorado who was once featured in "Happy Gilmore" was the "it" reptile in Hollywood for decades, but before his prime, he had to be discovered like any other actor in the industry.
DENVER (KDVR) — An alligator living in Colorado who was once featured in "Happy Gilmore" was the "it" reptile in Hollywood for decades, but before his prime, he had to be discovered like any other actor in the industry.
Morris, an alligator around 70 years old, lived a long life before retiring in Mosca, Colorado, at Colorado Gators Reptile Park.
According to the owner of the reptile park Jay Young, in Morris' heyday, he was featured in films like “Dr. Dolittle 2,” “Interview with the Vampire,” “Eraser" and "Blues Brothers 2000.” He was also on Jay Leno with Steve Irwin.
But before the fame, Young said Morris' story goes as far back as 1975 when he was found.
Illegal pet turns into Hollywood star
Morris was found in a backyard in Los Angeles as an illegal pet. At the time, he was only about nine feet long and estimated to be about 10 to 20 years old.
Young said Morris was given to the only guy in Los Angeles with the right permits -- Jim Brockett. He worked in the film industry and had permits for alligators and other exotic animals. After Brockett took Morris, the rest was history.
The gator went on to star in many movies -- most notably the scene in "Happy Gilmore" when the alligator was accused of biting off Carl Weathers’ hand and wresting Adam Sandler for the golf ball.
After about 30 years in the industry, Morris retired, and the reptile park took him in so he could have a bigger home. Now, Morris has been in Colorado for almost 20 years, and he most likely won't come out of retirement, even if it's for a sequel.
Will Morris come back for 'Happy Gilmore 2?'
Netflix said the sequel, "Happy Gilmore 2," will be on the streaming site once it comes out, but there has been very little information released about the film since the announcement in May.
While there isn't much information on the second movie, which will be filmed over 25 years after the first, one thing is clear: Morris most likely won't be in the sequel.
Young said he didn't expect a call for the sequel as the alligator dies at the end of the first movie -- and even if the alligator were alive in the film, it would be hard to film with Morris.
"The only way I would allow him to be in that is if they came here to film, he is too old, too big and too valuable, but mostly too old to travel. Something like that could kill him and I wouldn't risk that," said Young.
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