When fans tuned in to watch Happy Gilmore 2, no one expected the comedy film to make them tear up.
Toward the start of the movie, Adam Sandler included a subtle yet touching tribute to a late co-star who he has said was “like a family member” to him.
Cameron Boyce and Sandler first met 15 years ago when Boyce starred as one of Sandler’s spoilt sons in the blockbuster hit, Grown Ups. But their relationship was cut short when Boyce died in 2019 at just 20 years old.
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During their time shooting Grown Ups, Boyce and Sandler became incredibly close, with Sandler now often remembering him as the “sweetest” person he’d ever met.
The Billy Madison star was such a fan of the young actor that the two not only formed a strong friendship, but also a close collaborative work relationship.
Grown Ups was Boyce’s big break, and Sandler was always the first to vouch for his talent and his character.
He was just 11 years old when the film was released, going on to land a leading role in the Disney TV show, Jessie.
In an episode titled Punch Dump Love, Sandler made a cameo appearance as himself, chaperoning the school dance where he gives Boyce’s character relationship advice.
The appearance was a promotional stunt for Grown Ups 2, which saw Boyce and Sandler reprise their roles as father and son, but even in his short appearance on the show the bond between the two actors was clear.
Following his role on Grown Ups 2, Boyce went on star in several Disney projects and was set to to appear in Sandler’s 2020 film Hubie Halloween.
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However, plans were derailed when Boyce died on July 9, 2019 after suffering an epileptic seizure in his sleep.
“Adam and Cameron talked quite a bit in the days leading up to his death,” Boyce’s mum, Libby Boyce, revealed in a recent Instagram post.
“Cameron was supposed to be in Hubies Halloween and they were strategising. They had a bond I think related to being authentic, funny and just keeping it real.”
Following the news of Boyce’s death, Sandler shared a touching tribute to social media to remember his late co-star.
“Too young. Too sweet. Too funny,” he wrote.
“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.”
To honour Boyce’s memory, not only did Sandler dedicate the film Hubie Halloween to him, but he also cast his close friend and Jessie co-star, Karen Brar, in the role.
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Boyce’s mum noted Sandler ”always finds a way to keep Cams memory alive”, with the actor once again sharing a tribute to the late star on what would have been his 21st birthday.
“Happy birthday to Cameron. Would have been 21 years old,” he wrote.
“Such a great kid. We all miss him a lot. Especially his incredible family.”
In 2023, Sandler attended the Cameron Boyce foundation, raising money to fund research into epilepsy and Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy, the official cause of Boyce’s death.
“That boy was one of my favourite kids I ever met in my life and I miss him very much,” the Uncut Gems star said during an interview at the event.
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“What Victor and Libby have to go through every day is the most heartbreaking feeling you could ever have, and the fact that they’re strong enough to do what we’re doing right now and live in it and feel it because Cameron was such a giving kid, protecting his legacy by continuing to do that, it’s just pure strength on their part.”
Boyce’s cameo in Happy Gilmore 2 was short but impactful, he appeared on a TV screen where an episode of Jessie was playing.
Following the release of the film, Libby Boyce shared a post to Instagram to thank Sandler for once again “honouring Cam’s legacy”.
Then, the next day, Sandler opened up about why he chose to include the short cameo.
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“Love that kid. He was one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever met – just constantly in a good mood, constantly great energy, loving to everybody,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
“He felt like a family member to us when we were shooting Grown Ups. 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.
“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.”
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