Adam Sandler says his former onscreen son Cameron Boyce, who died in 2019 at age 20, is still part of his movie-making family.
In “Happy Gilmore 2,” a sequel to Sandler’s 1996 golf comedy, Boyce makes a brief cameo, with one of his acting performances playing on a TV screen toward the beginning of the film.
In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter published July 29, Sandler discussed the tribute, seemingly featuring a clip of Boyce in his “Jessie” role, which aired from 2011 to 2015. Boyce, who played Sandler’s son in the “Grown Ups” films, died in July 2019 after a seizure due to epilepsy.
“He was one of the sweetest persons I’ve ever met — just constantly in a good mood, constantly great energy, loving to everybody,” Sandler said. “He felt like a family member to us when we were shooting ‘Grown Ups.’”
Sandler noted that Boyce was set to appear in his movie “Hubie Halloween.” However, the “Descendants” actor died before filming.
“We were getting ready to have a great time together, and we lost him,” Sandler said of the 2020 comedy.
“We think of him all the time,” he added of the “Happy Gilmore 2″ tribute. 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.”
Online, fans were moved by the tribute, which comes six years after Boyce’s death. Boyce’s mom, Libby Boyce, thanked Sandler for “honoring Cam’s legacy” in a joint post with the official Instagram account for the Cameron Boyce Foundation, which funds epilepsy research, education and awareness.
In her own Instagram post, Libby Boyce said Sandler and her son “talked quite a bit in the days leading up to his death.”
“Cameron was supposed to be in Hubies Halloween and they were strategizing,” she said in the caption. “They had a bond I think related to being authentic, funny and just keeping it real. Adam always finds a way to keep Cams memory alive which warms our heart.”
In 2019, Sandler paid tribute to Cameron Boyce with a post on Instagram.
“Too young. Too sweet. Too funny. Just the nicest, most talented, and most decent kid around,” Sandler wrote at the time. “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. Thinking of your amazing family and sending our deepest condolences.”
The cast and crew of “Hubie Halloween” also remembered Boyce by sharing a statement in the credits.
“In loving memory of Cameron Boyce,” the tribute said. “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.”
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