How Adam Sandler Honored This Late Disney Channel Star

Published: August 1, 2025

By Mallory Mattingly

Adam Sandler paid tribute to his late on-screen son Cameron Boyce in HAPPY GILMORE 2.

In 2019, Boyce died at age 20 “in his sleep due to a seizure which was a result of an ongoing medical condition for which he was being treated,” a family spokesperson said at the time, per The Hollywood Reporter.

He was best known for his roles in JESSIE, DESCENDANTS and MRS. FLETCHER.

Boyce played Keithie Feder in GROWN UPS and GROWN UPS 2, the son of Sandler’s Lenny.

“Too young. Too sweet. Too funny. Just the nicest, most talented, and most decent kid around,” Sandler posted after Boyce’s death. “Loved that kid. Cared so much about his family. Cared so much about the world. Thank you, Cameron, for all you gave to us.”

Sandler’s tribute to Boyce occurred at the beginning of HAPPY GILMORE 2.

As Sandler’s character approaches a check-in booth to purchase a round of golf, “viewers get a quick glimpse of Boyce on the screen, in what appears to be an episode from his Disney Channel show JESSIE, where he played Luke Ross from 2011 to 2015,” THR said.

Fans took to social media to speak up about the moment.

“Adam put a tiny Cameron Boyce (played his son in GROWN UPS) tribute in HAPPY GILMORE 2. Excuse me while I sob,” one person shared on X.

Adam put a tiny Cameron Boyce (played his son in Grown Ups) tribute in Happy Gilmore 2. Excuse me while I sob 😭 pic.twitter.com/utEsiE6sSV

— 𝐤𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧⸆⸉ 🦋 (@perfectlyfine89) July 26, 2025

Another person said, “It’s 10am and I’m crying seeing that Adam Sandler put a Cameron Boyce cameo in HAPPY GILMORE 2.”

Related: HAPPY GILMORE 2

It’s 10am and I’m crying seeing that Adam Sandler put a Cameron Boyce cameo in Happy Gilmore 2 😭 pic.twitter.com/D88rXYOArb

— 𝓑𝓇𝒾𝓉𝓉𝒶𝓃𝓎 🎸 𝓐𝓁𝓎𝓈𝓈𝒶 (@Miss_Bertany) July 26, 2025

The young star’s unexpected death took his friends and costars by surprise.

“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,” Sandler said of Boyce, per PEOPLE. “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.”

Movieguide® gave HAPPY GILMORE 2 a -2 content score for foul language, comical violence, a few suggestive jokes and issues of alcohol abuse. However, the review praised its celebration of family and forgiveness.

HAPPY GILMORE 2 is a fun follow-up to the first movie. It has funny, moving performances from Adam Sandler and his real-life daughter, Sunny. It also has some great cameos from comedy and sports stars. HAPPY GILMORE 2 has a strong moral worldview, with redemptive content. Many scenes promote strong family relationships, forgiveness and turning away from alcohol. Happy’s dedicated to being a good father. Meanwhile, his children love and support him. However, HAPPY GILMORE 2 has lots of foul language, comical violence, a few suggestive jokes, and issues of alcohol abuse. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.

While Boyce’s friends, family and fans still miss him, his memory continues to live on.

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