Original Happy Gilmore cast now as long-awaited sequel airs on Netflix
Happy Gilmore 2 has finally landed on Netflix, with comedy lovers gearing up to watch the long awaited sequel this weekend. Adam Sandler reprises one of his most iconic roles, stepping back into the shoes of the wild ex-hockey player who discovers an unexpected talent for golf.
Nearly 30 years after the original, the sequel finds Happy grappling with a sudden tragedy that pushes him to pick up golf once more - this time to support his daughter Vienna (played by Sunny Sandler) as she chases her dream of becoming a dancer.
Packed with plenty of cameos and laughs, the movie hasn't yet received a Rotten Tomatoes score but is sure to delight fans of the first film, the Mirror reports.
With many original cast members returning for cameos, let's take a look at what the stars have been up to over the past two decades.
Adam Sandler
The legendary comedian Adam Sandler starred in the original comedy and of course returns for the sequel as the washed-up hockey player turned golfer.
Almost 30 years later, the 58-year-old Sandler has become one of Hollywood's most successful comic actors, staring in hits like The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, Click and Grown Ups.
He has also expanded his range with acclaimed dramatic roles in films such as Punch-Drunk Love, Uncut Gems and Hustle, along with lending his voice to Dracula in the popular Hotel Transylvania animated series.
Away from the spotlight, Sandler has been married to Jacqueline 'Jackie' Sandler since 2003. The couple has two daughters, Sadie and Sunny, both of whom have appeared alongside their dad in the coming-of-age comedy You Are So Not Invited to My Bat Mitzvah as well as Happy Gilmore 2.
Christopher McDonald
Christopher McDonald is widely recognised by fans as Happy's fiery rival, Shooter McGavin, a role he reprises in the sequel.
His career also includes notable appearances in films such as Thelma and Louise - where he starred opposite his former fiancée Geena Davis - Leave It to Beaver, Requiem for a Dream and The House Bunny.
Off-screen, McDonald has been married to actress Lupe Gidley since 1992, and the couple has four children: three daughters and a son.
Julie Bowen
Julie Bowen played Happy's love interest, Virginia Venit, in the original Happy Gilmore and has since become a household name for her role as Claire Dunphy on the hit ABC sitcom Modern Family.
She portrayed Claire for over a decade, earning six Primetime Emmy nominations and winning two awards.
Bowen returns for Happy Gilmore 2 and, off-screen, married real estate investor and software developer Scott Phillips in 2004. The couple has three sons, but Bowen filed for divorce in February 2018, citing irreconcilable differences. The divorce was finalised later that September.
Frances Bay
Legendary Canadian comedian France Bay played Happy's grandmother in the original Happy Gilmore and become a beloved screen icon with memorable roles in shows like Happy Days, The Dukes of Hazzard, Cheers and Seinfeld.
Following the first film she went on to star in the likes of Charmed, Grey's Anatomy and The Middle as well as films like Stranger than Fiction and The Wedding Planner.
Unfortunately, Bay will not be appearing in Happy Gilmore 2 as she passed away at the age of 92 in 2011, due to complications from pneumonia.
Allen Covert
Allen Covert, a longtime collaborator of Sandler, played Otto, the homeless man who eventually becomes Happy's caddy in the 1996 film.
He returns for the sequel, having also co-starred alongside Sandler in hits like Big Daddy, The Wedding Singer, Anger Management, and 50 First Dates.
Covert has been involved in nearly all of Sandler's projects, either as a supporting actor or producer, and has announced plans to launch his own production company aimed at bringing R-rated comedies back to the big screen. He married Kathryn Ashley Hagstrom in 2006 but filed for divorce in 2019.
Richard Kiel
Known as the 'Gentle Giant' for his towering height of 7 feet 1.5 inches, Richard Kiel famously portrayed the James Bond villain Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker.
He also played Happy's intimidating boss, Mr. Larson, in the original Happy Gilmore film, but sadly will not appear in the sequel. Kiel passed away from heart disease on September 10, 2014, just three days shy of his 75th birthday.
Kiel was married to Faye Daniels from 1960 to 1973, and then married Diane Rogers in 1974. They remained together until his passing, raising four children and welcoming nine grandchildren during their 40-year marriage.
Ben Stiller
A-list comedy star Ben Stiller played an uncredited role as the abusive elderly Hal, who torments Happy's grandmother in the original Happy Gilmore.
Since then, Stiller has become internationally known for his roles in Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, Meet the Parents and the Night at the Museum franchise, as well as more dramatic parts in While We're Young, The Meyerowitz Stories and Brad's Status.
In addition to acting, Stiller has directed several of his most iconic films, including Zoolander, Tropic Thunder, and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. More recently, he has earned praise for directing episodes of the acclaimed Apple TV+ sci-fi drama Severance.
Outside of his career, Stiller has been married to actress Christine Taylor since 2000. The couple, who have co-starred in multiple films, briefly separated in 2017 but reunited while living together during the COVID-19 pandemic. They share two children, a daughter, Ella, and a son, Quinn.
Carl Weathers
One of the most beloved characters from the original Happy Gilmore is Carl Weathers as Happy's coach, Chubbs Peterson, who famously lost a hand to an alligator.
Weathers is also well-known for playing a fictionalised version of himself on Arrested Development. Before venturing into comedy, he earned fame for his iconic role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky series, as well as portraying Colonel Al Dillon in the original Predator alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.
In recent years, Weathers made a major comeback starring as Greef Karga in the Star Wars spin-off series The Mandalorian, a performance that earned him an Emmy nomination.
Happy Gilmore 2 pays frequent tribute to Weathers, who sadly passed away last year at the age of 76 from suspected atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
He was married three times and is survived by his partner of ten years, Christine Kludjian.
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