When Happy Gilmore 2 dropped on Netflix on July 25, fans were expecting laughs and nostalgia. But what they didn’t expect was to be moved to tears by a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it tribute to the late Cameron Boyce.
The beloved actor - who also played Adam Sandler’s son Keithie in Grown Ups and Grown Ups 2 - tragically passed away in July 2019 at just 20 years old.
Six years on, Sandler has once again found a subtle but powerful way to honor his former co-star — and viewers have been left deeply touched by the gesture.
The tribute that broke hearts
In an early scene of Happy Gilmore 2, as Sandler’s character approaches a golf course check-in booth, a television behind the desk plays a snippet of Disney Channel’s Jessie. That’s where audiences catch a brief glimpse of Boyce’s character, Luke Ross — a quiet, heartfelt nod to the actor who brought so much life to the screen.
Fans quickly took to social media to share their emotional reactions. One viewer posted: “Adam Sandler honoring Cameron Boyce in Happy Gilmore 2 melts my heart.” Another added: “Excuse me while I sob.”
“Adam put a tiny Cameron Boyce (played his son in Grown Ups) tribute in Happy Gilmore 2. Excuse me while I sob,” someone else echoed on X.
Though it lasts just seconds, the cameo hit hard for fans who remember the actor’s bright spirit—and his devastatingly early death.
A promising career cut short
Boyce died suddenly in his sleep on July 6, 2019. His family confirmed shortly after that the cause was a seizure resulting from an ongoing medical condition: epilepsy. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner ruled his passing as "sudden unexpected death in epilepsy," or SUDEP.
He had suffered his first seizure in 2017, and over the next 13 months, his parents Victor and Libby Boyce tried to find answers.
"You’re diagnosed as epileptic. Now we need a plan. We need to find meds, we need to find information, treatment," his father said during a 2023 appearance on The Squeeze podcast, per PEOPLE.
Libby recalled that Cameron experienced five seizures in total—all during sleep. “I thought because he had them in his sleep that he was safe,” she said. “But actually having them in your sleep is more commonly associated with people dying.”
The Boyce family later launched The Cameron Boyce Foundation to fund epilepsy research and promote awareness—hoping to prevent other families from facing the same tragedy.
A legacy remembered by loved ones and co-stars
Sandler, who had a close relationship with Boyce, was one of many celebrities to pay tribute after his death. In a heartbreaking Instagram post, he wrote:
“Too young. Too sweet. Too funny. 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.”
Sandler previously honored Boyce in 2020’s Hubie Halloween, where a tribute card during the credits read:
“In loving memory of Cameron Boyce. Gone way too soon and one of the kindest, coolest, funniest, and most talented kids we knew. You live on forever in our hearts.”
Other co-stars have kept his memory alive too. Earlier this month, three of Boyce’s Descendants castmates—Sofia Carson, Booboo Stewart, and Sarah Jeffery—shared heartfelt tributes on Instagram to mark the sixth anniversary of his death.
“Impossible to forget you Cameron,” wrote director Kenny Ortega. “When you entered a room the light grew brighter because of your presence.”
More than just a child star
Boyce's career spanned Disney Channel hits like Jessie, Descendants, and Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything, alongside roles in Mirrors, Eagle Eye, Runts, and the HBO series Mrs. Fletcher. He also appeared in Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, showcasing his range and versatility as an actor.
In addition to his screen work, Boyce was known for his activism and compassion—values his parents say were central to who he was.
“Our big message is about taking that diagnosis very seriously,” said Libby Boyce. “And the medical community doesn’t tell you it’s serious, but you need to know it is... Even as hard as it is, and just every day, [I’m] like, ‘Why did this kid die?’—I know that people are safe because of him.”
Gone too soon, but not forgotten
Cameron Boyce’s life was short, but his impact remains immense. Through every tribute, cameo, and social post, his legacy continues—and thanks to friends like Adam Sandler, his memory lives on with warmth, humor, and enduring love.
Happy Gilmore 2 is now streaming on Netflix.