Universal/ Everett Adam Sandler honored his old friend Morris, the alligator actor inHappy Gilmore, in an Instagram post on May 14 Morris the gator died on May 11 at Colorado Gator Farm, his home of 19 years, at the age of 80 "The day you wouldn't come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art," Sandler wrote of Morris on social media Adam Sandleris remembering an old friend. The actor, 58, paid tribute toMorris, the alligator actor who starred alongside him inHappy Gilmore, in a touching and humorous Instagram post following thegator's death on May 11. For the post, Sandler shared a still from the film, in which he faced off against Morris with a golf club, and reminisced on their shared time on set. "Goodbye, Morris. We are all gonna miss you," Sandler began. "You could be hard on directors, make-up artists, costumers — really anyone with arms or legs — but I know you did it for the ultimate good of the film." Universal He continued, "The day you wouldn't come out of your trailer unless we sent in 40 heads of lettuce taught me a powerful lesson: never compromise your art." Sandler also recalled splitting a Three Musketeers bar from craft service with his cold-blooded friend, and Morris gave him the bigger piece, the actor said. "That's who you were," he added. The actor recalled the gator's on-screen demise — Morris's character got decapitated in the 1996 comedy,which "precluded your participation in the sequel,"Sandler wrote — after which Morris reportedly delivered a fruit basket and "hilarious note," the actor reminisced. "I will miss the sound of your tail sliding through the tall grass, your cold, bumpy skin, but, most of all, I will miss your infectious laugh," Sandler concluded. "Thanks to Mr. Young for taking care of you all these years, and vaya con dios, old friend." Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Morris's death was announced on May 11 in aFacebookpost from Colorado Gator Farm in Mosca, Colorado. The post stated that Morris had been a park resident for the past 19 years, and was the oldest gator at the farm. "His exact age was unknown, but he was 9 feet long in 1975, and by his growth rate and tooth loss, we can estimate his age at over 80 years," the Facebook announcement read. "While we knew this was inevitable, we are very saddened by his passing to old age. RIP Morris." Read the original article onPeople
