Happy Gilmore 2 may be packed with celebrity cameos, but one of the most touching is also the easiest to miss. In a subtle and emotional tribute, Adam Sandler included the late Cameron Boyce in the Netflix sequel — and fans who caught it were deeply moved.
Early in the film, Sandler’s iconic character, Happy Gilmore, stops at a check-in booth at a golf course. On a small TV screen in the background, a scene from the Disney Channel sitcom Jessie plays — briefly showing Boyce in his beloved role as Luke Ross. It’s a blink-and-you-miss-it moment, but one filled with heart.
Sandler and Boyce shared a special bond. They starred together as father and son in Grown Ups (2010) and Grown Ups 2 (2013), and Sandler even appeared in an episode of Jessie in 2013. Tragically, Boyce passed away in July 2019 at just 20 years old after suffering an epileptic seizure.
During a 2020 appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Sandler remembered Boyce as “a great kid” and an extraordinary young talent.
“I watched him become a superstar. My kids worshiped him,” Sandler shared. “He came to my daughter’s bat mitzvah and signed autographs for every kid there. He was always doing charity work. Just a kind, solid, talented kid.”
Now, six years after his passing, fans have praised Sandler online for the meaningful cameo:
“Adam Sandler honoring Cameron Boyce in Happy Gilmore 2 melts my heart,” one fan wrote on X.
Another added, “The subtle nod to Cameron Boyce got me in my feelings—RIP Cameron. Adam Sandler is a real one.”
Alongside the tribute to Boyce, the film features other big-name cameos, including Bad Bunny, Travis Kelce, Eminem, Post Malone, Guy Fieri, and Jeopardy! host Ken Jennings. Still, it’s the quiet moment with Boyce that left the biggest emotional impact.
This touching gesture reminds fans that while laughs are abundant in Happy Gilmore 2, its heart remains just as strong.
