Adam Sandler has paid heartfelt tribute to his Happy Gilmore alligator co-star following the reptile’s shock death at more than 80 years old.

Morris, a 2.7m long American alligator who was one of the most famous reptiles in the industry, passed away in captivity at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park on Sunday.

The alligator memorably starred with Sandler as a beast that had bitten off Chubbs Peterson’s (Carl Weathers) hand.

Morris met an untimely end on screen as Sandler’s Gilmore later presented Chubbs with the animal’s severed head.

Sandler wrote: ‘Goodbye, Morris. We are all gonna miss you. 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.

‘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. I will never forget at craft service that time when we split the Three Musketeers bar and you let me have the bigger half. But that’s who you were.

Adam Sandler has paid heartfelt tribute to his Happy Gilmore alligator co-star following the reptile’s shock death at more than 80 years old – pictured in the 1996 film

Morris, a 2.7m long American alligator who was one of the most famous reptiles in the industry, passed away in captivity at the Colorado Gators Reptile Park on Sunday – pictured 2022

‘I know your character’s decapitation in the first movie precluded your participation in the sequel, but we all appreciated the fruit basket and the hilarious note.

‘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. Thanks to Mr. Young for taking care of you all these years, and vaya con dios, old friend.’

‘Colorado Gators is sad to report the passing away of our oldest alligator. Morris was known for his work in many movies and TV shows from 1975 to 2006, when he retired to live out his days at Colorado Gators,’ the park wrote on social media.

‘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. We are very saddened by his passing to old age. RIP Morris.’

The beloved reptile appeared in one of Dr Dolittle 2’s most memorable scenes, in which he cheekily bit Steve Irwin, who was playing himself filming his TV show The Crocodile Hunter, as Murphy’s character looked on it shock.

‘Crikey… Me arm!’ Irwin yelped in the scene after a misadventure with the temperamental gator.

The animal also appeared in Interview With The Vampire with Tom Cruise.

Heartbroken fans took to social media to pay tribute to Morris.

The alligator memorably starred with Sandler as a beast that had bitten off Chubbs Peterson’s (Carl Weathers) hand. Morris met an untimely end on screen as Sandler’s Gilmore later presented Chubbs with the animal’s severed head.

Morris appeared alongside Steve Irwin and Eddie Murphy in the 2001 Hollywood movie Dr Dolittle 2

The beloved reptile appeared in one of Dr Dolittle 2’s most memorable scenes, in which he cheekily bit Irwin, who was playing himself filming his TV show The Crocodile Hunter , as Murphy’s character looked on it shock

‘I was able to visit Morris a few times over the years. He was a famous movie star,’ one person wrote.

‘So sad! Sorry for the loss of this beautiful Gator,’ another added.

It comes just months after Paul Hogan’s beloved Crocodile Dundee co-star died in Darwin.

Burt, the 5.1-metre 700kg monster crocodile from the comedy adventure film, died in captivity in December.

He was thought to have been over 90 years old.

Colorado Gators owner Jay Young revealed Morris’ last moments in a heartbreaking Facebook video as he held the dead animal.

He said: ‘He started acting strange a week ago. He wasn’t looking at us and wasn’t taking food. I know it’s strange to people that we get so attached to an alligator. To all our animals, we love our cats and dogs, too.

‘It’s the worst part of what we do, losing animals. But this isn’t as tragic as some of the things we’ve experienced in the past. He had a happy time here, and he died of old age, and it’s not as tragic as some of the family members we’ve lost here. But that’s part of life. Everything that lives must die.’

‘Morris [will be] taxidermied so that he can continue to scare children for years to come.’

Morris was an illegal pet in an LA backyard before being taken to a new owner who worked in the film industry. when he was around 10-20 years old, per CBS News Colorado