Colorado’s Scary Celebrity Alligator Set to Be Taxidermied, Spooking Kids for Years
Colorado recently lost a resident celebrity, an alligator named Morris, famous for several movies and shows, including “Happy Gilmore.” Now, his owner is paying tribute to the star so his legacy will live on.
In one of the most scenic parts of the state lies
Colorado Gators Reptile Park
, home to alligators, tortoises, emus, cows and more. But the star of the show was Morris, who died of old age in his “Hollywood” pen earlier this week.
“Happy Gilmore, it was Adam Sandler. Like, that’s just nostalgia. That’s just my childhood,” said owner Jay Young.
Young said he’s grateful they had Morris for so long and that the alligator lived a happy life with them.
Young mentioned, ‘It’s challenging. For two decades, we grew acquainted with him and learned to cherish him. After his departure from Hollywood nineteen years ago,’” she explained. “‘When he moved here, people thought he was advanced in age; some believed he had only one year left, others guessed maybe up to ten years. Surprisingly, he managed to survive for nineteen more years.’
The alligator was a staple of a Colorado staple that’s been through a rough last few years, between a devastating fire that took the lives of some of their animals, the loss of co-workers, and now, Morris.
During his tenure in Hollywood, Morris had multiple roles, such as in the films “Happy Gilmore,” “Interview with the Vampire,” and “Dr. Doolittle 2.” Additionally, he appeared on an episode of “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.”
He retired in 2006 and was later found in the backyard of a Los Angeles home as an illegal pet. From there, Morris was sent to live at Colorado Gators.
The news of Morris’s death reached Sandler, who wrote a tribute to his former co-star on
social media
, mentioning he gained insight from Morris about recognizing his own value on set.
You might have been tough on directors, makeup artists, costume designers—basically anyone with limbs—but I understand you did it all for the greater good of the movie,” Sandler remarked. “The moment you refused to leave your trailer unless we brought in 40 heads of lettuce taught me an important lesson: always stay true to your artistic vision.
“As a matter of fact, it wasn’t only about RIP Morris; it also provided some comic relief,” Young stated with a chuckle.
Young stated that Morris plans to keep teaching even after death, with his body being taxidermized so that he can carry on frightening children for many years ahead.
“Visitors can enter, touch his teeth, take photographs, and do similar activities,” Young clarified.
A new chapter in the cycle of life started recently at Colorado Gators with the hatching of an infant emu. Life and death are integral parts of this continuum, remarked Young, mentioning they could possibly christen the young emu as Morris, paying tribute to the departed celebrity.
Young suggested that the best way for fans to pay tribute to Morris is by visiting Colorado Gators to see what’s happening there. However, he also urged supporters to lend a hand to their nearby animal shelters, as these places often require considerable assistance.