Where is the ‘Happy Gilmore’ cast now? See what’s new with Adam Sandler and costars

Adam Sandler (Happy Gilmore)

Adam Sandler plays Happy, who goes from an aspiring hockey star to an unlikely golf phenomenon who captivates the nation. His temper is palpable as he tries to defeat his rival, get the girl, and save his grandma’s home.

“My father was a great golfer… he would go to the range and I would go with him, and I brought my friend Kyle McDonough, who played pro hockey. (Kyle) was driving the ball so far, my father would be like, ‘Man, these hockey kids, what a swing,’” Sandler told The Dan Patrick Show.

He continued, “A few years later, we’re talking about our next movie, and I said my friend was a hockey player, and maybe it would be funny to make a movie about that. Like, hockey mentality, but gets invited on the golf tour.”

The New York native was already a major comedy star when Happy Gilmore premiered. He rose to prominence through Saturday Night Live (1990–1995) and his popular comedy albums, which led to movie stardom with Billy Madison (1995). He often plays some version of an eccentric manchild forced to embrace adulthood in his own way — Big Daddy (1999) and Mr. Deeds (2002), for example.

Sandler is also an avid sports fan, which is often reflected in his films. Beyond Happy Gilmore, he’s starred in sports movies like The Waterboy (1998), the remake of The Longest Yard (2005), and Hustle (2022).

Meanwhile, the actor’s more serious and eclectic turns have earned him massive acclaim — namely Punch-Drunk Love (2004), The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), and Uncut Gems (2019). He even poked fun at his comedy career in longtime pal Judd Apatow’s melancholy dramedy Funny People (2009). He will soon reunite with Noah Baumbach for Jay Kelly (2025), opposite George Clooney.

Sandler met his wife, Jackie, on the set of Big Daddy. They wed in 2003 and have two kids together, Sunny and Sadie.

Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin)

Christopher McDonald plays Happy’s comically villainous, arrogant rival Shooter McGavin, maestro of the finger guns. For Happy Gilmore’s 25th anniversary, McDonald spoke with Vulture about why Shooter still resonates all these years later.

“It’s interesting, because people love to hate Shooter. It’s all in the writing and in the attitude,” McDonald said. “I didn’t want to push it so far that people would respond, ‘Oh, he’s a jerk.’ Don’t get me wrong, he is a jerk, but it was all about him.”

Sandler and McDonald had a viral semi-reunion for Happy Gilmore’s 25th anniversary in 2021, exchanging videos in which they both reprised their characters and showed off their golf games.

McDonald’s big break came as Thelma’s (Geena Davis) jerk husband in the road trip caper Thelma & Louise (1991). He’s been a ubiquitous character actor ever since, from the scene-stealing game show host in Darren Aronofsky’s Requiem for a Dream (2000) to the college dean in The House Bunny (2008).

The small screen has been just as welcoming, with regular gigs on Family Law (1999–2002) and Harry’s Law (2011–2012), plus recurring parts on everything from Boardwalk Empire (2010–2012) to Ballers (2016–2019). The veteran actor recently earned his first Emmy nomination for his role as casino owner (and Jean Smart’s one-time employer) Marty Ghilain on Hacks (2021–present). And, of course, he’s reprising the role of Shooter McGavin for Happy Gilmore 2.

McDonald has been married to actress Lupe Gidley since 1992. The couple shares four children.

Carl Weathers (Chubbs Peterson)

Every golfer needs a coach, and for Happy Gilmore, that coach is Chubbs Peterson. Carl Weathers’ beloved sidekick was once expected to be golf’s next big thing… until his hand was bitten off by an alligator.

“I loved it. At the time, it was interesting because there were so many crazy kind of movies being made and Adam Sandler was on the ascent then,” Weathers told The Rich Eisen Show. “I had this chance to meet with him and just talk with him for a bit, and he gave his blessing, and I was in the movie and, you know, had one of the best times ever.”

Best known for playing Apollo Creed opposite Sylvester Stallone in the first four Rocky installments, Weathers had been a force in pop culture for decades. The former Oakland Raiders linebacker was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s shady military pal in Predator (1987) before landing his own macho action vehicle in Action Jackson (1988).

Shortly after Gilmore, the veteran tough guy found a whole new audience as an absurd, fictionalized version of himself on Arrested Development (2004–2013). He later lent his vocal talents to Pixar as the appropriately named Combat Carl in Toy Story 4 (2019), and joined the Star Wars universe as a bounty hunter on The Mandalorian (2019–2023).

Weathers died in 2024 at age 76. He is survived by two sons. Sandler honored his late costar in an Instagram post, calling him a “true great man. Great dad. Great actor. Great athlete.” He continued, “So much fun to be around always. Smart as hell. Loyal as hell. Funny as hell. Loved his sons more than anything. What a guy!! Everyone loved him. My wife and I had the best times with him every time we saw him. Love to his entire family and Carl will always be known as a true legend.”

Julie Bowen (Virginia Venit)

Julie Bowen was the hard-working public relations extraordinaire, Virginia, Happy’s love interest who believes in him even when others don’t.

As for Bowen, she had faith in Sandler but didn’t expect the movie to become such a smash. “I hated my hair… I did not love it, but I loved Adam. I loved him on Saturday Night Live,” Bowen told Sherri. “I was excited to do the movie, but I was like, ‘No one’s gonna see it. It’s fine if your hair’s bad,’ and of course it’s the biggest movie I’ve ever (done).”

Happy Gilmore proved to be Bowen’s breakthrough, leading to a brief run on ER (1998–1999) and a co-lead performance on Ed (2000–2004). After a couple of seasons on Boston Legal (2005–2008) and a key flashback arc on Lost (2005–2007), she landed her signature role as the hard-nosed mom Claire Dunphy on Modern Family (2009–2020).

In addition to appearances in big-screen comedies like Horrible Bosses (2011) and Life of the Party (2018), the Ivy League-educated actress reunited with Sandler for Hubie Halloween (2020) — once again playing his love interest, this time as Violet Valentine. She also appears in Happy Gilmore 2.

Bowen has three kids with her ex-husband of 14 years, real estate investor and software developer Scott Phillips.

Allen Covert (Otto)

Long-time Sandler collaborator Allen Covert plays Otto, whom Happy pulls off the street upon needing a caddie on tour.

Covert has been tied to Sandler from the beginning, as they debuted together in Going Overboard (1989). He’s since appeared in several of Sandler’s movies, including Little Nicky (2000), 50 First Dates (2004), and Anger Management (2003). One of his most popular characters was in The Wedding Singer (1998) as the Sandman’s best friend, who ultimately convinces him to pursue Drew Barrymore’s Julia.

To many, the Florida native is best known for his lead turn in the cult comedy Grandma’s Boy (2006). He also teamed up with Steve Zahn for the Bigfoot-themed comedy, Strange Wilderness (2008).

Covert married Kathryn Hagstrom in 2006. The couple split in 2019 and share four children.

Bob Barker (Himself)

Best known for hosting the long-running game show The Price is Right, Bob Barker got the tables turned on him in Happy Gilmore, with Sandler’s “The price is wrong, b—-!” punctuating an uproarious cameo.

“Someone from his office approached me and said that they wanted to do this fight scene in this picture,” Barker told CBS News. “I said, ‘Well, who wins the fight?’ And they said, ‘You! You win the fight.’ I said, ‘I’ll do the picture… I said, ‘Wait a minute… I know how to fight.’ I said, ‘I want to do the fight scenes. I want to win the fight.’”

The pop culture icon hosted Truth or Consequences and Miss Universe for two decades each. Behind the scenes, he was known for his animal rights activism, which was celebrated in a one-hour The Price is Right special hosted by his successor, Drew Carey.

Barker was married to Dorothy Jo Gideon for nearly 40 years until she died in 1981. He was in a long-term relationship with fellow animal rights activist Nancy Burnet until his death in 2023 at age 99.

Richard Kiel (Mr. Larson)

Richard Kiel was Happy’s short-tempered, physically imposing, 7-foot-tall boss, Mr. Larson. He has a nail in his head thanks to an incident with Happy, but eventually comes around to support him.

The actor made his presence felt on the gridiron in The Longest Yard (1974) — incidentally later remade by Sandler — as well as Clint Eastwood’s Pale Rider (1985) and the Gene Wilder/Richard Pryor buddy comedy Silver Streak (1976). Of course, he’s still best known as the iconic Bond henchman Jaws in The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Moonraker (1979).

Kiel was married to his second wife, Diane Rogers, from 1974 until his death in 2014 at age 74. The couple had four children and nine grandchildren.

Frances Bay (Grandma Gilmore)

Frances Bay was Happy’s grandmother, with whom he lived after his father’s death. She becomes the film’s driving force as Happy has to win money to save her house.

Born in 1919, the Canadian actress began acting in Winnipeg, voicing princesses on the radio before hosting another radio show in Toronto for overseas service members during World War II. After a long hiatus, she became a prolific character actor, notably playing Fonzie’s grandmother on Happy Days (1982–1984) in addition to guest spots on several major TV shows in the ’80s and ’90s.

She won a Gemini Award back in Canada for her guest appearance on Road to Avonlea (1996). In one of her most famous roles in the States, Jerry forcibly stole her marble rye in Seinfeld (1996–1998), while David Lynch fans know her from Blue Velvet (1986) and Twin Peaks (1990).

Elsewhere on the big screen, she popped up in everything from Big Top Pee-wee (1988) to John Carpenter’s In the Mouth of Madness (1994). She later had a recurring role on the hit sitcom The Middle (2009–2011).

Bay had one son with her husband, Charles. She died of pneumonia in 2011 at 92 years old.