The real Barker died two years ago in 2023, at the age of 99. But Sandler pays tribute to their epic fight in Happy Gilmore 2, with a new fight, this time between Gilmore and his longtime rival, Shooter McGavin, played once again by the hilarious Christopher McDonald.

Adam Sandler said he had to rewrite Happy Gilmore 2 following Carl Weathers ‘ death. The actor and comedian, who is reprising his role as Happy Gilmore in the sequel to his beloved 1996 sports comedy, recently told Collider that Weathers’ Derick “Chubbs” Peterson was planning to return for the new movie before he died last year at age 76 .

“Carl Weathers had a massive part,” Sandler, 58, confirmed. Weathers, who died at age 76 on Feb. 1, 2024, played the one-handed Derick "Chubbs" Peterson — mentor to Sandler’s titular hockey player-turned-golfer — in the 1996 sports comedy.