Some unfortunate news hits the horror community this week, as Morris, the 640-pound American alligator that worked in Hollywood films and TV for more than 30 years, has passed away at the Colorado Gator Farm, where he was spending his retirement.
Morris had appeared in several favorites among the horror world, including the gory, underrated creature features from the ‘80s, Alligator and Alligator II: The Mutation. He also appeared in 1994’s Interview with the Vampire, and gets a brief mention from Tom Cruise’s Lestat when returning to exact his revenge on Louis and Claudia:
“Ask the alligator… his blood helped.”
Most famously, Morris is known for his role as the gator that ate Chubbs’ hand (and eventually scared him into falling out of a window to his death) in Adam Sandler’s hit 1996 comedy, Happy Gilmore. He appeared in movies and TV from 1975 to 2006, from Dr. Dolittle 2, and Blues Brothers 2000, to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s lesser-known sci-fi action flick, Eraser.
Morris died naturally of old age at 80(ish), as the lifespan for American alligators is 50-70, with some in captivity living to be more than 80 years old.
Related: Squeezed to Death: An Expedition Through the ‘Anaconda’ Franchise
According to CBS, Colorado Gator Farm owner Jay Young had this to say about Morris’ passing: “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.”
While Morris will be missed by his family and remembered by the horror community, the Colorado Gator Farm plans to have him taxidermied and displayed to the public as a frightening memorial.
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