History of Happy Gilmore in Timeline

Happy Gilmore follows the story of Happy Gilmore, an aggressive and unsuccessful hockey player who discovers a surprising talent for golf. Driven by the need to save his grandmother's house from foreclosure by the IRS, Happy enters a golf tournament to win the prize money. His unconventional and often destructive playing style clashes with the refined world of professional golf, particularly with the arrogant and villainous Shooter McGavin. Through the help of a former golf pro, Chubbs Peterson, Happy learns to control his temper and harness his unique skills, ultimately competing for the championship and the funds to save his grandmother's home.

1980: Inspiration from Caddyshack

The golf comedy Caddyshack from 1980 was cited as an inspiration by Adam Sandler for Happy Gilmore.

1987: Reference to Predator in Happy Gilmore

The movie Happy Gilmore makes an in-joke referencing actor Carl Weathers' 1987 film Predator, which depicts his character losing his arm; in Happy Gilmore, Chubbs Peterson's character is missing a hand.

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1994: Caddyshack as inspiration

In a 1994 interview, Adam Sandler cited the 1980 golf comedy Caddyshack as inspiration. It was a film he and Tim Herlihy bonded over in college.

September 1, 1995: Filming Concludes

Filming for Happy Gilmore, which began on July 6, concluded on September 1, 1995, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

1995: Adam Sandler Fired from SNL

In 1995, Adam Sandler was fired from Saturday Night Live (SNL) and transitioned to films. He and Tim Herlihy, another SNL alumni, then wrote Billy Madison, which was successful for Universal Pictures and led to the creation of Happy Gilmore.

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February 16, 1996: Happy Gilmore Theatrical Release

On February 16, 1996, Happy Gilmore was released in theaters by Universal Pictures. The film garnered mixed reviews but was a commercial success, earning $41.2 million against a $12 million budget.

1996: Casting Shooter McGavin

In 1996, Christopher McDonald initially declined the role of Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore twice, as he was tired of playing villains. Kevin Costner turned down the role to play in Tin Cup, another 1996 golf-themed comedy, while Bruce Campbell lobbied hard for the part. McDonald eventually took the role after winning a round of golf and meeting with Adam Sandler.

1996: Happy Gilmore Film Release

In 1996, Happy Gilmore, an American sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan, was released, starring Adam Sandler, Christopher McDonald, Julie Bowen, and Carl Weathers.

2014: Barker Parodies Gilmore Fight

In 2014, Bob Barker parodied the Happy Gilmore fight in an episode of The Bold and the Beautiful, where he fought Wyatt Spencer.

2015: Sandler and Barker Reenact Fight

In 2015, Adam Sandler and Bob Barker reenacted their fight from Happy Gilmore for the Comedy Central Night of Too Many Stars fundraiser, benefiting autism charities.

2016: Lundquist Receives Residual Checks

In 2016, actor Lundquist mentioned that he still receives a monthly $34 check from the Screen Actors Guild for his appearance in the film Happy Gilmore.

2020: Christopher McDonald Reprises Role

In 2020, Christopher McDonald reprised his role as Shooter McGavin in the trailer for the video game PGA Tour 2K21.

September 2022: Sandler Discusses Sequel Ideas

In September 2022, Adam Sandler mentioned his hopes to create a sequel to Happy Gilmore, envisioning the character involved in a senior golf tour and having ideas for the follow-up film.

August 26, 2023: News Articles Highlight Fight Scene After Barker's Death

Following Bob Barker's death on August 26, 2023, at the age of 99, news articles highlighted the fight scene in Happy Gilmore that included him.

March 2024: Sequel Script Revealed

In March 2024, Christopher McDonald stated that Adam Sandler had shown him a first draft of the script for the Happy Gilmore sequel, sparking speculation about its production.