When director Kyle Newachek first watched “Happy Gilmore” at age 12, he could never have imagined that the actor portraying the now-iconic titular role — a failed hockey player turned unlikely golf star — would one day become his creative collaborator.

“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.

Adam Sandler is still disappointed that one very important part of “Happy Gilmore” will sadly not be happening for the sequel coming to Netflix on July 25. A “massive part” was planned for Carl Weathers,