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Weird10 Things You Didn’t Know About ‘Happy Gilmore’ 20 Years Later
By Olivia Armstrong
@itslivarmstrong
Published
Feb. 16, 2016, 10:30 a.m. ET
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Photo: Everett Collection
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Ben Stiller's role as evil nursing home orderly Hal L. is uncredited and, despite his name tag, no one in the film refers to him as Hal.
Gif: Universal Pictures
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Bob Barker, who studied Tang Soo Do Karate with martial arts master Chuck Norris, is really throwing those punches in the famous fairway fight scene.
Gif: Universal Pictures
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Kevin Costner and Bruce Campbell both auditioned for the role of Happy's sworn enemy, Shooter McGavin, which ultimately went to Christopher McDonald. Despite losing out on the part, Costner starred in his own golf comedy, Tin Cup that very same year.
[Where to stream Tin Cup]
[Where to stream Tin Cup]
Photos: Everett Collection
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Christoher McDonald ("Shooter McGavin") was hesitant to accept the role (he turned it down twice, in fact!) after consistently being typecast as an antagonist. He eventually signed on after meeting with Sandler and working through the script.
Gif: Universal Pictures
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Though Happy Gilmore's signature run and strike swing technique is rumored to be unachievable, a bunch of pros tried it out at the European Tour back in 2013. Most were unsuccessful, but one golfer, Padraig Harrington, managed to drive the ball 328 yards using the ol' Happy style.
Gif: Universal Pictures
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Frances Bay, the actress who plays Gilmore's grandmother was born in 1919 (!) and didn't start acting until the age of 58 when she was cast in a bit role on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Bay passed away in 2011 at the age of 92.
Photo: Everett Collection
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Remember the snarky guy who's always standing on the sidelines? His name is Lee Trevino and he's really a professional golfer. And an accomplished one at that, having broke serious ground for Mexican-Americans players.
Gif: Universal Pictures
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Subway didn't officially start endorsing people until Jared Fogle in 2000 so technically, Happy Gilmore is the franchise's first celebrity face.
Gif: Universal Pictures
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Otto, Happy's homeless caddy, is actually Sandler's good friend, Allen Covert of Grandma's Boy and just about every other Happy Madison-produced flick you can think of.
[Where to stream Grandma's Boy]
[Where to stream Grandma's Boy]
Photos: Universal Pictures, Everett Collection
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You can buy a Happy Gilmore-inspired Odyssey putter (the brand made a few prototypes for the film) for a cool $1200.
Photo: Everett Collection
