Happy Gilmore 2 is the much-anticipated sequel to Adam Sandler’s 1996 comedy classic, picking up almost three decades after the conclusion of the original film. The story of Happy Gilmore 2 follows Sandler’s protagonist as he comes out of retirement to earn enough money to pay for his daughter’s ballet school. The movie arrived on Netflix on July 25.

Happy Gilmore 2 features a huge cast of returning stars and new characters that perfectly toes the line between nostalgic cameos and fresh, original storytelling. It wouldn’t be an Adam Sandler movie without the lead actor bringing several of his comedy friends along for the ride, and Happy Gilmore 2 is no different.

As a result, the movie is packed with familiar faces from across film and television, as well as real-life sports leagues. Some play key roles in Happy’s latest adventure, while others are only pᴀssing through. Still, it makes for an exciting ensemble.

Adam Sandler as Happy Gilmore

Date Of Birth: September 9, 1966

• Active Since: 1987

Actor: Adam Sandler was born in New York City in 1966, where he quickly entered the comedy scene after studying acting at New York University. The actor’s breakthrough role came in 1989’s Going Overboard, which he also wrote alongside Valerie Breiman. From there, Sandler appeared in a string of critically acclaimed comedies such as Billy Madison and Happy Gilmore.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Character: Happy Gilmore is back after over a decade of retirement, stepping back onto the green to earn enough money for his daughter Vienna to attend the ballet academy of her dreams in Paris. The professional golfer famously broke onto the scene in 1996’s Happy Gilmore, beating Shooter McGavin to win the US Tour Championship.

There are plenty of cameos in Happy Gilmore 2, but it’s Sandler’s protagonist who shines brightest at the center of the narrative. The sequel is a story of redemption, pride, and family that sees Happy Gilmore go down a dark path on his journey to success.

Julie Bowen as Virginia Venit

Date Of Birth: March 3, 1970

• Active Since: 1992

Actor: Julie Bowen was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1970 and became known for her recurring role on the soap opera Loving. She appeared alongside Adam Sandler in the original Happy Gilmore, and later found success as Claire Dunphy on the long-running sitcom Modern Family. Bowen received six consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for her performance, winning two.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Character: Virginia Venit first appeared in Happy Gilmore as the PR manager of the US Golf Tour, often fighting with her superiors to keep Gilmore on the circuit and keep the public interested in the event. Virginia Venit returns in Happy Gilmore 2 as the protagonist’s wife, serving as the emotional core of the story.

Although Virginia’s role in Happy Gilmore 2 is smaller than expected, the character is a major figure in Happy’s character arc, and her presence can be felt throughout the story. The film’s focus on family and community is arguably its strongest ᴀsset, and none of this would be possible without Virginia’s character or her relationship with Happy.

Christopher McDonald as Shooter McGavin

Date Of Birth: February 15, 1955

• Active Since: 1978

Actor: Christopher McDonald was born in New York City in 1955 and found his breakthrough role as “Goose” in Grease 2. The actor remains best known for his antagonistic role as Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore, though his other acting credits include Thelma and Louise, Requiem for a Dream, and Quiz Show.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Character: Shooter McGavin was the favorite to win the US Golf Tour in 1996 before Happy Gilmore entered the circuit, and the pair have been in an intense rivalry ever since. However, one of the biggest differences from the first Happy Gilmore movie is that Happy and Shooter are forced to work together in the sequel to bring down a much larger threat to the game.

Benny Safdie as Frank Manatee

Date Of Birth: February 24, 1986

• Active Since: 2007

Actor: Benny Safdie was born in New York City in 1986, and is principally known for his work as a writer and director on projects such as Good Time and Uncut Gems alongside his brother, Josh Safdie. His acting credits include Oppenheimer and The Curse, and Safdie is set to release his solo directorial debut, The Smashing Machine, later this year.

Notable Movies & TV Shows

Character: Frank Manatee is a new addition to Happy Gilmore 2’s cast, and one of the film’s central antagonists. He’s the mastermind behind the new Maxi Golf league, which Happy and his professional golf colleagues view as an abomination to the spirit of golf. Many reviews of Happy Gilmore 2 have named Safdie’s character as a highlight addition to the film’s ensemble.

Happy Gilmore 2 Supporting Cast & Characters

Bad Bunny as Oscar Mejías: Best known for his music career as one of the leading Latin hip-hop artists of the 21st century, Bad Bunny appears in Happy Gilmore 2 as Oscar Mejías, the caddy of Adam Sandler’s protagonist. His previous acting credits include F9 and Bullet Train.

Ben Stiller as Hal L: Another returning member of Happy Gilmore’s cast, Ben Stiller returns in the sequel as Hal L, the exploitative manager of an alcoholics’ anonymous group. The comic actor is best known for his roles in Zoolander, Night at the Museum, and Blades of Glory. He also co-created the Emmy-winning show Severance.

Sadie Sandler as Charlotte: Adam Sandler frequently casts his family in his movies, and that’s no different in Happy Gilmore 2. His eldest daughter, Sadie Sandler, plays Charlotte, a member of Happy’s alcoholics anonymous group.

Sunny Sandler as Vienna Gilmore: Sandler’s youngest daughter also makes an appearance in Happy Gilmore 2, this time as the protagonist’s own daughter, Vienna. Her talent as a ballet dancer is what spurs Happy into coming out of retirement to send her to an academy in Paris.

Haley Joel Osment as Billy Jenkins: Osment is best known for his early performance in The Sixth Sense, for which he was nominated at the Academy Awards. The actor also appeared in AI: Artificial Intelligence, The Jungle Book 2, and Secondhand Lions.

Lavell Crawford as Slim Peterson: Although Carl Weathers was supposed to appear in Happy Gilmore 2, the writers had to change this particular part of the story following the actor’s death in 2024. As such, Lavell Crawford’s character Slim was introduced; the son of Chubbs Peterson and a close friend of Happy’s. Crawford is best known for his successful comedy career and roles in Breaking Bad and On The Count Of Three.

Margaret Qualley as Sally: Margaret Qualley has appeared in several movies, but her role in Happy Gilmore 2 is certainly one of her funniest to date. The actor is best known for her work in the Oscar-winning horror The Substance and Emmy-nominated drama Maid.

Eric André as Steiner: Eric André makes an appearance in Happy Gilmore 2 as Steiner, one of the amateur golfers whom Happy plays alongside when he’s considering coming out of retirement. The comedian has previously appeared in films such as Bad Trip, Sing 2, and The Lion King.

Steve Buscemi as Pat: Buscemi’s role in Happy Gilmore 2 is admittedly small, but the actor certainly makes the most of his brief appearances. He plays Happy’s neighbor Pat, who continually snoops on the family and invades their personal space. Buscemi’s most famous roles include Reservoir Dogs, Monsters Inc, and Fargo.

Dennis Dugan as Doug Thompson: Not only is Dugan the director of the original Happy Gilmore, but he’s also a long-time collaborator of Adam Sandler’s. The pair have worked together on projects such as Grown Ups 2, Big Daddy, and You Don’t Mess with the Zohan.

Kevin Nealon as Gary Potter: Kevin Nealon is best known for his tenure as a recurring cast member on Saturday Night Live throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s, though he also collaborated with Adam Sandler on projects such as The Wedding Singer, Little Nicky, and Anger Management.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman as Gordie Gilmore: WWE star Maxwell Jacob Friedman is one of the many real-life athletes who appear in Happy Gilmore 2, but while most of these stars only have simple cameos, Friedman gets his own character. He plays Gordie, one of Happy’s sons.

Happy Gilmore 2 Celebrity Cameos

Golfers

• Jack Nicklaus
• Fred Couples
• John Daly
• Corey Pavin
• Lee Trevino
• Nancy Lopez
• Scottie Scheffler
• Rory McIlroy
• Justin Thomas
• Jordan Spieth
• Xander Schauffele
• Collin Morikawa
• Keegan Bradley
• Tony Finau
• Brooks Koepka
• Will Zalatoris
• Bubba Watson
• Rickie Fowler
• Bryson DeChambeau
• Nelly Korda
• Paige Spiranac

Sports Commentators

• Dan Patrick
• Stephen A. Smith
• Chris Berman
• Jim Gray
• Verne Lundquist

NFL Stars

• Travis Kelce
• Reggie Bush

NBA Stars

• Kelsey Plum
• Boban Marjanović

NHL Stars

• Chris Chelios
• Sean Avery

WWE Stars

• Becky Lynch
• Nikki Garcia

Musicians

• Post Malone
• Eminem
• Kid Cudi
• Cam’ron

Podcasters

• Sean Evans
• Alix Earle
• Bobby Lee
• Andrew Santino