The entertainment world was left reeling following the untimely death of Cameron Boyce when he was just 20-years-old.
Six years on from his tragic passing in July 2019, fans still don't find it any easier - which is why people were so moved to see Adam Sandler's tribute to the young star in Happy Gilmore 2.
The comedian, 58, touchingly paid homage to the California-born actor in the sequel to his hit 1996 film, which was released on Netflix on Friday (25 July).
Viewers were left in tears after spotting the sweet nod to Boyce - who Sandler previously described as 'the nicest, most talented, and most decent kid around' - in the new movie.
Advert
In an Instagram post shared in wake of his on-screen son's passing, the Just Go With It actor wrote: "Too young. Too sweet. Too funny. Just the nicest, most talented, and most decent kid around.
"Loved that kid. Cared so much about his family. Cared so much about the world. Thank you, Cameron, for all you gave to us. So much more was on the way. All our hearts are broken.
"Thinking of your amazing family and sending our deepest condolences."
Boyce is best known for playing the role of Sandler's offspring Keithie Feder in Grown Ups, as well as his performances in films such as Mirrors, Eagle Eye and the Disney fantasy franchise, Descendants.
Advert
He also starred in the comedy series Jessie, Jake and the Never Land Pirates and Gamer's Guide to Pretty Much Everything.
It seemed that Boyce was destined for even bigger things too, as he had been cast alongside Kathryn Hahn in the HBO series Mrs Fletcher, which ultimately aired after his death.
His passing came as a huge blow to both his fans and his co-stars alike, as a lot of people were unaware that Boyce was privately battling with an 'ongoing medical condition'.
The child star's family later revealed that he had been diagnosed with epilepsy, 13 months after he suffered his first seizure in 2017.
Boyce's parents, Victor and Libby, explained that they realised the situation was 'super duper serious' after doctors confirmed he had the incurable neurological condition.
Advert
Speaking on the The Squeeze podcast in 2023, his father explained, as per People: "You’re diagnosed as epileptic. Now we need a plan. We need to find meds, we need to find information, treatment.
"And this is our whole frustration with the medical system - at this point, we’re still not getting a whole lot of information, tools...nothing substantial, nothing significant as far as how intrusive and invasive epilepsy is on your life."
Libby explained that her son had suffered from five seizures in total throughout his short life, all of which took place while he was sleeping.
His parents said they initially presumed this was a 'positive' thing, although it turned out this was not the case.
Advert
"I thought because he had them in his sleep that he was safe," Boyce's mum said. "But actually having them in your sleep is more common[ly] associated with people dying."
In honour of their son, the couple launched The Cameron Boyce Foundation which 'aims to cure epilepsy through funding research, education and awareness campaigns while still supporting causes that were important to Cameron.'
Boyce's cause of death was ruled as 'sudden unexpected death in epilepsy', or SUDEP, which Victor said is something the family 'had never heard of.'
According to the Epilepsy Foundation, this term describes the passing of a person with epilepsy who was otherwise healthy, and no other cause of death is typically found during an autopsy.
Unfortunately, there is currently no explanation for what causes it - however, the organisation explains that it 'occurs most often at night or during sleep when the death is not witnessed.'
Advert
It adds: "There may be evidence that a person had a seizure before dying, but this isn’t always the case.
"Current research into the possible causes of SUDEP focuses on problems with breathing, heart rhythm and brain function that occur with a seizure."
Sharing a warning to other parents who have children with epilepsy, Libby said: "Our big message is about taking that diagnosis very seriously. And the medical community doesn’t tell you it’s serious, but you need to know it is.
"You have to give people more tools, and that we just didn’t get. There’s a balance between freaking a parent out and just giving them tools, and we didn’t get those tools.
"The Cameron Boyce Foundation - that’s really what we’re all about, awareness.
"Even as hard as it is, and just every day, [I’m] like, ‘Why did this kid die?’ - I know that people are safe because of him. And no, it doesn’t make it better. It doesn’t heal me.
"But it does make me feel as though at least something good came of it.”
Rest in peace, Cameron Boyce.
Topics: Adam Sandler, Celebrity, TV and Film, US News, Health
Olivia Burke