Prior to his passing in July 2024, 76-year-old Richard Simmons spoke out against the news of an upcoming biopic based on his life and career. Little is known about the film, outside of the fact Simmons will be played by 56-year-old comedian Pauly Shore. Despite Simmons’ statement, the project was still set to be produced.
In a recent interview with Entertainment Tonight, Shore revealed he still planned to move forward with the movie, leading to tensions between himself and the late fitness guru’s family.
Richard Simmons spoke out against the proposed biopic
Mere hours after it was announced Pauly Shore would be playing him in a biopic, Richard Simmons spoke out against the project. Taking to Facebook, he wrote, “Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read. I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful.
“Thank you for all your love and support,” he concluded.
Richard Simmons was an icon of the 1980s
Richard Simmons quickly became a household name in the 1980s, thanks to his eccentric and energetic personality, promoting physical activity through his Sweatin’ to the Oldies aerobics video series. He became so famous that he appeared on several talk shows, garnering a large fan base.
In 2014, Simmons pulled away from public life, worrying fans about his health and safety. Two years later, in 2016, he quelled their concerns, saying in a phone interview that “no one is holding me in my house as a hostage” – he just prefers his privacy.
Pauly Shore is excited to portray Richard Simmons in the biopic
Despite Richard Simmons speaking out against the biopic, Pauly Shore said he’s thrilled to portray him. The project isn’t the first time the comedian has portrayed Simmons, with him playing the fitness guru in the unrelated 2024 short, The Court Jester.
“I’m really excited about sharing Richard Simmons’s life with the world,” he said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter. “We all need this biopic now more than ever. Simmons represented mental health, getting people in shape and being his authentic silly self!
“Whenever he was on TV you could never take your eyes off of him and he brought such a joy to his appearances that represented nothing but a good time,” Shore concluded.
What does the production company have in store?
The Wolper Organization, the company producing the biopic, also released a statement about the project, saying to Variety:
“While we would love to have [Simmons] involved, we respect his desire to privacy and plan to produce a movie that honors him, celebrates him and tells a dramatic story. We know he is deeply private and we would never want to invade that, however he is an amazing person that changed millions of peoples’ lives, and the effect he has had on the world needs to be recognized.”
Studio Head Mark Wolper said they’re in “serious discussions with a major writer” to develop the film, adding they intend for it to take the tone of a “dramatic and heartfelt feature in the tone of Little Miss Sunshine.” He told Variety, “We have been dancing around the idea for years, but it never coalesced until several months ago when I saw the press about Pauly Shore being touted by social media as the ONLY person that could play Richard.”
Pauly Shore cried after hearing Richard Simmons’ response
Pauly Shore revealed on Instagram that he was “up all night crying” after Richard Simmons continued to distance himself from the biopic. Prior to his passing, the fitness guru took to Twitter to say he was in talks to produce his own film. “I just read that a man that I don’t know is writing my bio pic starring Pauly Shore. I do not approve of this movie,” he wrote. “I am in talks with major studios to create my own biopic with some help. Wait for this movie.”
Shore saw the statement and had some deep feelings.
“I was up all night crying regarding Richard Simmons’ tweet,” the comedian replied. “Richard, how do you not approve of this movie? I mean, really, who’s better to play you in a movie than ME? Leonardo DiCaprio’s not gonna play you. Brad Pitt’s not gonna play you. I’m perfect. Everyone already thinks I’m you. We’re the same […] Richard, you haven’t even heard the pitch.”
Plans to move ahead with the biopic following Richard Simmons’ death
Following Richard Simmons’ passing on July 13, 2024, of a purported heart attack (according to his house keeper), questions arose as to whether or not Pauly Shore’s biopic about the fitness guru would move forward.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Shore revealed the project is very much still in the works, adding that he’s not even sure it was Simmons tweeting his disapproval about the project. “I know he wanted me to do it,” the comedian said. “I don’t even know if it was him tweeting [disapproval] the whole time, to be quite honest. I don’t know who that was.”
Richard Simmons’ family responds
Following the interview with Entertainment Tonight, Richard Simmons family, through his brother, Lenny, took to Twitter to set the record state about their loved one’s opinions about the upcoming biopic. The statement read:
“Pauly Shore has recently made comments to Entertainment Tonight concerning his attempts to proceed with an unauthorized movie about Richard. You’ve seen here on Richard’s account what he had to say about the biopic.
“We’d also like to share the following statement from Richard’s brother, Lenny. ‘Dicky absolutely wrote his own posts. He worked on them a week in advance, going over and over them to get the right message. He would often read them to Cathy and I beforehand. What he as NOT done was to text, email or call Pauly with anything; not even to wish him ‘Good Luck’ as Pauly has stated many times.'”
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It appears we’ll have to wait and see what comes next.