Just weeks after Richard Simmons died at age 76, his family remains at odds with actor Pauly Shore over his plans to direct a biopic about the fitness legend’s life.
Shore revealed this year that he was in talks to play the lead role in a film about the workout video icon’s life, but Simmons quickly made it clear he wasn’t up for it.
“Hey everyone!” Simmons wrote on social media in January. “You may have heard that they might make a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I never agreed to that movie. So don’t believe everything you read.”
He added: “I’m just trying to live a quiet life and be at peace. Thank you for all your love and support.”
PAULY SHORE’S PORTRAIT OF RICHARD SIMMONS HAPPENS WHETHER THE FITNESS GURU ‘LIKES IT OR NOT’
Just weeks after Richard Simmons’ death, his family remains at odds with actor Pauly Shore over his plans to direct a biopic about the fitness legend’s life. (Evan Agostini/Harry Langdon)
This week, Shore told Entertainment Tonight that he plans to move forward with the film despite Simmons’ objections and his death.
“I know he wanted me to do it,” Shore said in an interview from his car. “I don’t even know if that was him tweeting all the time. I don’t know who that was.”
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On Wednesday, Simmons’ staff wrote: “Pauly Shore recently made comments to Entertainment Tonight regarding his attempts to make an unauthorized film about Richard. You saw here on Richard’s account what he had to say about the biopic.”
The team added: “We would also like to share the following statement from Richard’s brother, Lenny. “Dicky absolutely wrote his own messages. He would work on them a week in advance, read them over and over again to get the message right. He would often read them to Cathy and me beforehand.”
Lenny added: “What he did NOT do was text, email or call Pauly about anything; not even to wish him ‘good luck,’ as Pauly has stated on multiple occasions.”
A representative for Simmons confirmed the authenticity of Lenny’s statement to Fox News Digital.
In January, Shore said on Instagram that if he had the opportunity to star in a Richard Simmons biopic, I would do it because I take it very seriously. I would immerse myself in the body, soul and spirit of Richard Simmons.
Simmons died on July 13, possibly of a heart attack, just one day after his 76th birthday. (Getty Images)
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He added, “Richard, if you’re watching, nothing but love, brother, nothing but love. And let’s see if we can do it, if we can join forces and if we can bring a beautiful, beautiful work to the people and we can spread your word.”
The film would follow a short film Shore made about Simmons called “The Court Jester,” which he said he made before Christmas and which screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January.
“What he did NOT do was text, email, or call Pauly about anything; not even to wish him ‘good luck,’ as Pauly has repeatedly stated.”
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In September, Shore said he had reached out to Simmons about the biopic, “and his reps said Richard loves my mother and I (he’s known us both for decades), but Richard is politely moving on. He said Richard, at this point, wants to remain private, which we all have to respect. Richard, we all miss you, love you very much, and want nothing but the best for you. You are in all of our hearts. You can always contact me if you change your mind.”
Simmons died on July 13, possibly of a heart attack, just one day after his 76th birthday.
“I don’t want people to be sad about my brother,” Lenny Simmons wrote on social media a day after his death. “I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought into people’s lives. He truly cared about people. He called, wrote and emailed thousands of people throughout his career offering help.”
Lenny Simmons released a statement saying his brother “did not text, email or call Pauly about anything; not even to wish him ‘good luck,’ as Pauly has repeatedly stated.” (Getty Images)
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Shore paid tribute to Simmons on social media the day of his death.
“Just heard, like everyone else, that the magnificent Richard Simmons has passed away,” he wrote alongside a photo of the fitness legend. “I hope you are resting in peace and sparkling in the skies. Please give my mom Mitzi and dad Sammy a big hug and kiss from me. You are one of a kind Richard. Incredible life. Incredible story. They broke the dolphins shorts when they made you. Rest in peace my friend. Rest in peace.”
He also shared a video of a couple he met at GalaxyCon in North Carolina who told him they thought “The Court Jester” was “Oscar worthy.”
Shore revealed this year that he was in talks to play the lead role in a film about the workout video icon’s life, but Simmons quickly made it clear he wasn’t up for it. (Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
“We loved it. Please make it a full movie,” the man told Shore at the convention.
Shore added in his caption: “We love you Richard! What an incredible story.”
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In January, Shore told Variety that his “origin has always been love” for telling a story. “I’ve never been vindictive. I’m not Borat. I’m not saying, ‘We’re going to make fun of someone.’ It’s the opposite. At this point, it’s an unauthorized biopic and there are those every day. Yes, I want him to put his pixie dust on it and say, ‘Go ahead, Pauly.’ We don’t want to mess with him. We want him to be left alone and we don’t want to mess with him. We want to honor him and kiss his feet and say he did great things.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to Shore for comment.
