All hands are still on deck to preserve Richard Simmons‘ life and times in the shiny pages of history!
Comedian Pauly Shore has reconfirmed his plans to continue with his biopic about the late fitness guru, which he had been working on before his sudden passing.
Pauly Shore revealed that the only significant hurdle on his way to achieving Richard Simmons’ biopic might be the financing for the project, a challenge he is actively trying to overcome.
Pauly Shore Is Pulling All The Stops To Make Richard Simmons Biopic A Success
The actor confirmed his decision to proceed with filming on Monday at LAX. Shore noted that Simmons’ death is not an issue for the biopic; rather, the several millions of dollars needed to execute the project may delay its release.
The comedian shared that he was still trying to get the Wolper Organization, under the Warner Bros. parent company, to drop about $5-10 million for the biopic, adding that he was open to taking a deferred payment as long as it was for the film’s success.
Shore’s passion for the biopic did not come overnight; TMZ shared that the comedian has been trying to get the project started for years. In January, Simmons publicly distanced himself from the biopic on his Facebook account, stating:
“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”
However, his tone changed a few days later when he wished Shore “good luck” on the project, although the comedian was not convinced the fitness guru was the one in charge of his social media posts at that time.
Simmons’ Graveyard Decorated With Flowers From Loved Ones
Shore has his work cut out for him, as Simmons’ death has shown the tremendous amount of love his family, fans, and friends have for him.
The Blast reported that the fitness guru was laid to rest by his family in a private ceremony at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary Los Angeles last week.
Images of his resting place showed impressive flower arrangements of all shades, shapes, and sizes left behind by his family as he lay in his final resting place, which is a testament to the love and kindness he showed to everyone in his lifetime.
The legend maintained a relationship of openness and remained vulnerable with his fans and sea of followers on his social media up until his death and the tributes still continue to pour in following his exit.
Richard Simmons’ Cause Of Death Yet To Be Disclosed
Although authorities have not suspected any foul play in his death so far, there are still speculations that the bathroom fall may have played a significant role in his demise.
According to his housekeeper, Simmons slipped in his Los Angeles home on the evening of his 76th birthday. When she offered to seek medical assistance, Simmons refused, as he wanted to spend his birthday at home.
The fitness instructor assured his housekeeper he would check in at the hospital the next day and requested to be tucked into the bed.
Unfortunately, Simmons was found dead in his bedroom the following day by local authorities who answered a panic call from his home.
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office completed an initial autopsy report. Still, the cause of his death remained undetermined, and additional tests are being conducted to give a final verdict.
Simmons Planned A Surprise Return To The Fitness Scene
The late fitness enthusiast had a lot on his itinerary as he clocked 76th, and coming back to doing what he loved was on top of the list.
Simmons’ brother, Lenny, revealed that the fitness guru was excited to share his passion with a younger audience and raise a vibrant generation of fitness enthusiasts through his wealth of knowledge and experience.
He continued that his brother observed the emerging trends in fitness and felt a need to reintroduce his tried-and-true, energetic, and inspiring approach. In Lenny’s words:
“I think the way kids are growing up today with their phones and all that, and not getting out… there’s a need again, and I think that’s why he came out of retirement. He knew — if you read some of his posts — people will say, ‘I used to watch your videos with my grandparents.’ So, you know, it’s a new generation that is watching.”
What Has Pauly Shore Been Up To Apart From The Biopic?
The comedian who is set to play Simmons in the upcoming biopic landed in hot water back in January. Shore was named in a lawsuit by two victims who accused him of causing them “serious injuries” after an assault incident at The Comedy Store.
Per The Blast, the father and daughter duo explained that the incident happened in November 2022 when Shore’s security personnel violently grabbed and attacked Sean Kehoe.
Kehoe alleged that Shore encouraged the attack as his daughter Kirra Lyn Potts declared that witnessing her father being attacked caused her emotional distress.
While the pair did not state the cause of the attack in the lawsuit, they demanded compensation in form of damages, payment for their attorney and legal fees, and repayment of all damages incurred during the cause of the alleged attack.
Fans are certainly looking forward to Shore’s performance as the beloved fitness guru in the upcoming biopic!