Pauly Shore said in 2023 that he had reached out to Richard Simmons and they were “playing phone tag.” But in a January 2024 interview, Shore said he had never spoken to Simmons. The available accounts therefore do not confirm that the two actually talked.
What did Pauly Shore say about contacting Richard Simmons?
On September 22, 2023, ComicBook.com reported a Facebook post in which Shore said he had reached out after seeing reactions to the idea of him playing Simmons in a biopic. Shore wrote, “We’ve been playing phone tag.” That describes an attempt to connect; it does not establish that a conversation took place. ComicBook.com’s report is the source for the post.
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Somewhere for Me: A Biography of Richard Rodgers (Applause Books) | $13.93 | Buy on Amazon |
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True Measure of a Man by Richard E. Simmons III [Hardcover] | $60.92 | Buy on Amazon |
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THE HARLEM PLUG: THE RICHARD "FRITZ" SIMMONS STORY | $20.94 | Buy on Amazon |
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Why is the claim disputed?
In an interview published January 21, 2024, Shore told Inside Edition, “I’ve never spoken to Simmons.” He also said he wanted to respect Simmons’s privacy while hoping to make a film. This later, direct statement means the 2023 phone-tag remark should not be presented as proof they spoke. Inside Edition’s interview provides the January account.
Did Richard Simmons approve the proposed biopic?
No. On January 17, 2024, Simmons publicly said, “I have never given my permission for this movie.” The Los Angeles Times also reported that the Wolper Organization said it would respect Simmons’s desire for privacy while planning a film intended to honor him. The proposal should not be described as authorized or endorsed by Simmons. The Los Angeles Times report includes both statements.
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- biograpy, color photographs
Was the film released?
The feature biopic was a proposal, separate from The Court Jester, a short film in which Shore played Simmons and which was shown at Sundance in January 2024. The short is not the feature. A July 29, 2024 report said Shore was still trying to secure financing after Simmons’s death. ABC News reported Simmons died on July 11, 2024. TMZ’s July 2024 report covered the financing effort, and ABC News reported his death.
As of October 7, 2026, Shore’s official website describes the project as a “biopic-in-the-making,” but gives no release date or confirmation that production was completed. That wording does not establish that filming is active or that the feature will be released. Shore’s official website is the source for its current project description.
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