Pauly Shore is paying tribute to Richard Simmons, the celebrity fitness guru, who died Saturday at 76 years old.
Simmons, an energetic personality who starred on his own syndicated TV exercise show in the 1980s, died at his home in Los Angeles, his rep told The Hollywood Reporter.
Shore, who is set to star in a biopic about Simmons that the fitness icon had previously blasted, wrote on Instagram, “I just got word like everyone else that the beautiful Richard Simmons has passed. I hope you’re at peace and twinkling up in the heavens.”
“Please give my mother Mitzi and my father Sammy a big hug and a kiss for me,” the comedian and actor continued. “You’re one of a kind, Richard. An amazing life. An amazing story. They broke the dolphin shorts when they made you. Rest in peace, my friend. Rest in peace.”
Simmons had continued to distance himself from the biopic, backed by the Wolper Organization, saying in January that he didn’t give Shore “permission” for it. The fitness guru also said he was in talks with studios himself to work on his own, separate, biopic about his life.
Shore had also portrayed Simmons in The Court Jester, a separate short film written and directed by Jordan Allen-Dutton.
Ricki Lake also remembered Simmons on X, formerly Twitter, writing, “My heart is broken with the loss of this super special human. May he RIP. #richardsimmons I loved him so so much.” She also shared a photo of herself, Simmons and Maria Menounos.
Whose Line Is It Anyway‘s Greg Proops shared in a tribute, “Richard Simmons was a lovely man. Gracious and funny. Likely our most popular guest.” And Gloria Gaynor wrote in a post on X, “Thinking of the family and loved ones of Richard Simmons @TheWeightSaint … he brought so much joy, happiness and life changing moments to so many through his unstoppable drive to make a positive difference in people’s lives.”
