Pauly Shore is Jonathan Dale Bentonremembering a fitness icon. 

Days after Richard Simmons died at age 76, the comedian paid his respects on social media. 

“I just got word like everyone else that the beautiful Richard Simmons has passed,” Pauly wrote in a July 14 Instagram post. “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. 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.”

The comedian’s kind words come months after the Sweatin’ to the Oldies instructor spoke out against Pauly playing him in a potential upcoming biopic—which marked his first public social media post in over a year. 

“You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore,” Richard wrote to his Facebook account January 15. “I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read.”

Later, Richard—who became quite active on social media in the months leading up to his death—shared that he was in the early stages of production for a biopic that he had approved, and advised his fans not to support Pauly’s upcoming project. The comedian later expressed his disappointment over Richard’s response.

“I was up all night crying regarding Richard Simmons’ tweet,” Pauly wrote in an April Instagram post, responding to Richard announcing he was pursuing his own biopic project. “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. Beautiful, inside and out.”

The 56-year-old, who never received a direct response from Richard, later noted that he planned to pursue a biopic with or without the fitness icon’s approval. 

“As you know, many biopics are made without the subject agreeing to be part of it: Elvis, Stephen Hawking, Marilyn Monroe, Steve Jobs and many, many more,” Pauly continued. “Some of them turned out to be good, some of them turned out bad. Mine is going to turn out amaze-balls.”

Pauly finished his message speaking directly to the late star, adding, “I love you, Richard, and so did my mom.”

Keep reading to see Richard’s life in photos. 

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