Trainer Aaron Williamson caused quite a stir when he posted this ^^ Instagram of a completely ripped 61-year-old J.K. Simmons a few months ago.
After people picked their collective jaws off the floor, the rumors started to swirl about why J.K. was getting so bulk. The consensus was that he was adding bulk to play Commissioner Gordon in the Justice League movie. But J.K. set everyone straight, saying the new physique is all for him.
Back in early June, when the photo of Simmons working out went viral, many outlets (including this one) reported that Simmons was getting muscular for his new role as Commissioner Gordon in the upcoming “Justice League” movie.
Not so, the 61-year-old actor told The Huffington Post while promoting his movie “Kung Fu Panda 3.”
“Yeah, well that’s a gigantic misconception,” said Simmons. “I just like to work out now. And getting to the gym really has nothing … I’m not going to the gym because of ‘Justice League.’”
Then why is he getting so ripped now?
“I’m just going to the gym because after the last time I got super fat and out of shape, I decided that I was done doing that,” explained Simmons. “I was going to — for as long as I’m going to be on the planet — I’m going to try and take care of myself. So that’s pretty much coincidental [to filming ‘Justice League’].”
The actor did say that being a part of the upcoming superhero movie has made it easier for him to workout, though. “Being around that cast and [director] Zack Snyder, who is a fitness maniac himself, it’s nice to have that in common with people,” Simmons said with a laugh.
Just an aside – when I read the article initially, I was going too quickly and read it as J.K. was actually getting ripped for King Fu Panda 3. I thought, ‘wow – THAT’S commitment.’
I never thought he was bulking up to play Commissioner Gordon because when I think of Gordon, I still think of Neil Hamilton from the 1966 Adam West series. In my mind, the most strenuous activity he needed to perform was lifting the glass dome off the Bat Phone. (My comic-conscious friends have advised me he has been revamped into a more buff version.)
J.K. said he decided to focus on his body after seeing himself on Oz the first time, “I was overweight and soft and here I am playing the head of the Aryan Brotherhood in this maximum-security prison in the first-ever HBO original drama and I was watching the first season when it came out and I just thought, ‘Wow, I don’t believe this guy at all. I have to get my a– to the gym and be a believable hard-a–.'” One thing I love about J.K. is that he doesn’t mince words. When grilled about the timing and impetus for his physical change, he responded simply, “I just had free time to go to the gym.”
We have to wait for The Accountant to see J.K. again so in the meantime, here’s a clip from January of J.K. and Billy Joel singing a do-wap version of For the Longest Time on Fallon:
Photo credit: Fame/Flynet Photos and Instagram
I don’t think it’s all that new, he was pretty trim in Whiplash too- and scary to boot.
He looks good but looking at his physique he looks like the type — like my son — who might have a hard time with moderation. Exercise is important to me, especially for my mental health, but after an hour at the gym I’m ready to go home. While my son is just getting warmed up. 🙂
But as long as he’s not injuring or exhausting himself, then more power to him. Especially if it makes him happy.
CHIEF POPE !!!!!!
Thank you. Thank you very much.
<3 to both of y'all! <3
I miss that show!
Such a great actor, and that’s pretty amazing he’s just doing it for himself.
He’s getting a little help besides just the working out, trust me. Men that age don’t get like that unless they are injecting testosterone at the very least. I would guess that and human growth hormone. Likely under the supervision of one of those ‘youth’ doctors like Suzanne Sommers raves about.
My thoughts exactly!
He has great posture. That is probably thee best benefit of strength training. The only thing I’m concerned about are those arms. Can a 61-year-old put on that much bulk without steroids or HGH? I know genetics and protein intake play a large part in muscle hypertrophy but …
while unlikely, it is possible he got that physique without steroids or HGH. Depends on what he has done in the past. As a young teenager I swam the butterfly competitively. I’m 35 now, and I gained a LOT of weight between now and then. But as soon as I started going to boot camp, 20 years later, those shoulder muscles popped. We did the body measurements with the scale that zaps tiny electrical currents through you to measure muscle mass, and my arms measured at 123% of the target muscle mass. So, if he at any point did something to get arms like that in his past, it’s possible to get them again. Plus, in that super ripped photo, he’s actually lifting. Look at the others, he doesn’t look like that just walking around. I mean, he looks great, but not like that.
😡 I liked him better squishy.
Same! And he was terrifying as schillinger….what is he talking about???
I love it!! Gives me hope for when I’m older 🙂 I’ve been lifting for three years now & want to continue until I die LOL He looks awesome!!
I think he looks great, and he will always be Chief Pope to me.
America, thank you. After looking at the photos I noticed the same thing about the arms looking normal when he is not contracting his muscles.
^This.
Which is a relief ’cause I don’t think my brain could take it if he walked around looking all swole and roidy all the time.
He looks so much better clean-shaven