Saturday morning, 61 years old & making the young generation jealous. This is what dedication looks like. #JKSimmons

A photo posted by Aaron Williamson (@aaronvwilliamson) on Apr 23, 2016 at 3:06pm PDT

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.

[From Huffington Post]

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:

Every time we train together I forget he’s 61 years old. So much respect for this guy. #JKSimmons #OldManCranking

A photo posted by Aaron Williamson (@aaronvwilliamson) on Jun 2, 2016 at 8:52pm PDT

Photo credit: Fame/Flynet Photos and Instagram