Larry Birkhead is distancing himself and his daughter Dannielynn from an upcoming film about Anna Nicole Smith's personal physician. The movie, Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, adapts Dr. Sandeep Kapoor's 2017 memoir and premieres October 16. Birkhead released a statement declaring they "absolutely object" to the project and filed a complaint with the California Medical Board regarding Kapoor's conduct.
Smith died in 2007 under circumstances that involved prescription drug use, with Kapoor serving as her personal doctor during that period. The film's existence has reignited family concerns about how her legacy and final years are portrayed on screen. Birkhead, who shares custody of Dannielynn with Smith's estate, sees the adaptation as potentially exploitative and damaging to the family's interests.
His objection marks a familiar battle in Hollywood: the rights and dignity of deceased celebrities versus filmmakers' creative freedom to adapt real-life stories. Smith's death remains a sensitive subject for those closest to her, particularly regarding the role medical professionals played in her life. Birkhead's decision to file a formal complaint suggests the family views Kapoor's account as problematic enough to warrant regulatory scrutiny.
The timing of the film's release coincides with renewed interest in Smith's story, thanks to documentaries like the recent deep-dive into her life and legacy. However, Birkhead's position demonstrates that her family still has concerns about how her memory is handled in entertainment. Trust Me, I'm a Doctor positions itself as Kapoor's perspective on their doctor-patient relationship, but Birkhead's pushback indicates the family believes the narrative requires scrutiny before reaching audiences.
This dispute underscores tensions between memoir-to-film adaptations and the families of deceased subjects. Smith's story remains tabloid gold and critically interesting material,