Larry Birkhead has voiced strong opposition to Trust Me, I’m a Doctor, an upcoming feature film centered on Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, the physician who became entangled in the legal fallout following Anna Nicole Smith’s death in 2007.
Birkhead, who shared a relationship with Smith and is the father of their 19-year-old daughter, Dannielynn, said he does not support the production and believes it unnecessarily brings his family’s personal history back into the spotlight. In a recent television interview, he said he objects to his own life, Smith’s story and their daughter’s experiences being portrayed on screen without their involvement.
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Concerns Over the Film’s Emotional Impact
According to Birkhead, he previously contacted Dr. Kapoor and representatives connected to the project in an effort to express his concerns before production moved forward.
He said he warned that the film could cause emotional distress, particularly for Dannielynn, who has largely remained out of the public eye under his care. Although she is now an adult, Birkhead said he still considers it his responsibility to protect her from situations that could reopen painful chapters of her family’s past.
Birkhead also revealed that he has filed a complaint with the California Medical Board regarding Kapoor’s participation in the movie and said he intends to let that process run its course.
A Film Told From the Doctor’s Perspective
Trust Me, I’m a Doctor is based on Dr. Kapoor’s 2017 memoir and tells the story from his perspective during the intense public scrutiny that followed Smith’s death.
The film stars Kal Penn as Kapoor and Abbie Cornish as Smith. It explores the legal investigation, media attention and personal consequences Kapoor faced after becoming linked to the case. Kapoor was charged with illegally prescribing excessive medication to Smith but was acquitted after a 2010 trial.
The movie is scheduled for a theatrical release on Oct. 16.
Birkhead Questions the Latest Screen Portrayal
Birkhead also shared his views on Cornish’s portrayal of the late model and television personality. While he acknowledged Cornish’s acting abilities, he said he has yet to see any actress fully capture Smith’s personality, presence and public image.
He noted that Smith’s life has already been dramatized multiple times over the years, pointing to previous television productions inspired by her story. In his view, another dramatization is unnecessary and continues a long pattern of revisiting deeply personal events.
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A Story That Continues to Draw Attention
Anna Nicole Smith died in February 2007 at the age of 39 after an accidental drug overdose, a case that generated years of legal proceedings and intense media coverage. Questions surrounding the doctors who treated her remained part of the public conversation long after her death, making the subject a recurring focus for documentaries, films and television programs.
As the release date approaches, Birkhead’s objections have added a new dimension to the discussion surrounding the film. While Trust Me, I’m a Doctor aims to recount events through Kapoor’s experience, Birkhead maintains that projects revisiting Smith’s life should also consider the lasting impact on the family she left behind.
