Richard Simmons, the beloved fitness icon known for motivating overweight individuals to get active and embrace healthier lifestyles, passed away on Saturday.
Famous for his vibrant tank tops and short shorts, Simmons brought boundless energy to television as the spirited court jester of physical fitness. He had just turned 76 on Friday.
Richard Simmons’ publicist, Tom Estey, informed The Associated Press via email that the fitness guru died at his home in Los Angeles. “We lost an Angel today – a true Angel,” Estey said.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a 911 call from Simmons’ home on Belfast Drive and arrived at 9:57 a.m. on Saturday.
“Upon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes. As a result, no hospital transport was necessary,” LAFD Captain Erik Scott stated.
Just two days before his passing, Richard reflected on his aspirations for his legacy. “I never thought of myself as a celebrity. People don’t know this – I’m really a shy person and a little bit of an introvert,” he told People. “But when that curtain goes up that’s a different story. I’m there to make people happy. The accolades I get from emails—I mean, today most probably, we’ll answer over 100 emails. And they’ll say, ‘I’m your No. 1 fan,’ and I just write back and say, ‘Don’t say that because I’m a human being just like you. And I know that you do good things, too.’”
Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, confirmed his death in a statement. “I don’t want people to be sad about my brother,” Lenny said. “I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. We are in shock. Please respect the family at this difficult time.” Tom Estey, Simmons’ longtime publicist, added, “Today the world lost an Angel.”
A day before his sudden passing, Simmons celebrated his 76th birthday and took to social media to thank everyone for the birthday wishes. “Thank you… I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” Simmons wrote. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.” He signed the post, “Love, Richard.”
Simmons, who grew up in New Orleans, struggled with weight issues from a young age, reaching nearly 200 pounds by age 15. By the time he graduated from high school, he weighed 268 pounds, as documented on his website.
From 1980 to 1984, he hosted The Richard Simmons Show, which focused on personal health and fitness. He also gained fame through his aerobic exercise videos, such as 1988’s Sweatin’ to the Oldies and its sequels in 1990 and 1991.
Simmons expanded his early success with frequent appearances on various TV shows, ranging from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson to game shows like Match Game and The New Hollywood Squares. He became a staple of late-night television during the ’90s and 2000s, appearing on shows hosted by Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Over the years, Simmons sold millions of workout videos. He owned a Beverly Hills exercise studio and restaurant frequented by celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Paul Newman.
After withdrawing from public life, during which he revealed a skin illness in March 2024, speculation about Simmons’ health and well-being circulated. His death was initially reported by TMZ.
We are deeply sorry for this loss. May he rest in peace.
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