Richard Simmons dies at 76, one day after fitness legend’s birthday
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Famous fitness expert Richard Simmons passed away on Saturday at 76 years old, as reported.
The police were called by his housekeeper after discovering him around 10am on Saturday, as reported by TMZ. Simmons was declared dead at that location. The reason for his death is not yet known and has not been revealed.
Friday, he showed his gratitude to his supporters who sent him warm birthday wishes for his 76th birthday on social media.
The announcement comes several months after he shared in March that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
"I was sitting in the chair when the doctor examined my skin through a magnifying mirror. He mentioned that he would need to scrape the area and examine it under a microscope. I started to feel anxious," the fitness influencer recalled. "After about 20 minutes, he returned and dropped the bombshell. 'You have cancer,' he said. I inquired about the type of cancer, and he replied, 'Basal cell carcinoma.' I jokingly asked him to refrain from calling me names. He chuckled at my response."
Milton Teagle Simmons, who was born in New Orleans, faced challenges with being overweight during his early years.
He later committed himself to encouraging physical activity and assisting others in living healthy lifestyles.
Simmons rose to fame in the 1980s when he first launched his fitness center, originally known as The Anatomy Asylum, which was later rebranded as Simmons in Los Angeles.
The fitness expert found fame through frequent appearances on television and radio talk shows such as Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show. He also gained popularity for his well-liked series of exercise videos called Sweatin’ to the Oldies.
His exercise routines helped him become famous, which led to more opportunities in movies and TV shows like General Hospital, The Larry Sanders Show, Arrested Development, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Simmons is deeply committed to assisting others in the fight against obesity. He spoke before Congress to push for increased funding for physical education programs in schools.
However, the instructor who appeared on the screen, recognized by his curly hair, sparkly workout tops, and brief shorts, has disappeared from the spotlight in recent times.
He had not been seen in public since 2014. This led him to do a phone interview with The Today Show in 2016 to address the gossip that he was being held against his will by his housekeeper.
In January 2024, a new movie about Simmons, featuring actor Pauly Shore, was reportedly being planned. But Simmons made it clear on Facebook that he had not approved the film: "I never authorized this movie. Don't believe everything you hear."
He stated: "I don't have a manager or publicist anymore. I simply focus on living a tranquil life and being at peace. I appreciate all of the love and support."
People are already sharing their tributes to Simmons.
Actress Ricki Lake expressed her sadness on social media about the passing of Richard Simmons, whom she described as a very unique and precious person. She shared her love for him and wished him to rest in peace.
"Really sad to hear about the death of Richard Simmons, a man who brought so much joy to others through his work," actor Emerson Collins shared on social media. "A few years ago, I asked him for a photo after a charity event. The picture turned out so funny with the background that I ended up cutting it out and creating a silly story with it. I couldn't stop laughing thinking that he would find it amusing too. His genuine happiness is something we all need more of in our lives, something that is immune to negativity."
In the blog, it was mentioned that Nick Haines, a news host for Kansas City PBS, shared a story about his experience with Richard Simmons. He mentioned that when he first arrived in the United States in 1987, he turned on the TV in his New York hotel room and the first image he saw was Richard Simmons. Years later, he unexpectedly ran into him at The Eldridge Hotel in Lawrence, where he found Simmons to be charming and larger-than-life. Haines ended the post by expressing his condolences for Simmons, who has passed away.
Meteorologist Ed Curran shared a memory of Richard Simmons from the early 1980s. He mentioned that Simmons visited their radio studio and was full of energy both on and off the air. Curran expressed sadness upon hearing the news of Simmons' passing, describing him as a unique individual.
