Richard Simmons, a pioneer in fitness and a well-known TV personality famous for his lively workout programs in the 1980s, passed away at 76 years old.
Richard Simmons, a fitness pioneer from the 1980s, was found dead at 76 years old. He had just celebrated his 76th birthday the night before his passing on July 12. Known for his energetic exercise videos, Simmons gained fame on US television. His maid found him and called 911 immediately, confirming his death on Saturday. On Friday, the day before he passed, Simmons thanked his fans for their love and birthday wishes in social media posts.
Richard Simmons, a famous fitness icon from the 1980s, passed away at his home in Hollywood shortly after his birthday. He had shared on Facebook a few months earlier that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Celebrities pour in their love and condolences(Richard Simmons dead)
Following the news of Richard Simmons’ death on Saturday, many celebrities from various industries expressed shock and offered condolences. They shared photos with the fitness pioneer and their thoughts on social media platforms like Instagram and others, as reported by USA Today.
Journalist Yashar Ali paid tribute to both Simmons and Dr. Ruth, who also passed away Friday night at the age of 96. He posted a video clip of Dr. Ruth interviewing Simmons and wrote, “Two icons lost on the same day… Richard Simmons and Dr. Ruth!”
Actor and comedian Pauly Shore expressed disbelief at Simmons’ passing, saying, “I just heard like everyone else that the wonderful Richard Simmons has passed away. I hope you’re at peace and shining bright in heaven. Please give my mother Mitzi and my father Sammy a big hug and kiss for me. You were one of a kind, Richard. An incredible life. An incredible story.”
Actor and comedian Bridget Riverette shared a photo of herself with Simmons on Instagram, recalling fond memories of meeting him and taking his fitness class at Slimmons. She described the experience as exceeding all expectations and expressed admiration for Simmons’ dedication to his fans.
What was the cause of death of Richard Simmons?
The Los Angeles police and fire departments were called to a house, which public records indicate belongs to Richard Simmons. They found a man who had passed away from natural causes.
What did Richard Simmons due of?
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to his home after a 911 call from his housekeeper and found Simmons dead, according to police sources. He appears to have died of natural causes, and no foul play is suspected, the sources said.
What did Richard Simmons say?
“Never say diet, say live it, you want your body to live, not die,” Simmons once said. He appeared on many TV talk shows, but in 2014, he suddenly vanished from public view and wasn’t seen for years.
What fitness icon died?
Richard Simmons, the fitness icon known for his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workouts, has passed away, as confirmed by several sources quoting a spokesperson. He had just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday. ABC News reported that police discovered Simmons unresponsive at his home in Hollywood Hills after receiving a 911 call.
Richard Simmons Early life
Milton Teagle Simmons was born in the French Quarter of New Orleans. He had an older brother, Leonard Jr. Their father worked as a master of ceremonies and later in thrift stores, while their mother, of Russian Jewish descent, was initially a traveling fan dancer and later sold cosmetics.
Simmons converted to Catholicism and attended Cor Jesu High School. He furthered his education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before earning a Bachelor of Arts in art from Florida State University.
Struggling with obesity from a young age, Simmons began overeating as early as age 4 and was already overweight by age 5. By 15, he weighed 182 pounds. Despite considering becoming a priest in his youth, he pursued art studies and appeared in Fellini films like “Satyricon” and “The Clowns” as a young adult, reaching a peak weight of 268 pounds.
In an interview with the Tampa Bay Times, Simmons revealed he took the name Richard in honor of an uncle who supported his college education. He started working as a child selling pralines at Leah’s Pralines in New Orleans.
Richard Simmons Fitness career
Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Richard Simmons worked as the maître d’hôtel at Derek’s, a restaurant in Beverly Hills. He became interested in fitness because exercise studios at that time mostly catered to already fit customers, leaving little support for those starting from an unhealthy state. Simmons opened his own exercise studio, initially called The Anatomy Asylum, where he focused on promoting healthy eating and enjoyable exercise in a supportive environment.
He later renamed his studio “Slimmons” and it became a success in Beverly Hills, offering motivational classes and aerobics sessions. His fame grew with the television series “The Richard Simmons Show,” which aired from 1980 to 1984 and earned him multiple Emmy awards. Simmons capitalized on the rising interest in aerobics during the 1980s with his popular fitness videos, notably the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series.
Throughout his career, Simmons maintained his own significant weight loss and helped others lose weight, estimating that he assisted in the loss of approximately 12 million pounds collectively. He embraced the Internet as a tool for outreach, running a membership-based website and maintaining active profiles on various social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube.