Richard Simmons, renowned for inspiring overweight individuals to get active and adopt healthier eating habits, passed away on Saturday.
Simmons, famous for his vibrant tank tops and short shorts, brought boundless energy to television as the lively court jester of physical fitness. He turned 76 on Friday.
According to an email from Richard Simmonsâ publicist Tom Estey to The Associated Press, the fitness guru passed away at his Los Angeles home. âWe lost an Angel today â a true Angel,â Estey said.
A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a 911 call from Richard Simmonsâ home on Belfast Drive and arrived at 9:57 a.m. on Saturday.
âUpon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes.
âAs a result, no hospital transport was necessary,â LAFD Captain Erik Scott said.
Just two days before his passing, Richard contemplated his aspirations for his legacy.
âI never thought of myself as a celebrity. People donât know this â Iâm really a shy person and a little bit of an introvert,â he told People.
âBut when that curtain goes up thatâs a different story. Iâm there to make people happy.
âBut the accolades I get from emails. I mean, today most probably, weâll answer over 100 emails.
âAnd theyâll say, âIâm your No1 fanâ, and I just write back, and I say, you know, âDonât say that because Iâm a human being just like you. And I know that you do good things, too.ââ
Simmonsâ brother, Lenny Simmons, confirmed the death in a statement.
âI donât want people to be sad about my brother,â Lenny Simmons said. âI want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to peopleâs lives.â
âWe are in shock,â Lenny added. âPlease respect the family at this difficult time.âTom Estey, Simmonsâ longtime publicist, said in a statement, âToday the World lost an Angel.â
A day before his sudden passing, Simmons celebrated his 76th birthday and took to the social media to thank everyone for the birthday wishes.
âThank youâŚI never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!â Simmons wrote. âI am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.â
He signed the post âLove, Richard.â
Simmons, who grew up in New Orleans, battled weight issues from a young age, tipping the scales at 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 that focused on personal health and fitness.
He also gained fame through his aerobic exercise videos, such as 1988âs Sweatinâ 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 â90s and 2000s, appearing on shows hosted by Jay Leno and David Letterman.
Throughout 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.
Following his recent withdrawal from public life, during which he disclosed a skin illness in March 2024, speculation about Simmonsâ health and well-being had circulated. His death was initially reported by TMZ.
We are so very sorry for this loss. May he rest in peace.