Richard Simmons, the iconic fitness guru who danced his way into our hearts—and our living rooms—has left us, passing away just a day after celebrating his 76th birthday. Talk about an unexpected plot twist! Like a bad B-movie that you can’t help but watch, the news has sent ripples of disbelief through his legion of fans. Just when we thought we’d celebrate another year of Simmons’ exuberant energy, we’re instead reflecting on his remarkable legacy.
In the wake of his passing, his brother Lenny has stepped into the limelight, sharing insights into Richard’s final days and insisting that we should cherish his joyful spirit rather than mourn with heavy hearts. After all, who wouldn’t want to remember the man who taught us that breaking a sweat could be as fun as a disco party? Join me as we delve deeper into the life, laughs, and lessons of this one-of-a-kind fitness pioneer who turned “sweatin’ to the oldies” into a cultural phenomenon!
News of fitness pioneer Richard Simmons dying just a day after his 76th birthday sent shockwaves to his fans. Now, his brother Lenny is opening up about the beloved personality’s passing. Lenny has confirmed that the fitness guru died of natural causes.
People magazine received a statement from a spokesperson for the Simmons family said that Lenny received a call from the Los Angeles Coroner’s office to report that Richard’s death “was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart diseases as a contributing factor.” The toxicology report “was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed.” His family is grateful for Richards’ fans and “their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.”
Richard died on July 13 at his home in Los Angeles. His housekeeper found him unresponsive and altered paramedics. Reports surfaced that he suffered a fall the day before but refused medical treatment because he wanted to continue celebrating his birthday. His brother spoke with the media after his death.
“I don’t want people to be sad about my brother,” Lenny said in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. He truly cared about people. He called, wrote and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help. So don’t be sad. Celebrate his life.”
In recent years, Richard had become a recluse. TMZ even did a documentary about trying to locate him and questioned why a man so popular with the general public would go MIA. Loved ones say Richard grew weary of his public persona and sought refuge in his home. He resurfaced earlier this year and began communicating with fans on his social media accounts, most notably Facebook. He’d been in the public eye since his fitness videos took off in the 1980s.