Richard Simmons, who found fame as an unrelentingly positive fitness guru in the 1980s, has died of natural causes just one day after his 76th birthday. https://www.facebook.com/TheWeightSaint/posts/1000711861424647 From ABC News:
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.
Simmons had spooked fans just three months ago when he posted that he was dying on Facebook, writing in March, “I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am …. dying. Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death.”
He later clarified that he was not actually dying, but that the message was intended to encourage everyone to “embrace every day that we have.”
BREAKING: Eccentric fitness guru Richard Simmons, known for his unrelenting positivity, has died, his representative said. He was 76.
READ MORE: https://t.co/muuaHjECmZ pic.twitter.com/xr0lYlJU52 — ABC News (@ABC) July 13, 2024
More from The Hollywood Reporter:
The star of his own syndicated TV exercise show in the 1980s, the curly-haired Simmons sold millions of aerobics “Sweatin‘ to the Oldies” videos and DVDs.
At his peak, Simmons, who sported too-short shorts and a sparkly tank top with Swarovski crystals during his workouts, flew around the country making motivational speeches and conducting fitness classes for rapt fans.
In 1980, he published Richard Simmons’ Never-Say-Diet Book, a huge best-seller that had chapters like “Coming to Grips With Your Hips” and “How to Eat Out and Not Pig Out.”
RIP Richard Simmons, the fitness guru and high-energy personality. While a successful and inspirational figure, he was often a punchline but proved in on the joke. Like Paul Lynde, he was a flamboyantly gay man who had to negotiate mainstream acceptance with wit and determination pic.twitter.com/Rfp7GgGDKP
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) July 13, 2024
One of the best moments in TV history. RIP Richard Simmons.
pic.twitter.com/oQVVpbqoXA — Bryce Hulse (@bryce_hulse) July 13, 2024
Two icons gone on the same day…
Richard Simmons and Dr. Ruth! pic.twitter.com/Ugy1UDbuLd — Yashar Ali (@yashar) July 13, 2024
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