General Hospital alum Richard Simmons passes away at 76

Richard Simmons, the well-known fitness guru and former General Hospital actor, died at the age of 76. His publicist, Tom Estey, confirmed the news in an email to the Associated Press on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

Simmons passed away at his home in LA, but Estey didn't disclose more information on how it happened. TMZ had initially suggested it could be linked to a bathroom fall on his birthday a day before, but the publicist clarified that it was actually from natural causes. No specific details were shared.

Simmons was born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948. He was known for his love of fitness and positive attitude. In 1974, he started his workout spot 'Slimmons' in Beverly Hills, California. He wanted to make fitness more accessible for people just starting or struggling with weight loss since he thought most gyms were geared toward the already-in-shape crowd.

Simmons played himself on General Hospital and his storyline was also similar to that of his own life - inspiring people to get fit.

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The General Hospital star inspired the nation to get fit

Aside from his fitness business, Simmons also showed up on TV. He was in General Hospital from 1979 to 1983, where he led workouts at the Campus Disco, with characters like Laura and Luke Spencer as regular attendees.

In a May 1 post on X, Richard Simmons mentioned how he landed the role after being on a local morning show with Regis Philbin. He wrote, referring to the show's iconic executive producer:

"A few days later, I met with the most powerful woman in daytime television: Gloria Monty."

He added:

"I also met with the head writer, Pat Falken Smith. These ladies were very smart."

Richard Simmons talked about how hard it was to remember his lines for his first scene on General Hospital because he wasn't used to acting. However, he got some tips from Gloria Monty, the executive producer who made the show popular in the late 70s and early 80s, and it helped him improve his performance.

Thanks to her advice, which he discussed on X, Simmons was able to nail his role as the fitness instructor at the Campus Disco.

Simmons came back to General Hospital in 2013 for the big 50th anniversary, making a cameo in a couple of episodes for the Nurses Ball. Actress Lynn Herring, who played Lucy Coe, shared some kind words about working with Richard Simmons when he made a brief return to the show.

In an interview with People magazine, Herring talked about their time on set together in 2013. She said in an interview dated July 14, 2024:

"When Richard walked on our General Hospital stage it would sizzle with his life force, his wicked sense of humor, his joy of entertaining and his love for us all."

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General Hospital's Richard Simmons spent his later years away from the public eye

Even though he was a famous fitness icon, Simmons started keeping to himself more in the past few years. In March 2024, he took to Facebook to tell his fans about his battle with skin cancer, describing the painful treatment he underwent and the upcoming second procedure.

He said in an interview with People magazine published on Friday, July 12, 2024, just before his 76th birthday:

"I feel good! I am grateful that I'm here, that I am alive for another day. I'll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people."

His influence as a motivational figure and champion for health and wellness will surely live on to inspire future generations. Fans and associates of Richard Simmons, like Lynn Herring and his publicist Tom Estey, were saddened by the loss of the beloved fitness guru.

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Fans can catch some of Richard Simmons' best moments from General Hospital on Hulu and ABC apps.