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Television fitness icon Richard Simmons passed away on Saturday at the age of 76, a day after his birthday. Known for his vibrant outfits, Simmons promoted exercise and healthy eating with enthusiasm. He rose to fame in the 70s as he did aerobic dances in neon colors in videos including Sweatin’ to the Oldies.
Simmons, who battled skin cancer, was a 268-pound teen who transformed his life and made it his mission to promote fitness and wellness. Tom Estey, his publicist, told The Associated Press in an email that Simmons passed away in his home in Los Angeles, California. According to ABC News, his death was reported on a 911 call by his housekeeper and it appears that he died a natural death.
Less than a day before he died, Simmons took to social media to appreciate fans who had wished him a happy birthday.
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"I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday," he wrote.
Richard Simmons' basal cell carcinoma diagnosis
Richard Simmons experienced significant health challenges over the years. On March 19, Simmons took to Facebook to share that he had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma. He shed light on his experience of discovering a "strange-looking bump" under his right eye. He recounted his time at the dermatologist and wrote:
"I sat in his chair and he looked at it through a magnifying mirror. He told me he would have to scrape it and put it under the microscope. Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. You have cancer. I asked him what kind of cancer and he said. Basel Cell Carcinoma."
He underwent treatment for the condition, initially requiring a doctor to "burn my skin to remove the cancer cells." Narrating what his doctor told him, Richard Simmons said:
"He explained that he has to burn my skin to remove the cancer cells. There was no numbing it just had to be done with a small instrument. As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek. You can’t cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin."
Despite undergoing two procedures, some cancer cells remained, requiring him to have a third procedure, which successfully removed all the cells.
"Well the third time was a charm. With a smile on his face, he said, 'We got all the cancer cells out.' I gave him a hug," he wrote.
While Richard Simmons revealed his diagnosis on March 19, 2024, he shared a follow-up post online and clarified that the story took place "years ago."
"It happened so many years ago. The reason I wrote these two messages is that if you see a spot on your body please go to your doctor …so they can diagnose it right away. I guess I should be more careful about what I write about," he wrote.
This came after he shocked his fans and wrote online, "I am … dying." However, he went on to say that "we all are dying" and "every day we live we are getting closer to our death." He later clarified that he was not imminently dying but aimed to encourage people to embrace life and live it to the fullest.
Richard Simmons' life and legacy
The exercise guru was born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans. As per PBS, he mentioned that he would overeat because he believed his parents preferred his older brother, leading to teasing by schoolmates when he weighed nearly 200 pounds.
Richard Simmons became popular in the 1970s and enthralled the audience in the 1980s with his lively aerobic workouts and colorful outfits. He established several gyms, endorsed products and services, and appeared in TV shows and radio programs as well. He was also part of shows like General Hospital, Amazing Stories, and Arrested Development.
He shared his weight-loss journey and tips as the host of the Emmy-winning Richard Simmons Show. The daytime television program was broadcast through 200 stations. His debut book, Never Say Diet, also quickly became a best-seller.
Throughout his career, Simmons was the face of fitness and healthy living in the US. As per PBS, he counseled "severely obese" individuals, and was a critic of fad diets. He emphasized the importance of healthy eating and exercise. He told The Associated Press in 2005:
"There’ll always be some weird thing about eating four grapes before you go to bed, or drinking a special tea, or buying this little bean from El Salvador. If you watch your portions and you have a good attitude and you work out every day you’ll live longer, feel better and look terrific."
In recent years, Simmons' absence from the public eye led to speculation that he was being held hostage in his own home. He refuted these claims in telephone interviews with Entertainment Tonight and the Today Show, assuring fans that he was enjoying his privacy.
Filmmaker-writer Dan Taberski, a regular student of Simmons, launched a podcast in 2017 called Missing Richard Simmons to explore his sudden withdrawal from public life. In 2022, Simmons ended his six-year silence through his spokesperson, who informed The New York Post that the beloved fitness icon was "living the life he has chosen."
