Fitness Guru Richard Simmons, 1982 Platinum Album Holder, Dies at 76

Richard Simmons, the iconic fitness guru known for his flamboyant and relentlessly positive persona, passed away on Saturday, July 13, at 76. His death appears to be from natural causes and occurred at his home in the Hollywood Hills, just one day after his birthday.

Simmons had built a multi-faceted fitness empire, including 12 books, 10 CDs, and 22 DVDs, with five volumes of his signature “Sweatin’ to the Oldies”. He became a household name not just for his workout programs but also for his unique charisma and motivational spirit.

In 1982, Simmons had a platinum album titled “Reach,” which stayed on the Billboard 200 for 40 weeks. The album featured motivational songs like “What Are You Waiting For?”, “You Can Do It,” “Wake Up,” “Reach,” and “Live It”. It entered the Billboard 200 a week after Jane Fonda’s “Workout Record,” a double-disk album that reached No. 15 on the chart and went double-platinum. Both albums were key components of the get-fit craze of the era, epitomized by Olivia Newton-John’s “Physical” video released in 1981.

Simmons’ colorful personality made him a natural for television, achieving his greatest fame from 1980-84 with his own daytime talk show, “The Richard Simmons Show,” which focused on personal health, fitness, exercise, and healthy cooking. He also made frequent appearances as himself on “General Hospital” and other programs.

Known for his regular guest spots on late-night television and radio talk shows like “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” and “The Howard Stern Show,” Simmons understood the entertainment value of his persona. In a 2012 interview with Men’s Health, he said, “When the king gets depressed, he doesn’t call for his wife or the cook. He turns to the little man with the pointed hat and says to the court jester ‘make me laugh.’ And I am that court jester.”

Born Milton Teagle Simmons on July 12, 1948, in New Orleans, Simmons’ early life was spent in the French Quarter, where, as he noted, “lard was a food group and dessert mandatory.” Struggling with his weight from a young age, Simmons reportedly weighed 268 pounds when he graduated high school.

After moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Simmons developed an interest in fitness. He opened an exercise studio termed Anatomy Asylum, later renamed Slimmons. His fitness journey helped him lose over 100 pounds, weight he proudly kept off for 42 years by 2010.

Simmons withdrew from public life after 2014. In 2017, the podcast “Missing Richard Simmons” explored his sudden departure from the public eye. In August 2022, after continued rumors and a TMZ documentary titled “What Really Happened to Richard Simmons,” he issued a statement affirming he was “happy, healthy, and living the life he has chosen to live.”

In March 2024, Simmons revealed he had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma under his right eye. That same month, after a cryptic Facebook post he wrote drew public concern, Simmons clarified he was not dying but rather using the opportunity to encourage others to live life to the fullest.

Earlier in the year, actor Pauly Shore portrayed Simmons in a short film titled “The Court Jester,” which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. While promoting the film, Shore hinted at a larger biopic on the fitness icon. Simmons, however, made it clear that he had not approved of such a project.

On his birthday, Simmons appeared in good spirits, posting a black-and-white photo beside a cake on social media. “I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” Simmons wrote in the post. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.”

Richard Simmons’ legacy as a motivational figure and fitness icon remains strong, inspiring countless people through his vibrant personality and dedication to promoting healthy living.

Source: Billboard, New York Post