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Photos of the Beloved Late Fitness Guru

Fitness icon Richard Simmons, who made it his mission to make exercising fun, has died at 76.

Los Angeles police responded to a 911 call from Simmons’ home on Saturday, July 13. Upon arrival, they found Simmons deceased, ABC News reported. No cause of death was given, but he is believed to have died of natural causes.

Simmons had just celebrated his birthday on Friday. In one of his final Facebook posts, he expressed gratitude for all the well wishes he had received.

“Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails,” he wrote. “Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.”

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Richard Simmons | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Simmons was born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans in 1948. His experience as an overweight child and teen – at one point he weighed 268 pounds – eventually led to his interest in fitness.

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Richard Simmons in Los Angeles in 1978 | CBS via Getty Images

In 1974, Simmons opened his own exercise studio, Slimmons, in Beverly Hills. It remained in business for more than 40 years before closing in 2016.

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Richard Simmons in a 1982 episode of ‘American Bandstand’ | AMERICAN BROADCASTING COMPANIES, INC.

In the 1980s, Simmons became a nationally recognized figure thanks to his best-selling books, his Sweatin’ to the Oldies videos, and his daytime talk series, The Richard Simmons Show.

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Richard Simmons with Shell Kepler, Gail Ramsey, Louise Hoven, Brooke Bundy, Jackie Zeman, and Bianca Ferguson on ‘General Hospital’ | American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images

Simmons was also a frequent guest on The Tonight Show and played himself on General Hospital for three years in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s.

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Richard Simmons talks to Jay Leno during a March 16, 1994 appearance on ‘The Tonight Show’ | Margaret Norton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Simmons’ boisterous personality, non-judgmental approach to fitness and health, and willingness to interact one-on-one with fans propelled him to worldwide fame.

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Richard Simmons attends the 87th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 28, 2013 in New York City | Noam Galai/Getty Images

In recent years, Simmons stepped away from the spotlight. One of his last appearances was at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2013.

Simmons’ retreat from the public eye sparked both concern and conspiracy theories, with some people even speculating that he was being held hostage. The 2017 podcast Missing Richard Simmons attempted to discover what had happened to the much-loved exercise instructor, though critics slammed it as invasive and “morally suspect.”

In 2022, a spokesperson told the New York Post that Simmons was “happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live.” Soon after, he resurfaced on social media and began communicating again with his fans.

Earlier in 2024, Simmons spoke out against a proposed movie about his life starring comedian Pauly Shore.

“Hi Everybody! You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read,” he wrote on Facebook. “I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful. Thank you for all your love and support.”

A few days before his death, he said he was working on sharing his story with the world.

“Getting closer to telling my story in my own words,” he wrote. “I’m so excited!”

Source: ABC News, New York Post, Getty Images