Richard Simmons, Dr. Ruth Interview Goes Viral After Deaths; Tributes Pour In

Richard Simmons once expressed his aim to “really make this world a better place to live in” while chatting animatedly with fellow icon Dr. Ruth, their conversation punctuated by a kiss on the cheek.

Both household names in their own right, Dr. Ruth, best known for her frank sex talk, passed away on Friday night at age 96. Fitness pioneer Simmons died just one day after his 76th birthday on Saturday, as confirmed by their respective representatives. News of their deaths broke Saturday, and reactions began pouring in from fellow celebrities and influencers.

Journalist Yashar Ali shared a clip of Dr. Ruth and Simmons’ sitdown, writing: “Two icons gone on the same day … Richard Simmons and Dr. Ruth!” The post quickly garnered 200,000 views within an hour.

Comedian and actress Bridget Everett shared a photo of herself with Simmons on Instagram, remembering him as “one of one.” She captioned the photo, “Meeting Richard Simmons and taking his class at Slimmons exceeded any and all expectations. I got a chance to talk to him afterwards and it was both thrilling and heartbreaking. Such a big fan. He really gave his heart to the world. One of one.”

Comedian and actor Pauly Shore paid tribute to Simmons on X, formerly Twitter, labeling him “one of a kind.” Shore wrote, “I just got word like everyone else that the beautiful Richard Simmons has passed. I hope you’re at peace and twinkling up in the heavens. Please give my mother Mitzi and my father Sammy a big hug and a kiss for me.” Shore added, “He lived an amazing life with an amazing story. They broke the dolphin shorts when they made you. Rest in peace, my friend. Rest in peace.”

In January, Shore made headlines for an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where he confirmed he was channeling the fitness legend for a short film based on Simmons, titled “The Court Jester.” Shore mentioned that Simmons was supportive of the film but not involved. However, Simmons later cleared the air in a statement on his official Facebook page, refuting Shore’s claim.

Actor Emerson Collins, known for roles in “Shafted” (2023) and “Six Characters in Search of a Play” (2019), shared his sadness over Simmons’ death, writing, “A man whose joy in what he did made it accessible to so many. Years ago, I asked him for a photo after we performed at a benefit. It came out so hilariously bad with the green room wall, I cut it out and made a nonsense story with it. At the time, I just couldn’t stop giggling, thinking he’d be amused by it too.” Collins added, “And I think the purity of his delightful expression is something so resistant to cynicism that we could all use a bit more of in our lives.”

Meanwhile, Adam Sandler took to X to reflect on Dr. Ruth’s impact, writing, “Always loved Dr. Ruth. Going to miss her a lot. She always made us smile. Sending love to her family and thanks for everything.”

TV host Ross Mathews, known for “The Drew Barrymore Show” and “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” shared a photo from his interview with Dr. Ruth last year. He wrote, “I got to interview Dr. Ruth in Feb 2023. She was hilarious, sharp, and specific. Here she is telling me exactly what to ask her during the interview. Obvi, I did as instructed. Game changer. Grateful I got to meet her. She passed yesterday at 96 years old. Bravo, Doctor.”

Film producer Patrick Scott Patterson shared two photos side by side on X, paying tribute to Dr. Ruth and Simmons. “Wow,” he wrote. “I’m hard-pressed to think of two people who got more air time helping people in the 1980s and 1990s than these two icons.” Patterson added, “Truly (an) end of an era type day. Thoughts with their family and friends today.”

Source: USA TODAY