Milton Teagle "Richard"Simmons (July 12, 1948 – July 13, 2024) was an American fitness instructor and television personality. He was a promoter of weight-loss programs, most prominently through his television show,The Richard Simmons Show and later theSweatin' to the Oldies line ofaerobics videos.
Simmons began his weight-loss career by opening his gym Slimmons inBeverly Hills, California, catering to the overweight in a supportive atmosphere, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. He was often parodied and was a frequent guest on late-night television and radio talk shows, such as theLate Show with David Letterman andThe Howard Stern Show.
He continued to promote health and exercise through a decades-long career, and later broadened his activities to include political activism, such as in 2008 in support of a bill mandating non-competitive physical education in public schools as a part of theNo Child Left Behind Act.[1][2]
By March 2016, after his not having made any major public appearances since February 2014, speculation and expressions of concern about his well-being began to surface in the media.[3][4] Both Simmons and his publicist have said the concerns were unwarranted and that he simply chose to be less publicly visible.[5]
During the 2020COVID-19 pandemic, Simmons began uploading archive content to hisYouTube channel (recorded before his decision to withdraw from public life) to help people stay fit at home.[6]
Milton Teagle Simmons was born inNew Orleans,Louisiana, on July 12, 1948, to Leonard Douglas Simmons Sr. and Shirley May (née Satin). He was born to "show-business parents" and raised in theFrench Quarter of New Orleans.[7] Simmons had an older brother.[8] Their father was raisedMethodist and worked as amaster of ceremonies and later inthrift stores while their mother wasRussian Jewish and was a travelingfan dancer and later a store cosmetics saleswoman.[9]
He becameobese during his early childhood and adolescence.[14] He began to overeat and became overweight as early as the age of 4 and by the age of 5, he knew it was perceived negatively.[14] At the age of 15, he weighed 182 pounds (83 kg). As a young man, he considered being a priest.[15][16] As a young art student, he appeared among the "freak show" characters in theFellini filmsSatyricon (1968) andThe Clowns (1970) and he eventually reached a peak of 268 lb (122 kg).[17][14][18]
In an interview with theTampa Bay Times, Simmons explained he adopted the name Richard after an uncle who paid for his college tuition.[16] His first job in New Orleans was as a child, sellingpralines at Leah's Pralines.[15]
Upon moving toLos Angeles in the 1970s, Simmons worked as themaître d'hôtel at Derek's, a restaurant inBeverly Hills.[9]: 157 He developed an interest in fitness. Exercise studios of the day favored the already fit customer, so little help was available for those who needed to gain fitness from an otherwise unhealthy state. He established gyms and his interest in fitness helped him lose 123 lb (56 kg).[19][20]
He opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where emphasis was placed on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise in a supportive atmosphere. The business originally included asalad bar restaurant called Ruffage, a pun on the wordroughage (dietary fiber); though it was eventually removed as the focus of The Anatomy Asylum shifted solely to exercise.[21] Later renamed Slimmons, the establishment continued operations in Beverly Hills and Simmons taught motivational classes andaerobics throughout the week.[22] His success led to a recurring role inGeneral Hospital portraying himself over a four-year period and then to his own television seriesThe Richard Simmons Show, which aired from 1980 to 1984 and earned him multipleEmmy awards.[23] Rising interest in aerobics during the 1980s led to the popularization of Simmons' line of fitness videos, particularly hisSweatin' to the Oldies series, which became one of the most popular videos during the decade.[24]
Simmons in 2009
In 2010, Simmons stated he had maintained his own 100+ pound (45 kg) weight loss for 42 years, had been helping others lose weight for 35 years, and that in the course of his fitness career, had helped humanity lose approximately 12 million pounds (5.5 million kg).[25]
Simmons began to receive media attention due to the success of his health club that started with him onReal People (where he was shown at work).[26] He introduced customers whom he had helped to lose weight. He later had guest roles onBattlestars,Super Password,Win, Lose or Draw,[27]Body Language,[28]Match Game (ABC),Hollywood Squares (syndicated),[29] andNickelodeon'sFigure It Out.[30] Positive viewer reactions landed Simmons a recurring role as himself inGeneral Hospital over a four-year period.[31] This, as well as being in shopping malls (where he taught exercise classes), led to further media attention. In the early 1980s, Simmons hosted two shows —Slim Cookin and the Emmy Award-winning talk showThe Richard Simmons Show,[23][32] in which he focused on personal health, fitness, exercise, and healthy cooking.
Simmons was also a guest onLate Night with David Letterman (NBC)[26] and theLate Show with David Letterman (CBS), but on November 22, 2000, they had a falling-out after an incident on that night's show. Simmons (while dressed as a turkey) grabbed Letterman as if to hug or kiss him, to which Letterman responded by spraying Simmons with a fire extinguisher, which made Simmons have a severeasthma attack.[36] Simmons did not appear on the Letterman show for six years, finally returning on November 29, 2006. During that time, Letterman once again set Simmons up for a prank; while Simmons was demonstrating a steamer branded with his name, Letterman insisted on placing a tray under the steamer which Simmons did not believe belonged there. When Simmons turned the steamer on, something in the tray exploded and caught fire, sending Simmons running for his life. Despite the scare, Simmons took the incident in fairly good nature, even joking that he "felt likeMichael Jackson" (referring to a mishap where Jackson's hair was accidentally set on fire by pyrotechnics while filming aPepsi commercial).[37]
He also featured in television advertisements forSprint,Yoplait, andHerbal Essence shampoos. In late 2007, he was in aThis is SportsCenter commercial onESPN as the show's "conditioning coach".[42] In theRocko's Modern Life episode "No Pain, No Gain", Simmons voiced an exercise trainer bearing his animated likeness, leading a class filled with large,anthropomorphic animals.[43]
Simmons appeared multiple times onThe Glenn Beck Program onHLN.[44] From 2006 to 2008, he hosted a radio show on Sirius Stars (Sirius Satellite Radio channel 102) titledLighten Up with Richard Simmons.[45][46] He provided the voice of Coach Salmons, a recurring character modeled after his own likeness, forFish Hooks.[19] In 2011, Simmons starred in "Fit to Fly with Richard Simmons", anAir New Zealand inflight safety briefing video modeled after his aerobic workouts.[47] He is featured heavily in the film clip of "Hawker Boat" byTobacco, taken from the albumFucked Up Friends.[48]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Simmons' YouTube channel was updated with archival exercise videos (recorded before his decision to withdraw from public life) to help people stay fit at home. A spokesperson said the move was motivated by an "overwhelming request for Richard to return in some way as a comfort" and added that Simmons was "very touched by the outreach".[49]
In January 2024, an as-yet untitled biopic about Simmons, starringPauly Shore, was announced, titledThe Court Jester. Simmons stated on Facebook, "I have never given my permission for this movie."[50] In April, he said he was discussing giving his approval for a different biopic.[51]
Simmons becameCatholic as a teenager, having first asked his parents if he could convert as a younger child. He attended church with his brother Lenny for years until being baptized andconfirmed on the same day.[52] He considered the priesthood for a time, but decided against it.
He lapsed as an older adult, but returned to the faith in his later years.[53]
Simmons used his energetic, loud, and motivational demeanor to encourage people to lose weight. His high energy level was always featured in his workout videos. His trademark attire was tank tops decorated withSwarovski crystals and candy-stripedDolphin shorts.[16][54]
Simmons interacted at a personal level with fans and people using his products. This began by personally answering fan mail he received as a cast member ofGeneral Hospital. As late as 2008, he personally answered emails and letters and made hundreds of phone calls each week to those who would seek his help.[55]
He claimed to have few friends, saying, "I don't have a lot to offer to one person. I have a lot to offer to a lot of people." Aside from his sixDalmatians and twomaids, Simmons lived alone inBeverly Hills, California.[55] Although his persona inspired speculation about hissexual orientation, he never publicly addressed the subject.[56][57][58][59][60] After his death in 2024,Jane Fonda stated she had last seen him for lunch at thePolo Lounge, when he was accompanied by his new boyfriend.[61]
In a 2012 interview withMen's Health, he was quoted:
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.
In March 2004, Simmons was cited formisdemeanor assault after he slapped Christopher Farney in the face at thePhoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. The slap was in response to Farney making a remark poking fun at Simmons’ exercise videos. In May 2004, a judge dismissed the assault charge after Simmons reached a private settlement with Farney.[63]
In September 2005, Simmons appeared onEntertainment Tonight[64] to discuss the effects ofHurricane Katrina on his family in his hometown of New Orleans, and his involvement in aiding those affected by the hurricane. On August 29, 2006, Simmons was onYour World with Neil Cavuto while making a return visit to New Orleans one year after the flooding, a visit he repeated on March 2, 2007, now talking about his recent trip to Washington, D.C., to promote and raise awareness about the Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007 (H.R. 1224).[65][66][67]
After 2014, Simmons did not make any major public appearances. He stopped appearing in public altogether on February 15 of that year. In March 2016, speculation began that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper.[3][4] In response, on March 14, Simmons gave an audio interview onThe Today Show, denying the rumors and assuring the public that he is fine.[5] In November 2016, the Simmons fitness gym closed without any public announcement from Simmons.[68] In February 2017, the podcastMissing Richard Simmons launched, investigating why Simmons left public life so suddenly.[69]
In March the same year,Los Angeles Police Department detectives visited Simmons' home to conduct awelfare check, issuing a statement that Simmons is "perfectly fine" and that "right now he is doing what he wants to do and it is his business".[70] On April 19, following a hospitalization for severeindigestion, Simmons made his first public comment in over a year, posting on Facebook a photo of himself and the message "I'm not 'missing', just a little under the weather".[71] However, the picture that was included in the post was from as far back as 2013, leading to speculation that the person who posted the message might not actually have been Simmons.[72][73][74]
In May 2017, he sued theNational Enquirer,Radar Online, andAmerican Media, Inc. for libel and false claims that he was undergoinggender reassignment.[75] In September 2017, Simmons lost the lawsuit and was ordered to pay the defendants' attorney's fees. The judge ruled, "because courts have long held that a misidentification of certain immutable characteristics do not naturally tend to injure one's reputation, even if there is sizeable portion of the population who hold prejudices against those characteristics, misidentification of a person as transgender is not actionable defamation absent special damages".[76]
In June 2018, he sued a Los Angeles private investigator, claiming that more than a year earlier, the investigator had placed a tracking device on the only vehicle Simmons used for transportation, noting that such tracking is in violation of California law.[77] In July 2018, Simmons amended the suit, alleging the investigator had been hired byIn Touch Weekly and prosecutors filed a criminal complaint.[78] In May 2020, a California appellate court upheld a trial judge's decision allowing Simmons' lawsuit to move forward.[79]
In August 2022, in response to continued rumors and aTMZ documentaryWhat Really Happened to Richard Simmons claiming that knee problems forced Simmons out of public life, Simmons issued a statement to theNew York Post that he is "happy, healthy, and living the life he has chosen to live".[80]
Teresa Reveles, who worked as Simmons' house manager and was often erroneously referred to as his housekeeper in news reports, said that Simmons retired due to failing knees which required surgery and made him unable to have the flexibility necessary to teach his fitness classes. He did not want to continue working if he was not able to fully perform up to expectations. Simmons was also nervous about aging, claiming to her that he did not "look that beautiful anymore". Even after he retreated from the public spotlight, he still frequently traveled outside of his house locally in disguises and continued to motivate fans by calling and emailing them as much as he could.[81] He also would donate money to charities he supported, including theKiwanis Children's Fund.[82]
Two days before his death, Simmons had conducted his first interview in a significant amount of time withPeople. On his birthday, Simmons stated that he is grateful to be alive for another day and would spend his birthday helping people. Instead of cake, he stated he would have a candle on a zucchini, stating he is a vegetarian. He added, "Okay, fine. Maybe one Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie. But just one. Sure, once in a while, have dessert."[83] He was also calling and motivating people again and writing aBroadway musical about his life in collaboration with composer Patrick Leonard, as well as planning for a longer comeback interview withDiane Sawyer.[81]
In March 2024, Simmons issued a statement clarifying that he was not dying after a Facebook post he wrote encouraging people to "embrace every day" drew public concern. He also stated that he no longer had a manager or publicist, and that he had not given permission for a biopic of him.[84] That same month, Simmons revealed that he had been diagnosed withskin cancer, located underneath his right eye. Simmons later stated on his Twitter account that the cancer diagnosis occurred "so many years ago" and he decided to speak out about it to encourage people to go to the doctor if they see anything unusual on their body.[85][86]
On July 13, 2024, Simmons died at his home inLos Angeles at the age of 76.[87] He had suffered a fall at his home in his bathroom two days prior and refused to seek medical attention until the following morning out of a desire to spend his 76th birthday at home.[81] He went to bed and the next day, he posted on social media that he never got so many birthday wishes. He was found by his long-time house manager Teresa Reveles the next day.[88][89] Police said that his death appeared to be fromnatural causes, though the investigation is ongoing;[90][91] Reveles suspected that Simmons had suffered a heart attack in his sleep.[81] He was buried atPierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, dressed in his trademark fitness outfit.[92] On August 21, in a report given to Simmons' brother, the Los Angeles County Coroner's office confirmed that Simmons had died of complications of the previous day's fall, among others, and that heart disease was a contributing factor; no unprescribed drugs had been in his system when he died.[93]
On July 20, one week after his death, Simmons' team shared what would be his final social media post, a paraphrase of lyrics from the song "Fly Me to the Moon".[94] On October 5, a memorial mass for Simmons was held atSt. Louis Cathedral inNew Orleans,Louisiana.[95]
^McIntee, Michael Z. (December 26, 2006)."Show #1515". CBS Late Show with David Letterman. Archived fromthe original on May 14, 2007. RetrievedFebruary 9, 2007.
^"CNN.com". CNN.Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. RetrievedMay 22, 2010.
^"California Governors Conference 2006".californiagovernorsconference.org. September 26, 2006.Archived from the original on January 28, 2019. RetrievedNovember 28, 2018. (date per google; included to cite earliest mention of the show)
^Kendall, Lori (March 22, 2008). "James Bond, Peter Pan, and A Sticky Night of Love: irony and masculinities in amateur animated videos".The Journal of Men's Studies.16 (2): 124.doi:10.3149/jms.1602.124.hdl:2142/18806.ISSN1060-8265.S2CID144617297.The montage of Gay Peter Pan's phone contacts includes out celebrities like Richard Simmons and Rosie O'Donnell
^Rinaldi, Ray Mark (April 23, 2000). "Heroes are hard to find when the're hiding".St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. F3.We've always allowed gay men on the tube – did anyone besides my grandmother really thinkLiberace was heterosexual? What aboutPaul Lynde? Richard Simmons? — but the rules are clear. It's all right to be a flamer as long as you agree to keep it secret.
^Wieder, Judy (January 21, 2003). "The real Rosie: 365 days of amazing challenges and feisty decisions turned America's sweetheart into the fighter she's always been—and The Advocate's leading lady for 2002. (Person of the Year)".The Advocate (15): 52.ISSN0001-8996.When Kathy Kinney came on my show and outed Richard Simmons, I didn't try to "in" Richard Simmons. The gay community accused me of in-ing Richard Simmons, like I was trying to make people think that he was straight. I will tell you this: If Richard Simmons ever wants to discuss his private life with me on national TV, he's welcome to do so. It is not anyone else's right to do that before he decides it's time. That's the reason I said to Kathy Kinney, "We'll be right back with a commercial." I'm simply saying that that right belongs to him. [Loudly] And no matter what community you feel he's a part of or what he represents to you, it is not as relevant as his own truth.
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