Exercise guru Richard Simmons passed away on July 13. He turned 76 on July 12.
Simmons was reported dead by his housekeeper, according to TMZ. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Back in March, Fitness guru Richard Simmons who is known for “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” scared some of his followers when he posted a message about “dying” on Facebook on March 18, 2024. He started the post by writing, “I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying.”. The post certainly sounded cryptic and like a farewell message from Simmons, but a source who spoke to PEOPLE claims that’s not the case. The source said, “It’s important to know that helping and inspiring people has always been truly at the core of who he is. He’s happy and hopes his words will motivate others to be happy as well. The posts over the last couple of weeks are all significant — he’s digging deeper. These are just not motivational but also very personal. He’s showing sides of himself that we haven’t seen before.”
Still, the post left many wondering if Simmons has received a terminal diagnosis. Days after the post, Simmons responded with another Facebook post. This time, he shared that he was diagnosed with Basel Cell Carcinoma, a form of skin cancer. He wrote two posts about the experience of being diagnosed and having his skin burned to remove the cancerous cells. The good news is that the doctor told him, “We got all the cancer cells out.” In a follow-up post, he shared that the skin cancer diagnosis actually happened “so many years ago.”
He began his career in the 1970s when he opened a fitness studio in Beverly Hills called “Slimmons,” which became very popular. His classes attracted a wide range of people looking to lose weight and get fit.
Simmons gained widespread fame through his infomercials and fitness videos, such as the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series. He also made numerous appearances on talk shows and television programs, further solidifying his status as a fitness guru.
Throughout his career, Simmons has been a vocal advocate for healthy living, often emphasizing the importance of a positive attitude and self-love in achieving fitness goals.
In recent years, Simmons had mostly withdrawn from public life. This has sparked concern and speculation about his well-being. Despite this, he used to communicated through representatives to reassure fans of his health and safety.
