Richard Simmons has dedicated his life to making exercise fun — for everyone. He is pictured above in 1984.
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Richard Simmons has dedicated his life to making exercise fun — for everyone. He is pictured above in 1984.
American Broadcasting Corporation/Getty Images
Instantly recognizable with his short shorts, sparkly tank top and curly hair, Richard Simmons is one of the most unique, flashy and beloved bodybuilding figures of the past 50 years.
Simmons died at his home in Los Angeles on Saturday, a representative confirmed to NPR. He was 76. A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told NPR that police were investigating the death at an address in the Hollywood Hills. NPR used public records to match the address to a home owned by Simmons.
Police did not give a cause of death but said no foul play was suspected.
Simmons built a fitness empire starting in the 1970s that included videos, classes, books, products, commercials, his own shows, and numerous TV appearances.
What helped his entrepreneurial spirit was the coincidence of new technology—or at least new in the 1980s. Simmons put his fitness classes on VHS tapes to play on a VCR. Over the course of his life, he made more than 65 fitness videos, such as “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” which sold more than 20 million copies.
He grew up as an “unhappy, confused teenager”
Born Milton Teagle Richard Simmons in New Orleans, he described himself as a bulimic as a child. Others bullied and teased him because of his weight.
“I grew up without any physical education,” he recalls. on NPR’s Tell Me More in 2008. “I weighed 200 pounds when I was in eighth grade. And when I graduated high school, I weighed almost 300 pounds. I was a very… unhappy, confused teenager, unable to figure out what I wanted in life and why I had such a strong relationship with food.”
Simmons said on his website that he tried diets and laxatives, but ultimately adopted a “balanced lifestyle of eating right and exercising.” His life’s work is to make exercise fun—for all body types.
In 1974, Simmons opened his own studio in Beverly Hills, catering to people who wanted to lose weight and get in shape. It was originally called The Anatomy Asylum, but was later renamed SLIMMONS. It even had one of the first salad bars in the area, called “Ruffage.” Simmons remained there until 2013.
Simmons’ workout style is upbeat and welcoming. In a promo for one of his popular “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” videos, he enthusiastically stated, “If you’re looking for a workout that’s vibrant, entertaining, stimulating, funny, colorful, fun, playful, inspiring, safe, low-impact, full of kicks, excitement, enjoyment, enthusiasm, passion, rage, excitement, and action, look no further. This is it!”
No other fitness celebrity looks like Richard Simmons. And no one else in the workout videos of that era looks like the people in his classes, according to historians. Natalia Mehlman Petrzela. “They were of all ages, both male and female. Most notably, many were considered overweight by the standards of the time.”
Petrzela, who wrote the book, Fit Nation: The Benefits and Pains of America’s Fitness Obsessionwelcoming fat people into the gym was revolutionary in the 1970s and 1980s, Petrzela said. More recently, however, Petrzela said Simmons has been criticized for fat-shaming.
“That criticism is not unfounded,” she said. “But I also think it’s important to recognize how … important the work that he did in expanding people’s awareness Who deserve to exercise, to be welcomed into the gym, and to find joy through activity and in the active community.”
In his 60s, Simmons became a hermit. Many of his fans were confused as to why such a positive and outgoing person would become quiet and not leave his house. Podcast Missing Richard Simmons and several documentaries delve into the mystery, including one produced by TMZ and aired on Fox and Hulu. In a statement in 2022Simmons briefly thanked his fans. In previous interviews, such as a 2016 Today show appearancerefers to health problems and a desire to spend time alone.
Simmons’ philosophy is simple. He preaches positivity, portion control, and moving your body for at least 30 minutes a day. That message resonates with people who don’t see themselves in the traditional fitness world—and who feel like they’re the last person to be picked for the team.
