Richard Simmons, the fitness guru who was found dead at the age of 76 earlier this month at his Hollywood Hills home, had a final message to share with his audience, according to his staff.
His staff posted a message and photo on X that he had planned to share with fans before he passed. They started the post by paying tribute to the aerobics icon.
“From Richard’s staff: Hello everyone. Richard worked very hard on his posts for you. He had many ideas and would work ahead … going back to each one making changes until he had it just like he wanted before posting,” the post read.
“As you know, on the weekends, he would just share a photo with a caption. He always chose his photos and wrote his captions for the upcoming weekend by Friday,” the post continued. “So we have the post Richard planned to share with you last Sunday. We thought you’d want to see it.”
The team then revealed the photo Mr. Simmons intended to post on July 14, one day after his death, which shows the “Sweatin to the Oldies” star smiling in an orange NASA space suit. Alongside the photo is a quote from Simmons:
“Let me fly you to the moon so we can gaze among the stars. Love, Richard.”
Mr. Simmons was found dead at home on July 13 after authorities were informed of a cardiac arrest at the property, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. His death was attributed to natural causes.
Health Concerns
In recent years, Mr. Simmons remained out of the spotlight as fans speculated about his health. Concern for the television personality grew after he posted a reflective message on X in March.
“I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying,” the post started. “Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death. Why am I telling you this?”
“Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day,” the post continued. “Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”
“There is something else very important that you must do,” he added. “Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug those people and children who you really care for.”
“A big hug really goes a long way.”
A day after that, Mr. Simmons revealed in a Facebook post that he had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, after noticing a “strange looking bump” under his eye. After treatment, he posted that a doctor “got all the cancer cells out.”
“I know some of you reading this have had cancer or have known someone in your life who has had cancer. Promise me you will see your doctor and get a complete check up,” he urged his readers in his post.
In his final interview with People, two days before his birthday and a day before his death, Mr. Simmons expressed gratitude to be alive another day.
“I feel good! I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day. I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people,” he told the outlet.
Simmons’ Career
After moving to California, Richard Simmons opened his first gym in Beverly Hills, called Slimmons. The gym remained open for more than four decades before closing permanently in 2016.
Mr. Simmons took a distinctive approach to health and fitness, targeting an older demographic and people with weight complications. He communicated a balanced lifestyle that highlights a healthy diet and frequent exercise.
Mr. Simmons’ career skyrocketed in the 1970s and 1980s after he appeared on television and eventually hosted shows. “The Richard Simmons Show,” which aired from 1980 to 1984, won four Daytime Emmy Awards.
Alongside his award-winning show, the fitness icon made home exercise videos during the 1980s that further boosted his success, the most notable being his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” aerobic series.
The “Richard Simmons Show” star drew media attention after appearing on “Real People” doing his job.
Other appearances include a recurring role on the soap opera “General Hospital,” and guest performances on “Battlestars,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” and “Saturday Night Live.”