Richard Simmons, an American fitness instructor and television personality, lost his life falling at his home and refusing to seek medical help.
His Sweatin’ to the Oldies aerobics videos promoted weight-loss programs and inspired countless individuals to embrace fitness fun and engagingly.
Highlights
- Richard Simmons was rumored to be dating Swiss actor Daniel Holt in 1992.
- Although Richard’s dressing style sparked gay rumors, he had never accepted them.
- He sued the National Enquirer for spreading a rumor that he had undergone gender reassignment surgery in 2017.
Richard Simmons was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 12, 1948, but tragically lost his life in Los Angeles, California, on July 13, 2024.
As a young man, he considered becoming a priest but appeared as an art student in Federico Fellini‘s films The Clowns and Fellini Satyricon.
He became interested in fitness and established a gym, moving to Los Angeles in 1970. Likewise, he also opened an exercise studio, The Anatomy Asylum.
Richard had been helping others lose weight for 35 years, losing approximately 12 million pounds.
His success in the health club drew attention, and he appeared in several game shows, including Body Language, Win, Lose or Draw, Super Passwords, and Figure It Out.
Richard Simmons Was Rumored Dating Daniel Holt
The only known dating partner of Richard Simmons was a Swiss actor, Daniel Vladimir Niedorf.
In 1992, there was gossip that the fitness instructor was romantically involved with a Swiss actor. However, those rumors faded gradually and were no longer part of each other’s lives.
Although netizens speculated that Richard Simmons was gay, he never accepted it. His dressing style often sparked gay rumors.
Jane Fonda said she had last seen him for lunch at the Polo Lounge with his new boyfriend.
Richard claimed he had one few friends and expressed,
I don’t have a lot to offer to one person. I have a lot to offer to a lot of people.
He was never married but lived with his housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, for almost 30 years.
He kept his presence hidden from the media since 2014, and there were rumors that Teresa kidnapped him in 2016.
Later, in a phone interview in March 2016, Richard debunked the rumors, saying no one was holding him hostage in his house in a phone interview with Today shows Savannah Guthrie.
Richard Simmons gave so much of his life to make people happy and save people's lives through their health.
— Hollywood Horror Museum (@horrormuseum) July 13, 2024
Everyone we know who met him said what an absolute sweetheart he was, funny, and truly loved everyone.
Rest in Peace to a dear soul. pic.twitter.com/PIoDLpVTQb
Moreover, the National Enquirer started a rumor in 2017 that Richard had undergone gender reassignment surgery. Later, the fitness instructor sued them for false claims.
National Enquirer article also claimed that Richard paid Daniel Holt to thrash him and other boys he represented.
He hadn’t seen outside his Beverly Hills, California mansion since 2017. His representative, Tom Estey, clarified that he had chosen to live that way happily.
Additional Informaion
- Richard Simmons’s parents were Leonard Douglas Simmons Sr. and Shirley May. He grew up with his elder brother, Leonard Jr, in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
- He suffered from obesity from childhood and weighed 182 pounds at 15. He was diagnosed with skin cancer located underneath his right eye.
- The fitness instructor was a spokesperson for Vitamix in the 1980s and had an estimated net worth of $20 million.
