R.I.P...Gone But Never-Ever Forgotten: There Was Only One Richard Simmons, American Fitness Personality & Public Figure. He Was The Whole Talented Package!

R.I.P...Gone But Never-Ever Forgotten: There Was Only One Richard Simmons, American Fitness Personality & Public Figure. He Was The Whole Talented Package!

 

"Fitness legend Richard Simmons has died at the age of 76, TMZ reports.

Law enforcement sources told the outlet that police and fire officials responded to a call from his housekeeper just before 10 a.m. Saturday and pronounced him dead at the scene.

There is no foul play suspected, but a cause of death has not been released.

Just a day ago, Simmons posted on Facebook to thank fans for all their birthday wishes, saying “I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.”

Since all but disappearing from the public spotlight around 2014, rumors have swirled about the state of Simmons’ health and well-being. The former fitness guru mostly used Facebook to keep in contact with his fans and clear-up headlines about his life off TV.

When news that a biopic of his life was in development starring Pauly Shore, Simmons took to Facebook to rebuke the film, writing, “You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore. I have never given my permission for this movie. So don’t believe everything you read.”

Then in March after questions again ramped-up about Simmons’ health after a cryptic post, Simmons revealed that he had basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer that can be fatal if left untreated.

“I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am…. dying. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death,” he wrote in the March post. “Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”

Simmons first broke onto the scene in the 1970s when he opened a series of gyms. He then started making his own fitness videos in the 80s which were a huge hit, largely due to his infectious enthusiasm and positivity.

This is a breaking story and will be updated." - Dailybeast.com