He became world famous for revolutionising weight loss, but with his big hair, tiny shorts and sequinned tank tops, Richard Simmons was also famous for his wacky lifestyle.
The iconic fitness guru was loved by millions, before he suddenly disappeared from public life a decade ago without explanation, leading to wild speculation he was being held hostage in his own home!
After his sad death on 13 July at age 76, we take a look at the special moments in the life of the wonderfully weird wellness hero…
‘I’m grateful that I’m here!’
Just two days before he was found dead of apparent natural causes at the Beverly Hills mansion he shared with his three dalmatians and two maids, Richard Simmons declared that he felt grateful to be alive. “I feel good!” he said in a rare interview to mark his 76th birthday. “I am grateful that I’m here – that I’m alive another day.”
Building a fitness empire
Richard struggled with his own weight growing up in New Orleans, tipping the scales at 121kg when he graduated high school, before losing the excess weight through sensible eating and exercise.
But it was his message that exercise was for everyone in the 1970s and ’80s – when gyms mainly attracted already-fit people – that helped revolutionise the fitness industry and turned him into a superstar.
He opened his own fitness studio called Slimmons, released 36 fitness videos, published 12 books, hosted an Emmy-winning talk show and filmed a quirky, colourful 2011 Air New Zealand safety video.
Throughout his career, he was always critical of fad diets, emphasising healthy eating and exercise.
“There’ll always be some weird thing about eating four grapes before you go to bed, drinking a special tea or buying this little bean from El Salvador,” he said in 2005. “But if you watch your portions, have a good attitude and work out every day, you’ll live longer.”
Did he predict his own death?
Four months ago, Richard posted a bizarre message on social media that led many fans to mistakenly believe he was about to die. “I have some news to tell you,” he tweeted. “Please don’t be sad. I am… dying. The truth is we are all 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. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… Count your blessings and enjoy.”
He later apologised for any confusion, and his longtime publicist released a statement explaining that he meant the post to be inspirational. “He’s, in fact, very healthy and happy.”
Was he held hostage in his home?
On 15 February 2014, Richard disappeared from public life after failing to turn up to run an exercise class at his studio, cutting ties with everyone, including his closest friends. He became a recluse. The public began speculating that someone was holding him captive in his home or that he had started to transition from male to female.
The mystery over what happened even spawned a podcast, Missing Richard Simmons. He eventually released a statement confirming that he was “not missing” and when police made a welfare check, he told them he was simply living a private life.
“I know people miss me and you know what? I miss them too,” he said. “But I’m able to reach them though phone calls and through emails. And I do leave the house sometimes. But I’m in disguise.”
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