Latest news with #RichardSimmons
Fox News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Richard Simmons saw only 'beautiful bright rainbows' in the finals weeks before his death
Even in the final days before his death, Richard Simmons remained a source of positivity and light. Simmons died on July 13, just one day after his 76th birthday; however, he gave Closer an update on his health in March 2024, sharing he "felt good" at the time. "I have been through a lot. But now all I see are beautiful bright rainbows," he told the outlet via email. "Say hello to your [readers] for me and thank them for their concern." His cause of death has been deferred, meaning an investigation and additional testing are needed before a conclusive explanation for his death can be given. Los Angeles Police Department officials confirmed to Fox News Digital that there was "no foul play" involved in his death. RICHARD SIMMONS LAID TO REST 'SURROUNDED BY ONLY FAMILY AND CLOSEST FRIENDS' The television personality and fitness instructor got his start in the 1970s when he opened his workout gym, Slimmons, in Los Angeles, where he taught aerobics and motivational classes throughout the week. His star began to rise when he released the workout video series "Sweatin' to the Oldies," the popularity of which led to the premiere of "The Richard Simmons Show," a talk show that focused on health and wellness, in 1980. Simmons strived to create an inclusive environment where people can work to live the healthiest life possible, often featuring normal looking people in his workout videos, rather than people who look extremely fit. His upbeat and positive personality was reflected in his colorful sequined workout clothes, which helped make people feel comfortable rather than intimated. "I have been through a lot. But now all I see are beautiful bright rainbows." — Richard Simmons "I think I'm just a good example of a chubby, fat, unhappy kid who lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, and dreamed, and now all my dreams are coming true," he told Huell Howser in 1980. In March 2024, the fitness icon announced on Facebook he had been diagnosed with skin cancer after discovering a "strange looking bump under my right eye" which would not go away, prompting him to visit his dermatologist. LIKE WHAT YOU'RE READING? CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS "I sat in his chair and he looked at it through a magnifying mirror. He told me he would have to scrape it and put it under the microscope," he wrote in his post. "Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. 'You have cancer.'" He later shared that after three procedures, the doctors were able to clear all the cancer cells, and he was officially cancer free. Although Simmons' life had not been easy the last few months of his life, the fitness instructor was excited to celebrate his 76th birthday earlier this month, telling People magainze in an interview shortly before his death that he was hoping to be able to give back on his big day. "I feel good! I am grateful that I'm here, that I am alive for another day," he told the outlet. "I'll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Fans of the workout enthusiast saw less and less of Simmons in recent years, as he decided to take a step back from living life in the public eye in 2014. In the days leading up to his death, Simmons found comfort knowing he was able to help so many people over the years. "When I decided to retire, it was because my body told me I needed to retire," Simmons told People. "I have spent time just reflecting on my life. All of the books I wrote, the videos. I never was like, 'Oh look what I've done.' My thing was, 'Oh, look how many people I helped.'" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Fox News
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Richard Simmons' longtime housekeeper denies ‘kidnapping' him, says he was happy in final years
Richard Simmons' longtime housekeeper and companion Teresa Reveles is speaking out about the late fitness guru's final years. In a candid conversation – her first broadcast interview – Reveles told the "Today" show about the unique nature of their relationship, and claimed that he was incredibly happy in the years before his death on July 13, 2024. She began working for Simmons decades ago, in 1988, and while some rumors have claimed that she was to blame for his disappearance from the spotlight in his later years, she denied it. When host Liz Kreutz asked about speculation that she'd "kidnapped" him, she laughed and replied, "No, I think he kidnapped me!" While she said their relationship wasn't sexual, she did admit they were very close. "He (fell) in love with me right away, that he says, 'No, you're never going to leave me,'" she explained. She said that to her, he was "like a brother … like my father, my friend, my boyfriend, my everything." Reveles insisted that she and Simmons weren't romantic partners, and said that if anyone was confused by the unconventional relationship she shared with him, "It's their problem. We were very happy, and the last ten years was the most happy years." When asked about Simmons' sexual orientation, which he never publicly disclosed, she refused to answer, but when she was asked if she ever knew about any romantic partners he had, she said, "Me. He never love anybody like me." She added, "Well, he wasn't my lover, not sexually, but he kissed me all the time." As for how secluded Simmons became in the years leading up to his death, she said, "He was not happy that he was getting old, OK? He says, 'No, I want people to remember me the way I was.' You know … full of life." Reveles was the one who found Simmons after he died. She said that was a "crazy, sad day," but that he had been "very, very happy." "I never saw Richard, in 36 years, unhappy, or mean, or upset," she said. In a message to Fox News Digital, Tom Estey, Simmons' longtime friend, said, "Let's CELEBRATE Richard - the human being. It's nearly his Birthday. I worked with him for 30 plus years, and more importantly, we were close friends even longer. I choose to celebrate these milestones." On July 11, 2024, Simmons suffered a fall and spent the following day in bed. On the morning of July 13, Simmons was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor. Authorities were called, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The fitness instructor and TV icon died as a result of blunt traumatic injuries, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office announced two months later. The 76-year-old's manner of death was ruled as an accident. Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular was listed as a contributing factor. At the time, Reveles told People, "When I saw him, he looked peaceful." She said that when she found him, his hands were balled into fists, and explained, "That's why I know it was a heart attack. I had a heart attack a few years ago, and my hands did the same." The day before he died, Reveles said Simmons' leg was hurting from a fall the previous day. Simmons passed away one day after his birthday, July 12. She told him, "Let's go to the hospital. Maybe you broke your leg." Simmons protested, "No, Teresa, not on my birthday. Why [don't we] wait, and we do it in the morning?" "But in the morning, it was too late," Reveles said. Los Angeles Police Department officials confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time that there was "no foul play" suspected in his death.
Fox News
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Richard Simmons' longtime housekeeper denies ‘kidnapping' him, says he was happy in final years
Richard Simmons' longtime housekeeper and companion Teresa Reveles is speaking out about the late fitness guru's final years. In a candid conversation – her first broadcast interview – Reveles told the "Today" show about the unique nature of their relationship, and claimed that he was incredibly happy in the years before his death on July 13, 2024. She began working for Simmons decades ago, in 1988, and while some rumors have claimed that she was to blame for his disappearance from the spotlight in his later years, she denied it. When host Liz Kreutz asked about speculation that she'd "kidnapped" him, she laughed and replied, "No, I think he kidnapped me!" While she said their relationship wasn't sexual, she did admit they were very close. "He (fell) in love with me right away, that he says, 'No, you're never going to leave me,'" she explained. She said that to her, he was "like a brother … like my father, my friend, my boyfriend, my everything." Reveles insisted that she and Simmons weren't romantic partners, and said that if anyone was confused by the unconventional relationship she shared with him, "It's their problem. We were very happy, and the last ten years was the most happy years." When asked about Simmons' sexual orientation, which he never publicly disclosed, she refused to answer, but when she was asked if she ever knew about any romantic partners he had, she said, "Me. He never love anybody like me." She added, "Well, he wasn't my lover, not sexually, but he kissed me all the time." As for how secluded Simmons became in the years leading up to his death, she said, "He was not happy that he was getting old, OK? He says, 'No, I want people to remember me the way I was.' You know … full of life." Reveles was the one who found Simmons after he died. She said that was a "crazy, sad day," but that he had been "very, very happy." "I never saw Richard, in 36 years, unhappy, or mean, or upset," she said. In a message to Fox News Digital, Tom Estey, Simmons' longtime friend, said, "Let's CELEBRATE Richard - the human being. It's nearly his Birthday. I worked with him for 30 plus years, and more importantly, we were close friends even longer. I choose to celebrate these milestones." On July 11, 2024, Simmons suffered a fall and spent the following day in bed. On the morning of July 13, Simmons was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor. Authorities were called, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The fitness instructor and TV icon died as a result of blunt traumatic injuries, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office announced two months later. The 76-year-old's manner of death was ruled as an accident. Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular was listed as a contributing factor. At the time, Reveles told People, "When I saw him, he looked peaceful." She said that when she found him, his hands were balled into fists, and explained, "That's why I know it was a heart attack. I had a heart attack a few years ago, and my hands did the same." The day before he died, Reveles said Simmons' leg was hurting from a fall the previous day. Simmons passed away one day after his birthday, July 12. She told him, "Let's go to the hospital. Maybe you broke your leg." Simmons protested, "No, Teresa, not on my birthday. Why [don't we] wait, and we do it in the morning?" "But in the morning, it was too late," Reveles said. Los Angeles Police Department officials confirmed to Fox News Digital at the time that there was "no foul play" suspected in his death.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Richard Simmons' bedazzled tanks sent to auction
Richard Simmons' personal items are set to hit the auction rooms. Bonhams Auction House in Los Angeles has revealed it's auctioning off more than 200 of the late TV fitness instructor's items, including bedazzled tank tops, branded VHS tapes and other memorabilia from his workout empire, TMZ reports. The collection celebrates Simmons' four-decade legacy. Among the star items hitting the block are his signature Sweatin' to the Oldies ensemble, worn during a 2012 Slimmons class; a bedazzled Hummingbird tank top worn at the 2013 MTV VMAs; a custom Pom Pom Ball tank from a 2011 appearance; and more than 100 other glittering tank tops and shorts, each estimated to fetch between $200 and $300 (£150 to £220). Fans can also bid on nostalgic Simmons-branded merchandise, including a portrait of Simmons and his dalmatians by Frank Cummings, estimated at up to $1200 (£880), and the original 'Slimmons' studio sign from his Beverly Hills gym, estimated at up to $700 (£510). The auction runs from 12-24 July, coinciding with what would have been his birthday, and marking a year since he died in 2024. Simmons passed away at the age of 76 on 13 July last year, at his Hollywood Hills home. His death was attributed to complications from falls and heart disease. According to multiple news sources, he was found unresponsive after falling the day before and not wanting to seek medical attention.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside Richard Simmons bittersweet final act: Star was 'so excited' to tell his story on Broadway before passing
It's been nearly a year since Richard Simmons died the day after his 76th birthday from a fall and underlying coronary disease, and his close ones are reflecting on his life. The reclusive aerobics guru retreated from the spotlight after closing his Beverly Hills exercise studio Slimmons in 2016, but he made a virtual comeback during the COVID-19 pandemic and began posting new encouraging audio messages for fans. According to Richard's older brother Lenny Simmons, he was also busy writing songs for a potential Broadway musical about his life with one of Madonna 's favorite songwriters, three-time Grammy nominee Patrick Leonard. 'He was so excited,' Lenny told People on Thursday. 'And [he] would always read us the lyrics, in poetry form, of the last song he had written for Patrick.' Simmons' publicist for decades, Tom Estey, spoke to him the day before he passed away to wish him happy birthday shortly after he had slipped in the bathroom of his $6.9M Hollywood Hills estate (now on the market) but failed to seek medical attention. 'The last day, he didn't feel well,' Estey admitted to the mag. '[But] when we reconnected, it was a completely different Richard. He was in a very happy and content place. He did know that people missed him and he missed them, but he never took his eye nor his heart off them.' The flamboyant fitness expert's manager for years, Michael Catalano, said he 'found some peace in coming back and reconnecting with all people he had not spoken to in years.' In his final Facebook message to fans, Richard (born Milton) thanked them: '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.' Last year, Simmons' live-in caretaker/driver of 36 years - Theresa Reveles Muro - petitioned to become co-trustee of his estate and claimed Lenny had pressured her to turn down the role after his death. Muro accused Lenny of colluding to 'pillage Richard's assets and legacy' with Michael, whom he allegedly despised according to multiple emails she provided in legal filings. In October, Theresa asked the court to suspend Lenny's authority to sell or exploit Simmons' personal effects, name, image, likeness, or other intellectual property pending resolution of the appointment petition. In his final Facebook message to fans, Richard (born Milton) thanked them: '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' The Sweatin' to the Oldies star - who once topped the scales at 268lbs - helped humanity lose approximately 12M lbs during his eighties/nineties hey day: 'He cried with them and he laughed with them, and he was never judgmental.' Richard published 12 fitness book and hosted his own KTLA talk show The Richard Simmons Show from 1980-1984, which won four Daytime Emmy Awards. Among Simmons' last onscreen appearances were guest judging a 2014 episode of ABC's Sing Your Face Off and playing a dramatized version of himself on ABC soap General Hospital in 2013.
