03-07-2025
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.
