Just two days before his death, Richard Simmons reflected on loss in his final interview. On Monday, People published an interview with the late fitness guru who died of apparent natural causes in Los Angeles on July 13.
During the interview, Simmons revealed that he had been working on turning the story of his life — his work on television and as a fitness guru along with his youth “selling pralines in New Orleans” — into a Broadway show. He shared that while working on it, every week, he’d “write an audio” to give to songwriter Patrick Leonard.
“How do you deal with loss? It takes a toll on your heart,” he said in the interview, seemingly reading his audio for the week. “Some shed many tears, others stare at the sky. It’s so hard to say goodbye. Here is what I know when it’s time for us to go, beautiful angels will greet us with a smile and a hello.”
People reporter Jason Sheeler responded by sharing that he and Simmons’ fans “have missed” him since his abrupt retirement from the public eye in 2014.
“I know people miss me. And you know what? I miss them, too,” Simmons responded. “But I’m able to reach them through phone calls… and through emails. And I do leave the house sometimes. But I’m in disguise.”
Sheeler shared that during the interview, which took place a day before Simmons birthday, Simmons sang “Happy Birthday” to himself while imitating Marilyn Monroe. “I’ll always be the court jester,” he told the outlet, later adding, “I’ll always be fooling around… When the curtain goes up, I’m there to make people happy.”
According to TMZ who first reported the news of his death, LAPD responded to his home on Saturday morning following a call from a housekeeper. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Per authorities, there is no foul play suspected and he appears to have died of natural causes.
Simmons dedicated his life to helping others get healthy through books and infomercials. In the Seventies and Eighties, he opened several gyms aimed at those who were looking to gain fitness, including The Anatomy Asylum. His popular fitness tapes and DVDs — including his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series — featured him in his trademark striped short-shorts and sparkly tank tops, providing fitness motivation with his exuberant personality.
In March 2024, he revealed on Facebook that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer and later shared that after seeing a doctor the cancerous cells were eradicated. “Basal cell carcinoma, it was scary. But it never came back. So many people have cancer,” he told People. “I call them, I sing to them. ‘You’re gonna get through this. You just have to believe that.’”
The news about his health came just a few days after he had written a post saying he was dying, which he clarified to mean that everyone should “embrace every day that we have.” In his original post, he shared the same positive advice he had dedicated his life to imparting.
“Every day that you are alive you have got to move. Whether it is standing or sitting you have got move your body every day. Start with stretching then cardio and strength,” he wrote. “There is something else very important that you must do. Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug those people and children who you really care for. A big hug really goes a long way.”