Richard Simmons’ apparent cause of death revealed

• The Los Angeles Fire Department announced a possible cause of death on Monday
• The results will not be official until the ongoing police investigations are completed
• Police and firefighters found Simmons dead in his LA home on Saturday at the age of 76
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With the announcement of the preliminary cause of death, the details of Richard Simmons’ death come to light.

On Monday, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in a statement that Simmons died “apparently of natural causes.”

“On July 13, 2024 at 9:55 a.m., the LAFD responded to a suspected fatality in the 1300 block of N Belfast Drive,” LAFD Captain Erik Scott told ET.

“Upon arrival, an ambulance discovered a 76-year-old man whose death was confirmed by firefighters/paramedics on scene as it was evidently from natural causes. Therefore, no transport to hospital was necessary,” he concluded.

Police and firefighters were dispatched to Simmons’ home in Los Angeles after receiving a call from his housekeeper.

Simmons was found dead just one day after his 76th birthday.

Although a preliminary cause of death has now been determined, this is not the last information about Simmons’ death, as the case is currently being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police officials confirmed to People on Monday that the fitness expert’s death at his Los Angeles home remains under investigation and that the case has been put on hold by the medical examiner’s office. The medical examiner’s office is requesting further investigation and testing, the news agency said.

The review could take up to three months before an official decision is made, the newspaper reported.

According to the outlet, authorities pronounced Simmons dead at the scene. No foul play was suspected in the death. The investigation concluded that the death was due to natural causes.

Members of the LAPD’s Robbery and Homicide Unit also responded to the emergency call because the celebrity had died, the outlet reported.

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Police later told the news agency that Simmons fell in the bathroom of his home on Friday – the day he celebrated his 76th birthday – and that his housekeeper tried to persuade him to see a doctor immediately.

Simmons declined because it was his birthday and he didn’t want to go anywhere. He told her he might leave on Saturday. The housekeeper helped him safely return to his bedroom, where she found him on the floor around 10 a.m. the next morning, according to the outlet.

A source told the outlet that Simmons said he was “dizzy” before the fall, while another insider stated that Simmons showed “no obvious or outward signs of injury” after his fall.

It was not immediately clear whether the fall and dizziness were related to his death.

Simmons thanked his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave to People on Thursday, just two days before his death.

At the end of the interview, the outlet told the fitness impresario that he had been “missed” after keeping a low profile for the past decade and asked if he understood fans’ affection for him.

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“I know people miss me,” Simmons told the outlet. “And you know what? I miss them too. But I can reach them by phone … and email.”

In his last interview, Simmons also revealed that he had come out into the public eye but had kept his appearance a secret.

“Sometimes I leave the house,” Simmons said. “But I’m in disguise.”

As the outlet reported, the interview with Simmons shortly before his death was his first since 2014, the year he stopped making public appearances.

The New Orleans-born star, who regularly promotes his fitness industry endeavors on television – including studios, books, weight loss programs and videos – has been at the center of speculation over the past decade after he stopped making public appearances, sparking speculation about his safety and well-being.

Sources close to the late celebrity told the newspaper that the reason for his withdrawal from public life was a knee operation he had undergone and a second knee operation that he had refused.

Simmons told People on Thursday that he also had a fear of skin cancer after undergoing surgery to remove the cancer earlier this year.

“Basal cell carcinoma, that was scary,” Simmons said of the disease. “But it never came back.”

Simmons told the outlet that his goal was to spread optimism and positivity among people struggling with similar health issues.

“So many people have cancer,” Simmons said. “I call them and sing to them, ‘You’re going to get through this. You just have to believe.'”

Simmons told the outlet he has been working with composer Patrick Leonard on a musical for the past few months.

“I wrote 14 songs for a Broadway show,” he said. “And I’m working with an incredible man – Patrick Leonard. I don’t know if you know his name, but he’s written music for Madonna and Elton John. He’s one of the greatest.”

“And we talk a few times a week. I write the lyrics and he writes the music. The whole show is about my life – from my childhood life as a chocolate salesman in a candy store in New Orleans to my decision to retire.”

Simmons had gradually returned to his public persona, communicating with his fans via X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, as well as email, earlier this year.

On Thursday, he told People: “Today is a beautiful day. But nothing is really different. I got up this morning. I prayed, counted my blessings and then went to work.”

“You know what? And writing messages, answering emails – and if there are really a lot of emails, I ask for their numbers and call them. I feel great because I’m helping people.”

His last social media post appeared on Saturday and quoted a line from the 1968 musical comedy Funny Girl.

Asked about his low-key interactions with his fans, Simmons told the outlet his success was measured by the number of people he helped and inspired.

“When I decided to retire, my body was telling me I needed to retire,” Simmons said. “I spent time reflecting on my life. All the books I’ve written, the videos.”

“I never thought, ‘Oh, look what I’ve done.’ I always thought, ‘Oh, look how many people I’ve helped.'”