Celebrity fitness guru was 76

Richard Simmons

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Richard Simmons, the goofy, clownish fitness prince who turned his passion for weight loss into wealth and fame as a Hollywood star, has died. He was 76 years old.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokesman said The Hollywood Reporter Those officers responded to a 911 call from Simmons’ home on Belfast Drive and arrived at the home at 9:57 a.m. Saturday. The spokesman added that “the investigation is ongoing.”

The star of his own syndicated TV exercise show in the 1980s, the curly Simmons Millions of aerobics sold”Sweat‘ to the “Oldies” videos and DVDs.

At his peak, Simmons, who wore too-short shorts and a glittery tank top with Swarovski crystals during his training sessions, flew around the country giving motivational speeches and leading fitness classes for adoring fans. In 1980, he published Richard Simmons’ book “Never-Say-Diet”a major bestseller with chapters such as “How to Control Your Waist” and “How to Eat Out Without Stuffing Yourself.”

Simmons later appeared as himself in series such as Arrested development, Amazing stories, Crisps, The Larry Sanders Show And General Hospital and was a frequent guest/slide on The Howard Stern Show and on David Letterman’s late-night talk shows.

He later voiced the character Coach Salmons in the Disney Channel animated series from 2010 to 2012. Fish hook.

Simmons was born as Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948 grew up in the French Quarter selling chocolates on the street. He was overweight as a child and said he weighed nearly 270 pounds when he graduated from high school.

After spending some time in Europe, he said he found an anonymous note on the windshield of his car in 1968 that read: “Dear Richard, fat people die young. Please don’t die.”

Simmons vowed to get in shape and, at 5’7″ tall, weighed about 150 pounds. He moved west and took his weight-loss message to Beverly Hills, where he opened a gym (Anatomy Asylum) and a restaurant (Beets) in 1974. His clients included Barbra StreisandDustin Hoffman, Cheryl Ladd, Diana Ross and Paul Newman.

In November 2016Simmons closed the studio, last called Slimmons. “My whole career started in the studio,” he wrote on his website. “I started doing local shows around town. And then I got my big break playing myself General Hospital.”

Five months earlier, Simmons was taken by ambulance from his home to a hospital after the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a 911 call. He later said he was dehydrated and told his fans not to worry about his health.

The New York Daily News reported in March 2016 that he was being held against his will in his home. But Simmons, who has not been seen in public for about two years, denied this on Today Show. “Nobody is holding me hostage in my house,” he said.

In January, Simmons said he was against a biopic about his life starring Pauly Shore. “I never gave my permission for that film,” he said.

On the eve of his death, he took to Facebook to thank his fans for their well-wishes. “Thank you… I’ve never had so many messages on my birthday in my life!” he wrote. “I’m sitting here writing emails. Have a wonderful rest of your Friday.”

Christy Piña contributed to this report.