Richard Simmons’ body is removed from his Los Angeles home after the fitness guru died at the age of 76

New images show the body of Richard Simmons being removed from his West Hollywood home after the fitness guru died on Saturday at the age of 76.

The Los Angeles County Coroner was seen arriving at the home, where police had responded to a call from Simmons’ housekeeper earlier in the day.

ABC News reported that Simmons, who announced in March that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer, died of natural causes and there was no suspicion of foul play.

Images show the coroner carrying Simmons’ body out of his home on a stretcher while several police vehicles are parked in the driveway.

Simmons died just one day after his 76th birthday. He posted a message on Facebook to his fans to celebrate his birthday.

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His message read: “Thank you… I have never had so many messages on my birthday in my life! I’m sitting here writing emails. Have a wonderful rest of your Friday. Love, Richard.”

On Friday, Simmons also revealed his fun plans to celebrate his birthday in a very rare interview. He told People: “But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.”

On the occasion of his 76th birthday, he added: “I feel good! I am grateful to be here and to be alive for another day. I will spend my birthday doing what I do every day: helping people.”

Simmons, who grew up in New Orleans’ French Quarter before settling in California, weighed 268 pounds when he graduated from high school, according to his website.

His own story of his struggle with weight loss, trying everything from fad diets to laxatives before committing to exercise and a better lifestyle, inspired millions to do the same.

Simmons became a master of many forms of media, sharing his hard-won weight-loss tips as the daytime host of the Emmy-winning “Richard Simmons Show.” He was also the author of bestselling books and the “Deal-A-Meal” diet plan.

He also opened gyms and appeared in fitness videos, including the hugely successful “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series, which became a cultural phenomenon.

Simmons’ daytime show was broadcast on 200 stations in America, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, “Never Say Diet,” was an absolute bestseller.

He was known for counseling people with severe obesity, including Rosalie Bradford, who held the record as the heaviest woman in the world, and Michael Hebranko, who thanked Simmons for helping him lose 318 kilograms.

After winning a legion of fans with his infectious enthusiasm and positive attitude, Simmons retired from the spotlight in 2014.

In an emotional Facebook post in March, Simmons announced that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer after discovering a “weird looking bump” under his right eye.

The announcement of the skin cancer diagnosis came just days after the reclusive star sparked death fears with a disturbing social media post.

He posted on X and Facebook: “I have news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I… am dying. The truth is that we all die. With every day we live, we get closer to our death.”

“Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to live your life to the fullest every day. Get up in the morning and look up at the sky… be grateful for what you have and enjoy it.”

In a later post, Simmons apologized and said he was “sorry for the confusion.”

“I’m sorry that many of you were upset about my message today. Even the press contacted me,” the fitness star wrote in a post on X. “I’m not dying.”

The media star, once known for his outgoing personality, abruptly stopped appearing in public in 2014 and many of his fans expressed concerns about his well-being in the years that followed.

However, Simmons’ spokesman Tom Estey issued a statement to the New York Post in 2022, expressing that he was “happy, healthy and living the life he wants to live.”