Richard Simmons facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons in 1998
Born	Milton Teagle Simmons (1948-07-12)July 12, 1948 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Died	July 13, 2024(2024-07-13) (aged 76) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Other names	Milton Simmons Richard Teagle Simmons
Alma mater	University of Louisiana at Lafayette Florida State University (BA)
Occupation	Fitness instructor actor video producer
Years active	1968–2014

Richard Simmons (born Milton Teagle Simmons; July 12, 1948 – July 13, 2024) was a famous American fitness coach and public figure. He was well-known for his weight-loss programs. His most popular work was the Sweatin' to the Oldies series of aerobics videos.

Simmons started his career by opening a gym called Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California. This gym was special because it focused on helping people who were overweight. He became very famous through his TV appearances and popular products. Richard Simmons was often a guest on talk shows like the Late Show with David Letterman.

He spent many years helping people with health and exercise. Later, he also became involved in politics. For example, in 2008, he supported a law to make physical education a fun, non-competitive part of school. This was part of the No Child Left Behind Act.

Early Life and Growing Up

Milton Teagle Simmons was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 12, 1948. His parents, Leonard Douglas Simmons Sr. and Shirley May, worked in show business. He grew up in the French Quarter of New Orleans with his older brother, Leonard Jr. His father worked as a master of ceremonies and in thrift stores. His mother was a traveling dancer and later sold cosmetics.

Simmons later became a Catholic and went to Cor Jesu High School. He studied at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Then, he graduated from Florida State University with a degree in art.

Richard Simmons was very heavy as a child and teenager. He started overeating when he was only 4 years old. By age 5, he knew people saw his weight negatively. When he was 15, he weighed about 83 kilograms (182 pounds). As a young man, he thought about becoming a priest. He eventually reached a peak weight of about 122 kilograms (268 pounds).

In an interview, Simmons shared that he took the name Richard from an uncle. This uncle helped pay for his college. His first job in New Orleans was selling pralines, a type of candy.

Richard Simmons' Career Journey

Starting His Fitness Career

Simmons in 1982

In the 1970s, Richard Simmons moved to Los Angeles. He worked at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. There, he became very interested in fitness. At that time, most exercise studios were for people who were already fit. There was not much help for those who needed to get healthier. He decided to change that.

He opened his own exercise studio, first called The Anatomy Asylum. His gym focused on eating healthy foods in the right amounts. It also made exercise fun in a supportive place. He lost about 56 kilograms (123 pounds) himself. The business also had a salad bar restaurant called Ruffage. Later, the gym was renamed "Slimmons." It stayed open in Beverly Hills, and Simmons taught classes there. Slimmons closed in November 2016.

The success of Slimmons led to Richard Simmons getting his own TV show. The Richard Simmons Show aired from 1980 to 1984. It even won him several Emmy awards. In the 1980s, aerobics became very popular. This helped Simmons' fitness videos become famous. His Sweatin' to the Oldies series was one of the most popular videos of that time.

In 2010, Simmons said he had kept his own weight loss off for 42 years. He also said he had been helping others lose weight for 35 years. He estimated that he had helped people lose about 5.5 million kilograms (12 million pounds). Simmons also used the internet to reach people. He had his own website and official pages on sites like Facebook and YouTube.

Richard Simmons' Personal Life

His Unique Personality

Simmons in 2007

Richard Simmons was known for his energetic and encouraging personality. He used this to motivate people to lose weight. His high energy was always a big part of his workout videos. His famous outfit included candy-striped Dolphin shorts and tank tops. These tops were often decorated with shiny Swarovski crystals.

Simmons connected with people who used his products on a personal level. He started doing this by answering fan mail when he was on the TV show General Hospital. As of 2008, he still answered emails and letters himself. He also made hundreds of phone calls each week to people who needed his help.

He once said he had few close friends. He felt he had more to offer to many people rather than just a few. Besides his three Dalmatian dogs and two maids, Simmons lived alone in Beverly Hills, California.

In a 2012 interview, he shared a thought about his role:

When the king gets depressed, he doesn't call for his wife or the cook. He turns to the little man with the pointed hat and says to the court jester "make me laugh". And I am that court jester.

Stepping Away from Public Life

After 2014, Richard Simmons stopped making major public appearances. He completely stopped appearing in public in February of that year. In March 2016, there were rumors about why he had disappeared. On March 14, 2016, Simmons spoke on The Today Show to deny these rumors. In November 2016, his fitness gym, Slimmons, closed quietly.

In March 2017, police officers visited Simmons' home to check on him. They said that Simmons was "perfectly fine." They also stated that "right now he is doing what he wants to do and it is his business." On April 19, 2017, Simmons was in the hospital for severe indigestion. After this, he made his first public comment in over a year. He posted a photo of himself on Facebook with the message "I'm not 'missing', just a little under the weather."

In August 2022, Simmons responded to ongoing rumors. He told the New York Post that he "is happy, healthy, and living the life he has chosen to live."

In March 2024, Simmons clarified that he was not dying. This was after a Facebook post he wrote caused public concern. He also said he no longer had a manager or publicist. He stated he had not given permission for a movie about his life.

That same month, Simmons shared that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer under his right eye. He later said on his Twitter page that this diagnosis happened "so many years ago." He decided to talk about it to encourage people to see a doctor if they notice anything unusual on their body.

Richard Simmons' Passing

Richard Simmons died on July 13, 2024, at his home in Hollywood Hills. He was 76 years old. His death appeared to be from natural causes.

Books and Other Media by Richard Simmons

Books He Wrote

Audio Recordings

Cassette Tapes

Music CDs

Vinyl Records

• Reach (Elektra Records, 1982) – Was a hit in Australia
• This Time (Elektra Records, 45 rpm 1983)

Digital Cassettes

• Colors of Your Life (single tape) (Goodtimes Entertainment, BASF 90 Min. 1998)

Videos and TV Shows

DVDs

Video Cassettes (VHS)

YouTube Videos

• Fit to Fly
• Hair Do (Official Music Video)

Television Shows and Movies

Images for kids

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  Richard Simmons in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Richard Simmons para niños