The brother of iconic fitness instructor and TV personality Richard Simmons has revealed what caused the unexpected July 13th death of the beloved celebrity. Simmons passed away one day after his 76th birthday.
At the time of his passing, reports circulated that Simmons had died after falling from a dizzy spell in his bathroom on July 12. The celebrity gossip website TMZ reported that, after his fall, his housekeeper had implored him to get medical attention, but Simmons refused because he wanted to spend his birthday at home.
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Simmons reportedly promised the housekeeper that he would seek medical attention if he still felt unwell the following day. His housekeeper reportedly helped him to bed and found the fitness guru’s body on the floor near his bed the following morning. At the time, the media received no further information on what might’ve caused his death beyond a statement from police that he was pronounced dead at the scene with no suspicion of foul play.
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That changed on Wednesday when People magazine received a statement from the Simmons family spokesperson, Tom Estey. The statement explained the circumstances of Simmons’ passing as told to Simmons’ brother, Lenny.
“This morning, Richard Simmons’ brother Lenny, received a call from the LA Coroner’s office. The Coroner informed Lenny that Richard’s death was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor,” Estey’s statement read. “The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed. The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.”
Two days before his death, Simmons told the aforementioned publication, “I feel good! I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day. I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people.”
He also joked that he would celebrate his birthday by blowing out a candle, but “the candle will probably be on a zucchini,” he joked, adding, “You know, I’m a vegetarian.”
During his life, Simmons created over 50 workout videos, including his well-known Sweatin’ to the Oldies series which featured people of various sizes and ages exercising to rock-and-roll hits from the 1950s and ’60s. He was also known for selling a diet and portion control program called Deal-a-Meal.
While Richard Simmons never publicly confirmed his sexual orientation, after his death, fellow fitness icon Jane Fonda told Entertainment Weekly, “I saw him last when I took him and a boyfriend of his to lunch at the Polo Lounge. The relationship was new and he was proud.”
Simmon’s brother told People magazine, “I don’t want people to be sad about my brother. I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. He truly cared about people. He called, wrote and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help.”
