Richard Simmons death: Fans and celebrity pals pay tribute to TV fitness icon

Followers and pals of Richard Simmons are paying tribute to the legendary TV health teacher after his demise at age 76.

The beloved health guru died at his residence on July 13. TMZ reported on Saturday that his housekeeper had contacted police round 10 a.m. Simmons was pronounced lifeless on the scene. His explanation for demise shouldn’t be instantly recognized and has not been introduced.

The TV persona – who rose to fame for his in style sequence of cardio movies, Sweatin’ to the Oldies – had celebrated turning 76 on Friday by thanking followers on social media. “Thanks… I by no means acquired so many messages about my birthday in my life! I’m sitting right here writing emails. Have a most stunning remainder of your Friday,” the submit learn. “Love, Richard.”

Following information of his passing, many followers and pals of Simmons took to social media to pay tribute to the health guru.

“Richard Simmons preached train, eating regimen and most of all kindness,” stated Richard Roeper, movie and TV critic for the Chicago Solar-Occasions, on X. “He positively impacted hundreds and hundreds of lives. I’m one of many tons of and tons of of TV individuals who basked in his vitality and readily accepted these loopy hugs. Relaxation properly.”

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Hairspray star Ricki Lake posted a photograph of herself with Simmons and fellow TV present host Maria Menounos, together with the caption: “My coronary heart is damaged with the lack of this tremendous particular human. Might he RIP. #richardsimmons. I beloved him so a lot.”

Tv and radio persona Sally Jessy Raphael paid tribute to her “expensive buddy” on X, captioning a photograph of them collectively: “I’m utterly devastated on the lack of @theweightsaint… we’ve executed so many reveals collectively, shared so many laughs and hugs, and I thought-about him a pricey buddy who modified so many lives over time.”

Actor Emerson Collins posted on X: “Saddened to listen to of Richard Simmons’ passing, a person whose pleasure in what he did made it accessible to so many.”

“Years in the past I requested him for a photograph after we carried out on a profit. It got here out so hilariously dangerous with the inexperienced room wall, I lower it out and made a nonsense story with it,” he captioned an amusing sequence of green-screen photographs of himself with Simmons.

Darren Demeterio, who labored as a former booker for the Late Present with David Letterman, took to X to share his personal expertise with Simmons throughout his many appearances on the late-night discuss present.

“After I labored at Letterman I all the time regarded ahead to when Richard Simmons would come on,” he captioned a throwback picture of himself with Simmons. “At all times an amazing visitor however greater than that all the time what you noticed was what you bought. A candy, optimistic, variety man. This image will all the time make me snicker. Thanks Richard, Relaxation in Peace.”

Simmons turned a health sensation within the Nineteen Eighties shortly after he opened a health studio, known as The Anatomy Asylum earlier than it was rebranded to Slimmons, in Los Angeles. He made many memorable appearances on TV and radio discuss reveals, together with the Late Present with David Letterman, The Howard Stern Present, Normal Hospital, The Larry Sanders Present, Arrested Growth and Whose Line Is It Anyway.

Nevertheless, it was his sequence of high-energy cardio movies that launched Simmons into celeb standing.

Simmons hadn’t made a public look since 2014, which prompted him to provide a cellphone interview to Right now in 2016 to place to relaxation rumors that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper.

The information of his demise comes months after Simmons revealed that he was recognized with pores and skin most cancers.

“I sat in his chair and he checked out it by way of a magnifying mirror. He advised me he must scrape it and put it beneath the microscope. Now I get a bit of bit nervous,” the health persona wrote on Fb in March. “He comes again about 20 minutes later and says the C phrase. ‘You could have most cancers.’ I requested him what sort of most cancers and he stated, ‘Basel [sic] cell carcinoma.’ I advised him to cease calling me soiled names. He laughed.”

Earlier this yr, Simmons denounced a brand new biopic about his life starring comic Pauly Shore. He clarified that he had not signed off on the challenge and reiterated his need to “stay a quiet life and be peaceable”.