Fitness Guru Richard Simmons Dies at 76

Richard Simmons, the fitness guru who dedicated his life to making people sweat with his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workout videos, died early Saturday morning, his rep confirmed to CBS News. He was 76.

Simmons died a day after his birthday. He had posted a message on his social media accounts last Friday, writing: “Thank you… I have never received so many messages about my birthday in my entire life! I am sitting here writing emails.” On Saturday, fans posted message after message saying they would miss him and thanking him for his positivity and encouragement.

On Saturday at 9:57 a.m., Los Angeles police responded to a radio call about a death investigation in the Hollywood Hills West neighborhood, the LAPD told CBS News. Authorities said firefighters joined police in the 1300 block of Belfast Drive, where Simmons’ home is located.

In his sparkly tank tops and short shorts, Simmons was always full of energy and a smile. His aerobics videos from the 1980s and 1990s turned the house into a gym, teaching the world how to get fit.

But his enthusiasm for fitness came from a less-than-healthy beginning.

“You know, I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, we eat everything fried there, we even take leaves from outside and dip them in breadcrumbs and fry them,” he told CBS’s “Sunday Morning” in 2010.

Born in 1948 in Louisiana, Simmons struggled with his weight as a child, weighing 268 pounds when he graduated from high school.

“Once upon a time there was a little fat boy in New Orleans who sold pralines on street corners to make a living for his family,” Simmons said.

It was a health problem that changed his life.

“This little guy took it seriously, pulled himself together and decided to become the Pied Piper of health,” Simmons said.

And people followed — for 40 years. Simmons was still teaching aerobics in his 60s at his Beverly Hills gym, complete with disco ball, record player and shiny shirt.

“I have to stay at 135 pounds to wear these 1980 Dolfin shorts,” Simmons said.

His fitness videos have sold over 20 million copies. He has starred as himself in TV shows, commercials and even cartoons.

He became a political activist for children, campaigning for physical education in schools, fighting for healthy eating and against fad diets.

“Never say diet, say live it, you want your body to live, not die,” Simmons said.

Simmons made hundreds of appearances on television talk shows, but in 2014 he went from being a ubiquitous presence to a complete absence, disappearing from the public eye for years. In April 2017, he posted a message on Facebook: “I’m not “away”, just a little sick.”

For his disciples, his message remained.

“I hope that one day we can all be a little smarter about how to take care of the one thing God gave us: our bodies,” Simmons said.

Richard Simmons helped start a movement, the movement.