Richard Simmons’ staff offered his fans a final memento of the late star.
The fitness instructor’s employees took to X to share the last photo and message he took before he was found dead on July 13.
“From Richard’s staff: Hello everyone. Richard worked very hard on his posts for you. He had many ideas and worked backwards… going back over each one and making edits until he got it exactly what he wanted before publishing,” the staff tweeted Saturday.
“As you know, on the weekends he would just share a photo with a caption. He would always choose his photos and write his captions for the upcoming weekend before Friday. So here we have the post that Richard had planned to share with you last Sunday. We thought you might want to see it.”
Simmons’ staff concluded: “Here is the message Richard had planned for you on Sunday, July 14, 2024. ‘Let me take you to the moon so we can gaze at the stars. Hugs, Richard.’
In the photo, the gray-haired Simmons poses in an orange NASA astronaut suit, standing in front of a colorful backdrop.
Simmons’ last post came a week after his death. He was 76.
According to TMZ, the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” star fell in his bathroom the night before his death and refused to seek medical attention.
A housekeeper helped Simmons to bed the night of July 12, and the same employee found him unconscious the next morning.
Law enforcement does not believe foul play was involved in Simmons’ death and the investigation into the circumstances and cause of his death is ongoing.
The “Hercules: From Zero to Hero” voice actor was laid to rest in a private funeral at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles on Friday.
“Our beloved Dicky was laid to rest this morning surrounded only by his closest family and friends,” his older brother, Lenny Simmons, told People in a statement provided by his longtime publicist, Tom Estey.
“We pray that you will continue to give us your love and support during this very difficult time.”
Lenny asked fans of his late siblings to “remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought into people’s lives,” adding that Richard “truly cared about people,” as “he called, wrote and emailed thousands of people throughout his career offering help.”
“So don’t be sad. Celebrate his life,” Lenny urged.
