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“My food plan and diet are just two words — common sense. With a dash of good humor,” Simmons told The Associated Press in 1982. “I want to help people and make the world a healthier, happy place.”
Despite his playful and flamboyant style, Simmons was serious about his mission. He made frequent appearances on popular TV shows, although he often became the target of jokes. He was mocked on Broadway in Neil Simon’s “The Goodbye Girl” and parodied by Eddie Murphy in “The Nutty Professor.”
Asked if he thought he could motivate people by being silly, Simmons responded, “I think there’s a time to be serious and a time to be silly. It’s knowing when to do it. I try to have a nice combination. Being silly cures depression. It catches people off guard and makes them think. But in between that silliness is a lot of seriousness that makes sense. It’s a different kind of training.”
Simmons’ daytime show was a hit across America and in several other countries, including Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan, and South America. His first book, “Never Say Diet,” was a bestseller. He provided support to many severely obese individuals, such as Rosalie Bradford and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons for helping him lose 700 pounds.
Throughout his career, Simmons was a vocal critic of fad diets, promoting instead a balanced approach to eating and exercise. “There’ll always be some weird thing about eating four grapes before you go to bed, or drinking a special tea, or buying this little bean from El Salvador,” he told the AP in 2005. “If you watch your portions and you have a good attitude and you work out every day you’ll live longer, feel better and look terrific.”
Born Milton Simmons in New Orleans, he renamed himself “Richard” at age 10. He often shared that his weight issues stemmed from feeling unloved by his parents, who he believed favored his older brother. As a result, he turned to food for comfort, reaching nearly 200 pounds by his teenage years.
Simmons’ early dislike for fitness icon Jack LaLanne changed when he received an anonymous letter warning him about the health risks of obesity. This prompted him to go on a drastic diet, which initially led to weight loss but also severe health issues. He later developed a sustainable approach to weight management and entered the fitness industry to help others like him.
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Simmons faced speculation about his well-being when he disappeared from the public eye for several years. Rumors circulated that he was being held hostage in his home, which he denied in interviews with “Entertainment Tonight” and the “Today” show. In 2017, the podcast “Missing Richard Simmons” explored his sudden withdrawal from public life.
In 2022, Simmons ended his six-year silence, with his spokesperson stating that he was “living the life he has chosen.”
Actor-comedian Pauly Shore, who had previously developed an unauthorized biopic of Simmons, paid tribute to him on Instagram: “I just got word like everyone else that the beautiful Richard Simmons has passed. I hope you’re at peace and twinkling up in the heavens. You’re one of a kind, Richard. An amazing life. An amazing story.”
Richard Simmons’ legacy as a fitness pioneer and motivator will continue to inspire countless individuals to lead healthier lives.
