The decades of the 1980s and the 1990s saw Richard Simmons’ fame at its all-time high, making him the most well-known and successful fitness instructor. You might recognise him as the man with the wavy hair who is dressed in striped dolphin shorts and tank tops that are embellished with Swarovski crystals. He also has a beard.
Simmons has inspired others to start their bodies moving in order to lose the weight that they want to get rid of thanks to his upbeat and cheery demeanour. Even if he may have made the conscious decision to withdraw from public view, the impact that he has had on popular culture has not diminished in the least.
Is Fitness Instructor Richard Simmons Still Alive?
Richard is still very much alive; however, he has made the decision to remain covert during the past few years. The founder of TMZ, Harvey Levin, told The Sun that the fitness guru does leave his house on occasion, such as when he goes shopping or for a stroll along the beach, but that he is able to avoid being photographed by paparazzi.
In spite of the fact that he has not disclosed his true identity, he has made his presence known on YouTube by resuming the publication of fitness class videos after an absence of almost eight years.
Before he retired from the public eye in 2016, he completed his final workout at his own facility, which was called Slimmons.
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Why He Refuse to Make Public Appearance?
Lenny, Richard’s brother, and his spokeswoman both said that the fitness guru preferred to spend time alone. His disappearance was met with a slew of crazy tales, but none of them were grounded in reality.
In 2017, his brother stated to PEOPLE, “He’s not sick. There’s nothing medically wrong with him at all. These things about him transitioning to a woman are ridiculous. My wife Cathy and I were out there for Christmas and spent five days with him and I can assure you, he’s not transitioning into anything but himself.”
“After 40-some-odd years, he just decided that he wants to rest. He’s 68 years old now and he’s in good health, but he just wants time for himself,” he added further.
A Glimpse Into His Life
Richard Simmons was born on July 12, 1948. His real name is Milton Teagle Simmons. Born and raised in Louisiana’s lively capital of New Orleans, he completed his education at the prestigious Cor Jesu High School and the University of Southwestern Louisiana.
Simmons’s obesity caused him a lot of problems as a teen and young adult. He wanted to improve greatly, started going to the gym. For Simmons, working out quickly went from being a fun pastime to an intense interest. Richard Simmons lost over 100 pounds and became an inspiration to others by adopting a healthy lifestyle.
Simmons’s pre-fitness-guru career included stints as a maître d’ at Derek’s, a renowned Beverly Hills restaurant, and in advertising. He felt ready to open his own gym after working as the manager of a high-end restaurant and learning the ropes of the business world.
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Simmons was successful in helping many people in his area shed excess pounds, but he was aware that there were many more who could benefit from his services. He wanted to alter the fitness industry’s view of newcomers because he was disgusted by the cruel methods many fitness gurus used to help people lose weight.
When Simmons first started making workout videos on VHS, his upbeat, realistic, and realistically optimistic approach was exactly what people needed all over the country. The legacy of the ebullient Simmons and his dedication to physical fitness inspired people all over the United States to get off the couch and get moving.
What Lies Were Said About Him?
He was rumoured to be in his housekeeper’s captivity in March of 2016. In an audio interview with the Today show from March 14, 2016, Simmons flatly refuted the rumours. The Slimmons fitness centre quietly closed its doors in November without any warning from Simmons.
“I’m not ‘missing’, just a little under the weather” was the caption on a photo of him that was posted after he was hospitalised in 2017 with severe indigestion. People were quick to point out that the photo was taken in 2013, though, raising the question of whether or not that was actually Richard. He filed suit against media outlets like the National Enquirer and Radar Online for publishing false reports about his gender transition.
How Fans Showed Their Excitement?
Thousands of Simmons’s Facebook friends and followers responded to his post, expressing their happiness and relief to hear that the musician was healthy and happy.
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One swooning fan exclaimed, “I knew it was you, Richard! You are very much loved, please never doubt that. You have done so much good in so many people’s lives. Thank you for all that you have done and are still doing. None of us will ever forget you!”
Added another, “We miss you Richard but hope you are doing what is right for you. You have given me so much joy for years, it is your time now, you deserve peace and happiness. Thank you for saving my life over and over again, I am forever grateful for you.”
Simmons shot to fame in the ’80s thanks to his widely accessible workout videos.
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