Richard Simmons Dead at 76: Legendary Fitness Guru Dies at His LA Home Day After His Birthday

Legendary fitness guru and TV star Richard Simmons has reportedly died at the age of 76.

Simmons is reported to have died Saturday at his Los Angeles home, according to ABC News.

It is alleged that Los Angeles police went to Simmons’ home after receiving a call from his housekeeper.

According to ABC, it appears Simmons, who announced in March that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer, died of natural causes and there is no evidence of foul play.

It comes a day after Simmons turned 76 and posted a message to fans on Facebook saying: “Thank you… I’ve never had so many birthday messages in my life! I’m sitting here writing emails. Wishing you a wonderful rest of your Friday. Love, Richard.”

Legendary fitness guru Richard Simmons has died in Los Angeles at the age of 76

Simmons posted a message on his Facebook on Friday as he celebrated his birthday

In a rare interview on Friday, Simmons also revealed his fun plans to celebrate his birthday.

He told People, “But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.”

Reflecting on his 76th birthday, he added: “I feel good! I’m grateful to be here, to be alive another day. I’m going to spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is helping people.”

Simmons broke into the spotlight in the 1970s and 1980s when he opened a number of gyms and produced fitness videos.

He also wrote nine books, including Never Say Diet, a New York Times bestseller.

After winning over a fan base with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped back from the spotlight in 2014.

Simmons announced in an emotional Facebook post in March that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer after discovering a “strange-looking lump” under his right eye.

After calling a dermatologist, the fitness pioneer recalled feeling “a little nervous” as the doctor looked at his mysterious bump “through a magnifying mirror.”

Simmons broke into the spotlight in the 1970s and 1980s with his gyms and fitness videos

“He told me he had to scrape it off and put it under a microscope,” the New Orleans native told fans. “He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C-word.”

He continued, “I asked him what kind of cancer it was and he said, Basel Cell Carcinoma. I told him to stop calling me dirty names. He laughed.”

Simmons was then told to go “to a cancer doctor immediately.”

To treat the cancer, he said his doctor explained that he had to “burn his skin” to remove the cancer cells.

“There was no anesthesia, it was just a little instrument,” the actor explained. “When he started burning my skin, a tear fell down my cheek. You can’t cry during this, and he wiped my tear away. The burning really hurt my skin. It lasted about 30 minutes.”

After the procedure he was told to come back in an hour and a half to see if they had ‘got it all out’.

“After driving through town, I came back to some sad news,” he noted. “I didn’t get it all out. He burned my face again. This time it was worse than the last time… It was deeper. I didn’t cry this time, but I did grit my teeth.”

Simmons revealed in a second post that the “third time was the charm” and that they had “removed all the cancer cells.”

“Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my chest, my legs. I had a little Frankenstein under my right eye for a while,” he continued. “He gave me some cream to put on it, which I faithfully did. Thanks to his good work, I have no scar.”

Simmons won a legion of fans with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity

The announcement of his skin cancer came just days after the reclusive star sparked fears of his death with a disturbing social media post.

He posted on X and Facebook: ‘I have news for you. Please don’t be sad. I am… dying. The truth is we are all dying. Every day we live we are closer to our death.

“Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to live your life to the fullest every day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”

In a later message, Simmons apologized, saying he was “sorry for the confusion.”

“I’m sorry that my post today upset many of you. Even the press reached out to me,” the fitness celebrity wrote in a post on X. “I’m not dying.”

The media figure, previously known for his outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans expressed concern for his well-being in the years that followed.

However, Simmons’ spokesman Tom Estey issued a statement to the New York Post in 2022 saying he was “happy, healthy and living the life he chose.”