How did Richard Simmons die? All we know as fitness guru’s friend’s open up about final days 

Beloved fitness guru Richard Simmons died on July 13, 2024, at age 76, one day after his birthday. The 72-year-old, who is known for his iconic workout videos, emerged from seclusion in the last decade after spending years away from the spotlight. Now, accounts from some family and close friends provide fresh details about his final days and the plans he was making for a return to the spotlight.

Richard Simmons’ death was accidental and came as a result of complications from a fall and existing heart issues, his brother Lenny Simmons said.

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According to his longtime publicist, Tom Estey, a toxicology report found that there were no illicit drug substances, as well as any trace of alcohol, present in the singer’s system. Simmons had apparently fallen at his Los Angeles house on July 12, a day before he died.

"The Coroner informed Lenny that Richard's death was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor." Estey said in a statement.

According to Variety, even after his house manager advised Richard Simmons to get medical attention, Simmons supposedly refused, wanting to stay home for his birthday. He was discovered the following morning unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene.

"I don’t want people to be sad about my brother... I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives," Lenny Simmons told people at that time.

A look into Richard Simmons' final few days as friends and family share new details

Since 2014, Simmons had supposedly been living in seclusion, a development that worried fans and prompted rampant speculations about his health. Close friends now say that the decision was based on emotional and physical fatigue.

Richard Simmons had even said that his decision to step away was the result of a lifetime of high-energy entertainment, which had taken a toll on his body, in particular his knees, after years of high-impact workouts. Yet by the last months of his life, Simmons had been returning to life. According to People, one factor in this revival was news of an unauthorized biopic featuring comedian Pauly Shore.

He thought that somebody else was going to tell his story, which allegedly upset him, and he renewed his interest in telling his own story. Summed up by Estey as “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” the attack led Simmons to reach out to old pals, put himself online again, and even start brainstorming about new projects.

One of those projects was a Broadway musical about his life in which Richard Simmons had been penning lyrics and partnering with composer Patrick Leonard.

In what turned out to be his final interview, conducted two days before he died by People, Simmons told fans he was “feeling great” and couldn’t wait for the next chapter of his life.

"I know people miss me. And you know what? I miss them, too. But I'm able to reach them through phone calls… and through emails." He added.

He was even discussing a potential TV special with Diane Sawyer and was in regular touch with friends and his publicist, expressing a renewed interest in getting back in front of the public.

While his comeback was brief and limited, Richard Simmons’ legacy lives on. His friends and family members have stated that they would like to continue his mission, particularly his musical legacy, to reflect his joy and love of life.

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