Not all heroes wear capes, and not many can live forever, at least not in this universe yet. If heroes lived forever here, Richard Simmons, the fitness legend, would still be alive, and this piece would be about something else.
Sadly, Simmons did pass on during the weekend at age 76, much to the sadness of many. His housekeeper discovered his body, according to reports. He was pronounced dead at the scene. However, his cause of death is yet to be announced.
When Did Richard Simmons Die?
Richard Simmons died one day after his 76th birthday on July 13, 2024. The sudden announcement of his death quickly led to speculations about what really happened to Richard Simmons. However, his death will most likely be linked to the cancer he has been fighting. He was reportedly found by his housekeeper on Saturday just before 10 a.m.
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The cause of his death has not yet been revealed, but people are curious about what it could be. The likelihood of it being because of the cancer is high, but the fitness legend had assured his fans the cancer issue was resolved.
If it was not the cancer, it begs the question, what happened to Richard Simmons?
Richard Simmons: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow
Richard Simmons’ death hit particularly hard because nobody saw it coming. The legend was still on social media on Friday, thanking those who wished him well on his 76th birthday. He had revealed in March that he’d been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Recalling the moment he found out, he said, “He told me he would have to scrape it and put it under the microscope. Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word.”
The legend never seemed too worried about his fate. Perhaps his attitude towards it lulled people into forgetting he was battling one of the most tenacious illnesses known to man. Despite the diagnosis, nobody saw his death coming.
The announcement that followed on Saturday, the day after his appreciation post went out, shocked all. It also triggered a torrent of tributes from the lives he touched while alive.
His Warning
His demise happened suddenly, but Richard Simmons may have tried to prepare the world for his passing. His death comes months after he shared a cryptic message on social media. He wrote: “Please don’t be sad. I am … dying. Oh, I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live, we are getting closer to our death.”
He added, “Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day,” he continued in the post. “Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”
The remaining post saw him suggest tips to help anyone lead a healthy lifestyle, including a reminder to hug loved ones. People reacted so intensely to the announcement that he posted another update later the same day, clarifying he was not dying.
Simmons wrote, “Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying. It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have.”
His fans breathed a sigh of relief, but Simmons dropped a bombshell the following day, revealing that he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. A day later, he posted again, revealing that the problem was resolved following three procedures with a “cancer doctor,” Dr. Ralph A. Massey.
More About Richard Simmons
Simmons was born Milton Teagle Simmons and struggled with obesity throughout his childhood in New Orleans. When he grew older, he dedicated his life to promoting exercise and helping others lead healthy lives.
The late legend achieved fame in the 1980s, shortly after opening a fitness studio, The Anatomy Asylum, which has been rebranded as Simmons in Los Angeles. He was known for his regular appearances on TV and radio talk shows and his popular series of aerobic videos, “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.”
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His energy and workouts paved the way to his superstar status, which led to further film and television appearances. Some of his movie appearances include “General Hospital,” “The Larry Sanders Show,” “Arrested Development,” and “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”
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