Richard Simmons shared a famous quote from a popular Broadway musical just five hours before his death at age 76 in Los Angeles.
The hyperactive fitness buff, who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and shorts by urging overweight people to exercise and eat healthier, died Saturday of natural causes at his Southern California home.
Since then, followers on social media have commented on the timing of his final X-post, which was apparently posted shortly before his death.
Simmons shared a photo on the online platform with the caption, “Hello, baby! Please don’t let it rain on my party” — a partial line from the 1964 musical Funny Girl — at 3:53 p.m. on July 13, the day he died.
A follower commented on the post, writing: ‘Wow! Posted 5 hours ago and just disappeared. You never know.’
Richard Simmons shared a famous quote from a popular Broadway musical just five hours before his death at age 76 in Los Angeles
A second added: ‘Umm this is spooky if this was posted shortly before you passed away. Rest in peace.’
A third commented: ‘Wow…he must have died shortly after posting this.’
While a fourth wondered: ‘Maybe this message was his way of saying goodbye?’
Simmons died at his home in Los Angeles, his publicist Tom Estey told The Associated Press in an email. He did not provide further details.
Los Angeles police and fire officials said they responded to a home — the address of which the AP linked to Simmons through public records — where a man had died of natural causes.
Simmons, who revealed a skin diagnosis in March 2024, had disappeared from public view in recent times, sparking speculation about his health and well-being. His death was first reported by TMZ.
Simmons was a former 260-pound teenager who became a master of multiple media formats, sharing his hard-won weight-loss tips as the host of the Emmy-winning daytime show “Richard Simmons Show” and the bestselling author of the Deal-A-Meal diet plan.
He also opened fitness studios and starred in fitness videos, including the hugely successful series “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” which became a cultural phenomenon.
Social media followers have since commented on the timing of his final X-post, which appears to have been posted shortly before his death, reportedly from natural causes.
The hyperactive court jester of physical fitness who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and shorts died Saturday at his Southern California home
“My nutrition plan and diet are just two words — common sense. With a dash of good humor,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I want to help people and make the world a healthier, happier place.”
Simmons embraced mass media to get his message across, even though he eventually became the butt of jokes for his outfits and flamboyant flair.
He was a popular guest on TV shows hosted by Merv Griffin, Mike Douglas and Phil Donahue, but David Letterman played pranks on him and Howard Stern teased him until he cried.
He was ridiculed in Neil Simon’s “The Goodbye Girl” on Broadway in 1993, and Eddie Murphy wore white makeup and dressed like he did in “The Nutty Professor” and yelled, “I’ma pony!”
Asked if he thought he could motivate people by being stupid, Simmons replied, “I think there’s a time to be serious and a time to be stupid. It’s knowing when to do it. I try to have a nice combination. Being stupid cures depression.
“It surprises people and makes them think. But in between all that nonsense there is a lot of seriousness that is useful. It is a different kind of training.”
The coroner is seen removing the body of fitness guru Simmons from his LA home over the weekend
Throughout his career, Simmons has been a reliable critic of fad diets, always emphasizing healthy eating and exercise regimens (pictured with singer Katy Perry in 2013)
Simmons’ daytime program was seen on 200 stations in the United States, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, “Never Say Diet,” was a bestseller.
He was known for counseling severely overweight people, including Rosalie Bradford, who holds the record for the world’s heaviest woman, and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons with helping him lose 700 pounds.
Throughout his career, Simmons was a reliable critic of fad diets, always emphasizing healthy eating and exercise routines.
“There’s always going to be something strange 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, as the Atkins diet craze was sweeping the country.
“If you watch your portions, have good posture, and exercise every day, you will live longer, feel better, and look great.”
After Simmons had not been seen in public for several years, some news sources speculated that he was being held hostage in his own home.
After Simmons had not been seen in public for several years, some news outlets speculated that he was being held hostage in his own home
In phone interviews with “Entertainment Tonight” and the “Today” show, Simmons refuted the claims and told fans he was enjoying the alone time (pictured circa 1980)
In phone interviews with “Entertainment Tonight” and the “Today” show, Simmons denied the claims and told fans he was enjoying his alone time.
Filmmaker-writer Dan Taberski, one of his frequent students, started a podcast in 2017 called “Missing Richard Simmons.”
In 2022, Simmons broke his six-year silence, telling the New York Post that the beloved fitness icon was “living the life he chose.”
One of the online tributes following Simmons’ death came from actor-comedian Pauly Shore, who previously made an unauthorized biopic about Simmons, which Simmons objected to at the time.
“I have just learned, like everyone else, that the wonderful Richard Simmons has passed away,” he began in an Instagram post. “I hope you are at peace and shining in heaven.
“You are unique, Richard. A great life. A great story.”
