Richard Simmons’ cause of death has been revealed to his brother after the fitness guru died at the age of 76.
Simmons’ brother, Lenny, was given the final verdict from the Los Angeles Coroner’s office, which told him the death was ruled ‘accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor.’
‘The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed,’ family spokesperson Tom Estey told People. ‘The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.’
Simmons was found in his home by his longtime housekeeper on August 13 – just one day after celebrating his 76th birthday.
Lenny had previous told People that he didn’t want ‘people to be sad about my brother,’ but rather to ‘remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives.’
‘He truly cared about people. He called, wrote and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help,’ Lenny said.
Simmons’ brother Lenny was given the final verdict from the Los Angeles Coroner’s office, which told him his brother’s death was ruled ‘accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor’
Simmons revealed in March he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
He took to Facebook to celebrate his birthday the day before, writing to fans: ‘Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday. Love, Richard.’
Simmons also revealed his fun plans to celebrate his birthday in a very rare interview, telling People that his birthday candle would be stuck in a zucchini as he’s a ‘vegetarian.’
Reflecting on turning 76, he added: ‘I feel good! I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day. I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people.’
Simmons, who grew up in the French Quarter of New Orleans before settling in California, weighed 268 pounds when he graduated from high school, his website said.
His own story of struggling with weight loss, where he tried everything from fad diets to laxatives before settling on exercise and better lifestyle choices, inspired millions to do the same.
Simmons became a master of many media forms, sharing his hard-won weight-loss tips as host of the Emmy-winning daytime ‘Richard Simmons Show’ and author of best-selling books and the diet plan Deal-A-Meal.
He also opened exercise studios and starred in exercise videos, including the wildly successful ‘Sweatin’ to the Oldies’ line, which became a cultural phenomenon.
‘The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed,’ a family spokesperson told People . ‘The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss’
Simmons’ daytime show was seen on 200 stations in America, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, ‘Never Say Diet,’ was a smash best-seller.
He was known to counsel the severely obese, including Rosalie Bradford, who held records for being the world’s heaviest woman, and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons for helping him lose 700 pounds.
After winning a legion of fans with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped away from the limelight in 2014.
Simmons revealed he was diagnosed with skin cancer in an emotional Facebook post in March after discovering a ‘strange looking bump’ under his right eye.
After calling a dermatologist, the fitness trailblazer recalled feeling ‘a little bit nervous’ after the doctor looked at the bump ‘through a magnifying mirror.’
‘He told me he would have to scrape it and put it under the microscope,’ Simmons told his fans. ‘He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word.’
After winning a legion of fans with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped away from the limelight in 2014
He continued: ‘I asked him what kind of cancer and he said. Basel Cell Carcinoma. I told him to stop calling me dirty names. He laughed.’
Simmons was then told he had to go to ‘a cancer doctor right away.’
To treat the cancer, he said his doctor explained that he needed ‘to burn’ his ‘skin to remove the cancer cells.’
‘There was no numbing it just had to be done with a small instrument,’ the actor detailed. ‘As he started burning my skin a tear dropped down my cheek. You can’t cry during this and he wiped my tear. The burning really hurt my skin. It lasted about 30 minutes.’
Following the procedure, he was told to return in an hour and a half to see if they ‘got it all out.’
‘After driving around the city, I went back to some sad news,’ he noted. ‘I didn’t get it all out. He burned my face again. This time was worse than before…It was deeper. I did not cry this time but I did grit my teeth.’
Simmons went on to reveal in a second post that the ‘third time was a charm’ and they removed ‘all the cancer cells out.’
‘Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my chest and 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 did religiously. Because of his fine work I don’t have a scar.’
Simmons was found in his home by his longtime housekeeper on August 13 – just one day after celebrating his 76th birthday
The skin cancer announcement came just days after the reclusive star sparked fears he was dying with a worrying social media post.
He posted on X and Facebook: ‘I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am …. dying. The truth is we all are dying. Every day we live we are getting closer to our death.
‘Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.’
In a later post, Simmons apologized and said he was ‘sorry for the confusion.’
‘Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me,’ he wrote on a post on X. ‘I am not dying.’
Simmons abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans voiced concerns about his well-being in the following years.
In 2022, Estey provided a statement to the New York Post saying that he was ‘happy, healthy and living the life he has chosen to live.’
