Richard Simmons, Iconic Fitness Guru, Dies At 76

Beloved TV personality and fitness coach Richard Simmons, known for his Sweatin’ To The Oldies workout videos, passed away at 76 in Los Angeles on Saturday. The fitness guru had just celebrated his birthday a day before. “Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” he wrote. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.” Overcoming childhood obesity, Simmons found inspiration on a 1968 trip to Europe after receiving a thought-provoking anonymous note on his car: “Dear Richard: Fat people die young. Please don’t die.” His subsequent weight loss journey led to opening the iconic Anatomy Asylum and Ruffage eatery in 1974, attracting celebrities like Barbara Streisand and Dustin Hoffman. A media sensation, Simmons appeared on shows like Real People and General Hospital, cementing his status as a health and wellness trailblazer. (Variety)