Eccentric fitness guru Richard Simmons, known for his unrelenting positivity, has died, according to his representative.
Simmons just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday.
The Los Angeles Police Department responded to his home following a 911 call from his housekeeper and discovered Simmons deceased, according to police sources. Natural causes appear to be the reason for his death, and no foul play is suspected, the sources said.
Simmons startled fans three months ago when he posted on Facebook that he was dying, writing in March, “I have some news to tell you. 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 later clarified that he was not actually dying, but the message was meant to encourage everyone to “embrace every day that we have.”
Simmons has been out of the public eye recently, though there were reports of a biopic being made about him earlier this year. Simmons criticized these reports, writing, “Don’t believe everything you read. I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful.”
Simmons posted frequently on social media, often several times a day. He posted about his birthday on Facebook a day before his death, writing, “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.”
In March, he told his fans that he had skin cancer removed from his face but was now doing well.
“I know some of you reading this have had cancer or have known someone in your life who has had cancer,” he wrote. “Promise me you will see your doctor and get a complete check-up.”
Born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948, he adopted the name Richard while growing up.
Simmons often spoke about being overweight as a child, which led him to his weight loss journey and career in fitness starting in the 1970s and ’80s. He first ventured into weight loss by opening his gym, Slimmons, in Beverly Hills, California.
He released his first book, “Never Say Diet,” in 1980, beginning a series of 12 books throughout his career.
His fitness videos, including the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series, became immensely popular during the 1980s fitness craze that included aerobics and Jazzercise.
Simmons made regular TV appearances, from the “Late Show with David Letterman” to the “Rosie O’Donnell Show.” He had a regular role on the soap opera “General Hospital” and made guest appearances as himself on shows such as “Arrested Development” and “The Larry Sanders Show.”
He also hosted his own talk and fitness show, “The Richard Simmons Show,” from 1980 to 1984, which won four Daytime Emmy Awards.