Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons
Simmons in 1998
Born
Milton Teagle Simmons

(1948-07-12)July 12, 1948
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
DiedJuly 13, 2024(2024-07-13) (aged 76)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placePierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, Los Angeles
Alma materUniversity of Louisiana at Lafayette
Florida State University (BA)
Occupations
  • Fitness instructor
  • actor
  • video producer
Years active1968–2014
Websiterichardsimmons.com

Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (July 12, 1948 – July 13, 2024) was an American fitness instructor and television personality. He was a promoter of weight-loss programs, most prominently through his television show, The Richard Simmons Show and later the Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos.

Simmons began his weight-loss career by opening his gym Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California, catering to the overweight in a supportive atmosphere, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. He was often parodied and was a frequent guest on late-night television and radio talk shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show.

He continued to promote health and exercise through a decades-long career, and later broadened his activities to include political activism, such as in 2008 in support of a bill mandating non-competitive physical education in public schools as a part of the No Child Left Behind Act.[1][2]

  1. ^ Ibanga, Imaeyen (October 15, 2008). "Richard Simmons Obesity Crusade". ABC News. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  2. ^ Claus von Zastrow on (March 27, 2008). "Kids Aren't Well-Rounded; They're Just...Rounded". Public School Insights. Archived from the original on September 7, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2013.