Richard Simmons has died aged 76. The fitness guru’s passing is being reported by TMZ, who said law enforcement sources had said they and fire department officials responded to a call from his housekeeper from his Los Angeles home just before 10am on Saturday (13.07.
24) and pronounced him dead at the scene. His death falls a day after his 76th birthday – and came after he announced in March he had been diagnosed with skin cancer. Insiders added to TMZ about his passing: “No foul play is suspected at this time, and cops are looking into it as a natural death.
” It comes after Richard posted a string of posts on Facebook thanking fans for all the birthday wishes he received to mark his 76th on Friday. (12.07.
24) In a rare interview, New Orleans-born Richard – who stepped away from the spotlight 10 years ago and whose real name was Milton Teague Simmons – told People magazine he was planning to blow out a candle to mark the milestone. The health fanatic joked in the chat: “But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.
” When asked how he felt about turning 76, Richard 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.” Richard rose to fame in the 1970s and ’80s by opening a series of gyms including The Anatomy Asylum in Los Angeles.
He also released dozens of fitness tapes and DVDs including ‘Sweatin’ to the .
