Richard Simmons' cause of death at 76 still unknown (2024)

Richard Simmons' cause of death at 76 is still unknown amid an investigation in to the fitness guru's final hours - as the star was laid to rest in LA.

A police probe was launched after Simmons was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, July 13 after suffering a fall in his bathroom the night prior.

His death certificate obtained by TMZ does not have his manner of death listed - noting the manner of death is still pending an investigation.

Simmons - who is referred to as a 'health motivator' on the certificate has been laid to rest at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary - where stars including Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried.

The TV star - who dropped out of the spotlight in the final years of his year - was a bachelor at the time of his death.

Richard Simmons ' cause of death at 76 is still unknown amid an investigation in to the fitness guru's final hours - as the star was laid to rest in LA - pictured 2013

A police probe was launched after Simmons was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, July 13 after suffering a fall in his bathroom the night prior.; seen in 2013

He never commented publicly on his sexuality but was a revered gay icon.

Read More Richard Simmons became the subject of a controversialpodcasts

'The LAPD are not pursuing the investigation as if foul play was involved at this point,' a law enforcement source told PEOPLE on Thursday.

Simmons' preliminary cause of death was revealed Monday by theLos Angeles Fire Department after it was confirmed police were investigating the matter.

It was announced via a statement that Simmons had died of 'apparent natural causes.'

'On July 13, 2024, at 9:55 AM, the LAFD responded to a Suspected Death Incident at the 1300 block of N Belfast Drive,' LAFD Captain Erik Scott told Entertainment Tonight.

'Upon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes. As a result, no hospital transport was necessary,' he concluded.

Police officers and firefighters were dispatched to Simmons' home in Los Angeles after receiving a call from his housekeeper.

Simmons was found dead just one day after he celebrated his 76th birthday.

Simmons - who is referred to as a 'health motivator' on the certificate has been laid to rest at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary - where stars including Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried

Police officials confirmed to PEOPLE on Monday that Simmons' death was under further examination, and that the case had been deferred by the Medical Examiner's Office, which calls for a further probe and tests to be conducted, according to the outlet.

The examination can span as long as three months until an official ruling is issued, the outlet reported.

Authorities pronounced Simmons dead at the scene, according to the outlet, and foul play was not suspected in connection with the death, which was going to be probed as under natural causes.

Members of the LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division also responded to the call due to the high-profile person who had died, the outlet reported.

Police subsequently told the outlet that Simmons had fallen in the bathroom of his home on Friday - which marked his 76th birthday - and that his housekeeper had attempted to persuade him to seek immediate medical help.

Simmons declined because it was his birthday and he didn't want to go anywhere, informing her that he might go on Saturday. The housekeeper helped him safely get back to his bedroom, where she found him the following morning on the floor at around 10 a.m., according to the outlet.

'The LAPD are not pursuing the investigation as if foul play was involved at this point,' a law enforcement source told PEOPLE on Thursday; seen in 2013

A police probe was launched after Simmons, 76, was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, July 13 after suffering a fall in his bathroom the night prior; police seen at Simmons' home on July 13

One source told the outlet that Simmons had said he felt 'dizzy' prior to falling down, while a separate insider said Simmons 'showed no obvious or external signs of injury' after he fell down.

It was not immediately clear if the fall and feelings of dizziness were connected to his death.

Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave People Thursday, just two days before he died.

At the conclusion of the interview, the fitness impresario was told by the outlet that he had been 'missed' after keeping a low profile over the past decade, and asked if he understood the fondness fans had for him.

'I know people miss me,' Simmons told the outlet. 'And you know what? I miss them, too. But I'm able to reach them through phone calls… and through emails.'

Simmons also revealed in his final interview that he had emerged into the public while concealing his appearance.

'I do leave the house sometimes,' Simmons said. 'But I'm in disguise.'

The outlet reported that the interview with Simmons just prior to his passing was his first since 2014, the year he stopped making public appearances.

Simmons' preliminary cause of death was revealed Monday by the Los Angeles Fire Department after it was confirmed police were investigating the matter; seen in 2013

The New Orleans-born star, who had been a staple on television promoting his fitness industry endeavors - including studios, books, weight loss programs and videos - had been at the center of speculation over the past decade after he ceased making public appearances, spurring speculation about his safety and well-being.

Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he bowed out of the public eye was a knee surgery he had undergone, and a second surgery on the knee that he had refused to undergo.

Simmons told People on Thursday that he'd also had a skin cancer scare after undergoing a procedure to have it extracted earlier this year.

'Basal cell carcinoma, it was scary,' Simmons said of the ailment. 'But it never came back.'

Simmons told the outlet that he strived to spread optimism and positivity to those dealing with similar health battles.

'So many people have cancer,' Simmons said. 'I call them, I sing to them: "You're gonna get through this. You just have to believe that."'

Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months.

'I've written 14 songs for a Broadway show,' he said. 'And I'm working with an amazing man - Patrick Leonard. I don't know if you know his name, but he wrote music for Madonna, Elton John. He's like one of the biggest.

'And we talk a couple of times a week. I write the lyrics, and he writes the music. The whole show is about my life - from selling pralines in New Orleans at a candy store when I was a kid, to when I decided to retire.'

Simmons had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans.

He told People Thursday, 'Today is a beautiful day. But nothing's really different. I got up this morning. I said my prayers, I counted my blessings, and then I went to work.

The fitness impresario was pictured at a March 1999 event at theUniversity of Nebraska

Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he bowed out of the public eye was a knee surgery he had undergone, and a second surgery on the knee that he had refused to undergo. Pictured in NYC in 2006

Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months. Pictured in October 2013

'You know? And writing messages, answering emails - and when the email is real extreme, I ask for their numbers, and I call them. I'm feeling great, cause I'm helping people.'

His final social media post came on Saturday, quoting a line from the 1968 musical comedy Funny Girl.

Simmons was asked about his low-profile interactions with his fans, telling the outlet that his measure of success was the number of people he had provided assistance and inspiration to.

'Well, when I decided to retire, it was because my body told me I needed to retire,' Simmons said. 'I have spent time just reflecting on my life. All of the books I wrote, the videos.

'I never was like, "Oh look what I've done." My thing was, "Oh, look how many people I helped."'

Richard Simmons' cause of death at 76 still unknown (2024)

FAQs

Richard Simmons' cause of death at 76 still unknown? ›

Authorities previously said he appeared to die from natural causes, but the exact cause of death is under investigation, NBC News and PEOPLE reported. Simmons was laid to rest in a private funeral in Los Angeles on Friday. WJW's Laura Morrison contributed to this story. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc.

Where was Richard Simmons buried? ›

According to a death certificate obtained by TMZ, Simmons was buried at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park, a site that is also home to the graves of stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Truman Capote, Natalie Wood and Don Knotts, among many others.

What happened to Mr Simmons? ›

He was 76. A representative for Mr. Simmons, Tom Estey, confirmed the death. The Los Angeles police and fire departments responded to Mr. Simmons' address at 10 a.m. on Saturday. A Fire Department spokesman said that personnel there determined he had died of natural causes.

How big was Richard Simmons? ›

At his heaviest, Richard weighed 268 pounds, but when he had first started losing weight, he told Oprah, he had had trouble stopping. Society, he said, equated thinness with success.

When did Richard Simmons get his start? ›

In 1974, Simmons opened his own studio in Beverly Hills that catered to people who wanted to lose weight and get in shape. It was originally called The Anatomy Asylum, but was later known as SLIMMONS.

Where are the Simmons children buried? ›

The Advocate reports 15-year-old Kamryn, 17-year-old Christopher and 20-year-old Lindy Simmons will be laid to rest at noon on Tuesday during a service at Our Savior's Church in New Iberia. The siblings will then be interred at Beau Pre Cemetery in Jeanerette.

Where is Richard the Third buried now? ›

The King Richard III Visitor Centre opened just 20 months later in July 2014 and King Richard III's mortal remains were formally reinterred in Leicester Cathedral, opposite the King Richard III Visitor Centre, in March 2015.

What did Simmons do to get the death penalty? ›

In the state of Missouri in 1993, 17-year-old Christopher Simmons concocted a plan to commit burglary and murder, having previously told friends that he "wanted to kill someone" and that he "believed he could get away with it because he was a minor".

What was Simmons cause of death? ›

Earlier this year, he opened up about a previous skin cancer diagnosis, though it's unclear whether the condition contributed to his death. Authorities previously said he appeared to die from natural causes, but the exact cause of death is under investigation, NBC News and PEOPLE reported.

What was Richard Simmons' cause of death? ›

Simmons died at his home in Los Angeles on July 13, 2024, at the age of 76. He had suffered a fall at his home the day prior and refused to seek medical attention out of a desire to spend his 76th birthday at home. Police said that his death appeared to be from natural causes, though the investigation is ongoing.

How much did Richard Simmons weigh before he lost all his weight? ›

Bullied for his weight, he hit 270 lbs. by the end of high school, then later lost 112 lbs. in just more than two months — a diet binge that nearly killed him.

Who is Richard Simmons' wife? ›

After they married in 1961, Mary Simmons worked as a public health nurse for the New York City Health Department and the Oyster Bay Visiting Nurse Association. She also earned a master's in social work from Adelphi University in 1979.

Did Richard Simmons wear a headband? ›

original sound - Kelly Manno. Wait until she finds out. Richard Simmons never wore a headband.

What religion is Richard Simmons? ›

Born in 1948 to a Jewish mother and Methodist father, Simmons once considered the Catholic priesthood, but found his calling in converting Americans—especially those often cruelly excluded from the dominant fitness culture at the time—to exercise.

When was the last time Richard Simmons was on General Hospital? ›

Simmons got his big break in the entertainment industry appearing in General Hospital in 1979 as he played himself on the soap for four years. The fitness guru rejoined the soap one final time in 2013 for the 50th anniversary of the series, appearing in two episodes.

Who was the old fitness guy? ›

LaLanne hosted the first and longest-running nationally syndicated fitness television program, The Jack LaLanne Show, from 1951 to 1985. He published numerous books on fitness and was widely recognized for publicly preaching the health benefits of regular exercise and a good diet.

Where was Mac buried? ›

He had been scheduled to shoot a music video on the day of his death, and was to embark on his Swimming Tour in October. In his will, Miller named his mother, father, and brother as beneficiaries. He was buried at Homewood Cemetery in his hometown of Pittsburgh, in a Jewish funeral.

Where is Richard More buried? ›

Richard More is buried in what was known as the Charter Street Burial Ground but is now the Burying Point/Charter Street Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. He is the only Mayflower passenger to have his gravestone still where it was originally placed sometime in the mid-1690s.

Where is the actress Jean Simmons buried? ›

Simmons died from lung cancer at her home in Santa Monica on 22 January 2010, aged 80. She is interred in Highgate Cemetery, north London.

Where is Wendy Richard buried? ›

Wendy Richard
Wendy Richard MBE
Died26 February 2009 (aged 65) Harley Street, London, England
Resting placeEast Finchley Cemetery and Crematorium, East Finchley, London
Alma materItalia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
OccupationActress
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