Skip to content
NorthFactsFacts first, Canada's reference desk
People

Richard Simmons

What is richard simmons?

· James MacDonald

Key facts

Full name Milton Teagle Simmons[1]
Birth date July 12, 1948[1]
Birth place New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.[1]
Death date July 13, 2024[1]
Death place Los Angeles, California[1]
Known for Sweatin’ to the Oldies workout videos[1]

Richard Simmons was an American fitness instructor and public figure, best known for his high-energy aerobics and workout videos such as *Sweatin’ to the Oldies* [1]. Born Milton Teagle Simmons on July 12, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana, he died on July 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, California [1].

Context

Richard Simmons was an American fitness instructor and exercise icon, celebrated for his flamboyant and high-energy personality [1]. He became a household name through his *Sweatin’ to the Oldies* workout videos, which encouraged people of all fitness levels to get moving [1]. Beyond his video career, Simmons worked as an author, activist, television exercise host, and motivational speaker [1]. In his later years, he chose to live away from the public eye [1]. He is sometimes confused with Richard Simmons, the American actor born in 1913, but they are different people [2].

Documented claims

  • Richard Simmons was an American aerobics instructor and fitness guru. [1]
  • He was also an author, activist, television exercise host, and motivational speaker. [1]
  • He spent the last decade of his life away from the spotlight. [1]

Questions and answers

What caused Richard Simmons to pass away?

The sources do not specify the cause of his death. He died on July 13, 2024, in Los Angeles, California [1].

Did Richard Simmons have a life partner?

The sources do not mention a life partner or spouse for Richard Simmons [1].

Does Richard Simmons have any children?

The sources do not indicate that Richard Simmons had any children [1].

What did Diane Sawyer say about Richard Simmons?

The sources do not include any statements from Diane Sawyer about Richard Simmons [1].

Sources

  1. 43 Things You Didn't Know About Richard Simmons — buzzfeed.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. Richard Simmons, New Orleans’s Hometown Hero — hnoc.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in People