History of Richard Simmons in Timeline
Richard Simmons was a renowned American fitness personality widely recognized for his enthusiastic weight-loss programs, particularly his popular "Sweatin' to the Oldies" aerobics video series. He was a prominent public figure in the fitness world, inspiring many with his energetic personality and commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles.
July 12, 1948: Birth of Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons was born on July 12, 1948, in New Orleans.
1968: Appearance in Fellini's Satyricon
In 1968, Richard Simmons appeared as a "freak show" character in Federico Fellini's film Satyricon.
1970: Appearance in Fellini's The Clowns
Richard Simmons continued his work with Fellini in 1970, appearing in the film The Clowns.
1980: Premiere of The Richard Simmons Show
Richard Simmons launched his television series, The Richard Simmons Show, in 1980, which focused on promoting healthy living and exercise.
1984: End of The Richard Simmons Show
After a successful run, The Richard Simmons Show concluded in 1984.
1986: Appearance in Steven Spielberg's "Amazing Stories"
In 1986, Richard Simmons appeared as himself in an episode of Steven Spielberg's anthology series "Amazing Stories."
November 18, 1997: Appearance on The Rosie O'Donnell Show with Celine Dion
On November 18, 1997, Richard Simmons appeared as a guest on The Rosie O'Donnell Show alongside singer Celine Dion.
1998: Voice Acting in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie"
Richard Simmons lent his voice to the character Boone in the animated film "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie" in 1998.
1999: Host of "DreamMaker" Television Series
Richard Simmons hosted a short-lived television series titled "DreamMaker" in 1999.
November 22, 2000: Incident on Late Night with David Letterman
On November 22, 2000, Richard Simmons experienced a severe asthma attack on Late Night with David Letterman after Letterman sprayed him with a fire extinguisher following an unexpected gesture from Simmons.
September 2005: Discussion of Hurricane Katrina's Impact on "Entertainment Tonight"
Richard Simmons appeared on "Entertainment Tonight" in September 2005 to talk about how Hurricane Katrina affected his family in New Orleans and his efforts to help those impacted by the disaster.
August 29, 2006: Return Visit to New Orleans After Hurricane Katrina
Richard Simmons visited New Orleans on August 29, 2006, one year after Hurricane Katrina, to offer support and discuss the hurricane's impact on his hometown.
November 29, 2006: Return to Late Show with David Letterman
Richard Simmons returned to the Late Show with David Letterman in 2006 after a six-year hiatus following a previous on-air incident.
2006: Launch of "Lighten Up with Richard Simmons" Radio Show
Richard Simmons began hosting his own radio show, "Lighten Up with Richard Simmons," on Sirius Satellite Radio in 2006.
March 2, 2007: Advocacy for Physical Education in Washington, D.C.
On March 2, 2007, Richard Simmons traveled to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness and promote the Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007, highlighting the importance of physical education in schools.
2007: Appearance in ESPN's "This is SportsCenter" Commercial
Richard Simmons appeared as the "conditioning coach" in a humorous "This is SportsCenter" commercial for ESPN in late 2007.
2007: Filming of "Love Yourself and Win" PBS Special
Richard Simmons filmed a special program called "Love Yourself and Win" for PBS in 2007, aimed at promoting self-acceptance and healthy living.
2008: Political Activism for Physical Education in Schools
Richard Simmons engaged in political activism in 2008, supporting a bill that aimed to make noncompetitive physical education mandatory in public schools as part of the No Child Left Behind Act.
2008: End of "Lighten Up with Richard Simmons" Radio Show
Richard Simmons' radio show, "Lighten Up with Richard Simmons," concluded its run in 2008.
2011: Air New Zealand Inflight Safety Video
Richard Simmons starred in an entertaining inflight safety video for Air New Zealand in 2011, incorporating his signature energetic style.
2013: Simmons' Last Known Photo Surfaces
A photo of Richard Simmons from as far back as 2013 was included in his April 2017 Facebook post, fueling speculation about the authenticity of the message and his well-being.
2013: Final Appearance on The Howard Stern Show
After multiple appearances, Richard Simmons made his last appearance on The Howard Stern Show in 2013.
2014: Simmons Retreats from Public Life
Richard Simmons stopped appearing in public in February of 2014, marking the beginning of his extended withdrawal from the public eye.
March 14, 2016: Richard Simmons Denies Rumors on Today Show
On March 14, 2016, Richard Simmons gave an audio interview on the Today Show, denying rumors that he was being held hostage by his housekeeper.
March 2016: Speculation Surrounds Simmons' Absence
In March 2016, speculation arose that Richard Simmons was being held hostage by his housekeeper, as he had not made any major public appearances since 2014.
November 2016: Simmons' Fitness Gym Closes
Richard Simmons' fitness gym closed in November 2016, without any public announcement from Simmons himself.
November 2016: Closure of Slimmons
Richard Simmons' fitness studio, Slimmons, closed its doors in November 2016 after operating for many years in Beverly Hills.
February 2017: "Missing Richard Simmons" Podcast Launches
The podcast "Missing Richard Simmons" launched in February 2017, investigating the reasons behind Richard Simmons' sudden departure from public life.
March 2017: LAPD Conducts Welfare Check on Simmons
In March 2017, Los Angeles Police Department detectives visited Richard Simmons' home to conduct a welfare check, later issuing a statement that Simmons is "perfectly fine" and choosing to live his life privately.
April 19, 2017: Simmons Breaks Silence on Facebook
On April 19, 2017, following a hospitalization for severe indigestion, Richard Simmons made his first public comment in over a year. He posted a photo of himself on Facebook with the message, "I'm not 'missing', just a little under the weather."
May 2017: Simmons Sues National Enquirer and Others
Richard Simmons sued the National Enquirer, Radar Online, and American Media, Inc. in May 2017 for libel and false claims regarding his gender identity.
September 2017: Simmons Loses Libel Lawsuit
In September 2017, Richard Simmons lost the libel lawsuit against the National Enquirer, Radar Online, and American Media, Inc. and was ordered to pay the defendants' attorney's fees.
June 2018: Simmons Sues Private Investigator
Richard Simmons filed a lawsuit in June 2018 against a Los Angeles private investigator for placing a tracking device on his vehicle, which is a violation of California law.
July 2018: Simmons Amends Lawsuit, Criminal Complaint Filed
In July 2018, Richard Simmons amended his lawsuit against the private investigator, alleging that the investigator was hired by In Touch Weekly. Prosecutors also filed a criminal complaint related to the case.
May 2020: Court Allows Simmons' Lawsuit to Proceed
In May 2020, a California appellate court upheld a trial judge's decision, allowing Richard Simmons' lawsuit against the private investigator to move forward.
2020: Release of Archival Exercise Videos on YouTube
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Richard Simmons' YouTube channel was updated with older exercise videos to encourage people to stay active at home.
August 2022: Simmons Issues Statement on Health and Well-being
In response to a TMZ documentary, Richard Simmons issued a statement to the New York Post in August 2022, stating that he "is happy, healthy, and living the life he has chosen to live."
January 2024: Announcement of Unauthorized Biopic
An unauthorized biopic about Richard Simmons, starring Pauly Shore, was announced in January 2024, which Simmons stated he did not approve.
March 2024: Simmons Clarifies Health Status, Lack of Representation
In March 2024, Richard Simmons issued a statement clarifying that he is not dying and no longer has a manager or publicist. He also stated that he has not given permission for a biopic about his life.
April 2024: Discussion of Authorized Biopic
In April 2024, Richard Simmons revealed he was in talks to potentially authorize a different biopic about his life.
July 13, 2024: Death of Richard Simmons
Richard Simmons passed away on July 13, 2024.