Sam Amico
These days, some people may not even know Richard Simmons. But there was a time when the flamboyant and energetic fitness guru ruled the airwaves.
Videos by Rare
Today, though, Simmons is viewed as a recluse of sorts, barely leaving his home and never being photographed.
Fittingly, the mystery of Simmons has been made into a TMZ documentary, entitled, TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons, which aired on Fox.
What Happened to Richard Simmons? TMZ’s
As relayed by People, actress Suzanne Sommers of Three’s Company fame talked a little bit about Simmons in the doc.
“One night I was on the Larry King Show and he was either going to be a guest or supposed to be a guest, and I heard through the Larry King people that he didn’t want to be on the show with me,” Somers said.
“I said, ‘Why?’ and he said, ‘She’ll make fun of me.’ And that’s not my style, I never make fun of anybody. But that’s when I realized a little insecurity has gotten in there. I liked him. I was always so surprised when he thought I’d make fun of him. But doesn’t that show you he’s got a heartache? Something’s broken inside because he did it. He had it and then let it go.”
Simmons, 74, is the author of a dozen books on diet and fitness and put out about three times as many videos on healthy living. But he stopped teaching at his studio in February 2014 and hasn’t really been heard from since.
TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons will begin streaming for free on Tubi starting on August 30.
