Richard Simmons, the eccentric fitness guru known for his relentless positivity, has died, his representative said.
Simmons just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday.
Los Angeles police responded to Simmons’ home after receiving a 911 call from his housekeeper and found him dead, police sources said. The death appears to have been caused by natural causes and no foul play is suspected.
Richard Simmons poses in a 1979 promotional photo for the ABC television series “General Hospital.”
Walt Disney Television/ABC via Getty Images, File
Simmons had only surprised fans in March when he posted on Facebook that he was dying, writing, “I have some news for you. Don’t be sad. I am dying. I see your faces. The truth is we are all dying. Every day we live we get closer to death.”
He later clarified that he wasn’t actually dying, and that the message was meant to encourage everyone to “make the most of today.”
Simmons has not been seen in public recently, but earlier this year there were reports that a biopic about the fitness enthusiast was in the works. Simmons slammed the reports, writing, “Don’t believe everything you read. I no longer have a manager or publicist. I just want to live quietly and peacefully.”
Simmons posted frequently on social media, sometimes multiple times a day, and the day before he died he posted about his birthday on Facebook, writing, “Thank you… I’ve never received so many birthday messages in my life! As I sit here writing this email, wishing you the best for the rest of your Friday.”
He told fans in March that he had skin cancer removed from his face but was recovering well.
“I’m sure some of you reading this have had cancer or know someone close to you who has,” he wrote. “Please make a commitment to see your doctor and get a thorough evaluation.”
Fitness expert Richard Simmons attends the taping of “The Late Show with David Letterman” at the Ed Sullivan Theater on October 16, 2007 in New York City.
Ray Tamara/Getty Images, File
He was born Milton Teagle Simmons on July 12, 1948 in New Orleans, but adopted the name Richard as he grew up.
Simmons has often spoken about being overweight as a child, which led to his journey of losing weight and pursuing a career in the fitness industry in the 1970s and 1980s, first attempting to lose weight when he opened his own gym, Slimmons, in Beverly Hills, California.
He published his first book, Never Say Diet, in 1980. It was the first of 12 books he would publish in his lifetime.
His fitness videos exploded in popularity in the 1980s as the popularity of aerobics and Jazzercise sparked a national fitness craze. His videos, including the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” series, became some of the most popular of their time.
Fitness advocate Richard Simmons accepts the microphone from Rep. Rick Keller during a rally on Capitol Hill after testifying at a House Education and Labor Committee hearing to promote fitness and health education for children, as Reps. Jay Inslee and Ron Kind look on, July 24, 2008, in Washington, DC.
Scott J. Ferrell/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images, File
Simmons also appeared regularly on television as a talk show regular on shows from “Late Show with David Letterman” to “The Rosie O’Donnell Show,” as well as having a regular role on the soap opera “General Hospital” and making guest appearances as himself on shows such as “Arrested Development” and “The Larry Sanders Show.”
He also hosted his own talk and fitness show, The Richard Simmons Show, from 1980 to 1984. The show won four Daytime Emmy Awards.
ABC News’ Bonnie MacLean contributed to this report.
