30 Facts About Richard Simmons

Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons was born on July 12,1948 and is an American fitness personality and public figure, known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality.

Richard Simmons has promoted weight-loss programs, most prominently through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos.

Richard Simmons is often parodied and was a frequent guest of late-night television and radio talk shows, such as the Late Show with David Letterman and The Howard Stern Show.

Milton Teagle Richard Simmons was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on July 12,1948, to Leonard Douglas Richard Simmons, Sr.

Richard Simmons was born to "show-business parents" and raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans.

Richard Simmons later converted to Catholicism and attended Cor Jesu High School.

Richard Simmons attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette before graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in art.

Richard Simmons became obese during his early childhood and adolescence.

Richard Simmons began to overeat and became overweight as early as the age of 4, and by the age of 5, he knew it was perceived negatively.

Richard Simmons later opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where emphasis was placed on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise in a supportive atmosphere.

Later renamed "Slimmons", the establishment continued operations in Beverly Hills and Richard Simmons taught motivational classes and aerobics throughout the week.

In 2010, Richard Simmons stated he had kept off his own 100+ pound weight loss for 42 years, had been helping others lose weight for 35 years, and that in the course of his fitness career, had helped humanity lose approximately 12million pounds.

Richard Simmons used the Internet as a method of outreach by running his own membership-based website and has official pages on numerous social-networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube.

Richard Simmons began to draw media attention due to the success of his health club that began with him on Real People, where he was shown at work.

Richard Simmons introduced customers whom he had helped to lose weight.

Richard Simmons later had guest roles on Battlestars, Body Language, Super Password, Win, Lose or Draw, Match Game, Price Is Right, $25,000 Pyramid, Hollywood Squares, and Nickelodeon's Figure It Out.

Positive viewer reactions landed Richard Simmons a recurring role as himself in General Hospital over a 4-year period.

In 1998, Richard Simmons provided the voice of Boone in Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Movie.

Richard Simmons featured in television advertisements for Sprint, Yoplait, and Herbal Essence shampoos.

In Canada, Richard Simmons was in an advertisement for Richard Simmons mattresses.

Richard Simmons uses his energetic and motivational demeanor to encourage people to lose weight.

Richard Simmons turns to the little man with the pointed hat and says to the court jester "make me laugh".

In September 2005, Richard Simmons appeared on Entertainment Tonight to discuss the effects of Hurricane Katrina on his family in his hometown of New Orleans, and his involvement in aiding those affected by the hurricane.

In 2004, Richard Simmons slapped a man at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.

The altercation took place after the man said, "Hey everybody, it's Richard Simmons, let's drop our bags and rock to the '50s".

Richard Simmons has not made any major public appearances since 2014, and stopped appearing in public altogether in February of that year.

In February 2017, the podcast Missing Richard Simmons launched, investigating why Simmons left public life so suddenly.

In September 2017, Richard Simmons lost the lawsuit, and was ordered to pay the defendants' attorney's fees.

In June 2018, he sued a Los Angeles private investigator, claiming he had placed a tracking device over a year earlier on the only vehicle Richard Simmons used for transportation, noting that such tracking is in violation of California law.

In July 2018, Richard Simmons amended the suit, alleging the investigator had been hired by In Touch Weekly and prosecutors filed a criminal complaint.