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Jul 18

Richard Simmons, the Clown Prince of Fitness, Dies at 76 – The New York Times

Fitness Comments Off on Richard Simmons, the Clown Prince of Fitness, Dies at 76 – The New York Times

Richard Simmons, who with dances, confessions, screeches, comedy sketches and pep talks established himself as Americas most popular fitness instructor, died on Saturday at his home in Los Angeles. He was 76.

A representative for Mr. Simmons, Tom Estey, confirmed the death.

The Los Angeles police and fire departments responded to Mr. Simmons address at 10 a.m. on Saturday. A Fire Department spokesman said that personnel there determined he had died of natural causes.

In March, Mr. Simmons said he had been treated for basal cell carcinoma, which he said first appeared as a strange looking bump under his eye.

From the 1980s until his death, Mr. Simmons was the dominant incarnation of a longstanding figure from American pop culture, dating at least to the muscle show impresario and magazine publisher Bernarr Macfadden (1868-1955). Mr. Simmons shared much with Jack LaLanne. Each man became a television and self-help sensation by promoting a personal story of being born again: a miserable youth of sinful junk-food gluttony, followed by the discovery that physical fitness confers happiness and virtue.

I think Im just a good example of a chubby, fat, unhappy kid who lived in New Orleans, Louisiana, and dreamed, and now all my dreams are coming true, Mr. Simmons told the TV host Huell Howser in 1980.

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Richard Simmons, the Clown Prince of Fitness, Dies at 76 - The New York Times

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