Is Richard Simmons still alive? Here's what happened to him
By Ava Barnes
Fitness enthusiasts who are aware of Richard Simmons can’t help but wonder if he’s alive in 2022 after he suddenly disappeared.
It has been eight years and not a single member of the media or paparazzi could get hold of him.
Meanwhile, Fox’s latest documentary TMZ investigates: What happened to Richard Simmons follows his life closely before and after his rise to fame.
So, here’s what happened to him.
Is Richard Simmons still alive?
Yes, Richard is very much alive in 2022, although he has chosen to remain elusive for the last few years.
According to The Sun, TMZ founder Harvey Levin reports that the fitness guru does leave his house – to walk by the beach or go shopping – but he has managed to evade the cameras.
He hasn’t revealed himself but has made his presence felt with his YouTube channel by continuing to post fitness class videos after a near-eight-year hiatus.
He held his last exercise session at his studio, Slimmons, in 2016 before stepping out of the spotlight.
But, he is doing just fine in 2022.
He built a fitness empire
Richard became a household name as he went on to rule the fitness world for years. He made exercise fun while helping hundreds and thousands of people lose weight.
But, before becoming a renowned fitness trainer, he lost over 100 pounds himself, when he first moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s.
His popularity landed him on famous shows including David Letterman and The Howard Stern show.
The fortune he accumulated during the course of his career remains intact to date as he’s estimated to have a net worth of $20 million.
What happened to him?
Richard’s brother Lenny and his spokesperson revealed that the fitness personality just wanted to be by himself.
He was not spared of wild rumors that came with his disappearance, but there was no truth to any of them.
His brother told PEOPLE in 2017: “He’s not sick. There’s nothing medically wrong with him at all. These things about him transitioning to a woman are ridiculous. My wife Cathy and I were out there for Christmas and spent five days with him and I can assure you, he’s not transitioning into anything but himself.”
“After 40-some-odd years, he just decided that he wants to rest. He’s 68 years old now and he’s in good health, but he just wants time for himself,” he added further.
Richard is now 73 years old now.
The documentary dropped on FOX on August 22 at 8/7 C.
