{"id":327730,"date":"2026-05-02T03:26:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T21:56:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=327730"},"modified":"2026-05-02T03:26:37","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T21:56:37","slug":"richard-simmons-housekeeper-breaks-silence-on-final-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/02\/richard-simmons-housekeeper-breaks-silence-on-final-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"Richard Simmons\u2019 Housekeeper Breaks Silence On Final Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Richard Simmons<\/strong>\u2019 mysterious final days are back within the highlight, and now, someone who was there may be finally speaking out. Simmons was found dead at his Los Angeles home on July 13, 2024, just in the future after celebrating his 76th birthday. Based on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Richard Simmons\u2019  death was ruled accidental, tied to complications from recent falls, with heart disease listed as a contributing factor.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9Steven Bergman \/ MEGA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Within the upcoming ABC special \u201cThe Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special,\u201d longtime housekeeper Teresa Reveles is sharing her account for the primary time. \u201cThat is the primary time I\u2019ve spoken about it,\u201d she said in a teaser for the documentary.<\/p>\n<p>Reveles, who worked for Simmons for 35 years, was among the many last people to see him alive, and the one who ultimately discovered him. \u201cOnce I got here here, then I saw him on the ground,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\t\t<!-- TargetVideo video matching --><\/p>\n<p>The special, led by Diane Sawyer, goals to take viewers \u201cinside a mystery\u201d while revisiting Simmons\u2019 life, profession, and sudden disappearance from the general public eye. The documentary features interviews with those closest to him, including <strong>Rosie O\u2019Donnell<\/strong>, who reflects on what made Simmons so unique. \u201cI believe he loved people back to health,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-simmons-rise-retreat-and-silence-explored-in-new-diane-sawyer-special\">Simmons\u2019 Rise, Retreat, And Silence Explored In Latest Diane Sawyer Special<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"1111\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-2-788x1111.jpg\" alt=\"Richard Simmons wearing purple\" class=\"wp-image-799824\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-2-788x1111.jpg 788w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-2-428x603.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u00a9Steven Bergman \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Simmons rose to fame within the late Seventies after launching his Beverly Hills fitness studio, Slimmons, which became known for its inclusive approach to exercise. By the Eighties, he was a household name because of his wildly popular workout videos, including \u201cSweatin\u2019 to the Oldies,\u201d which helped define home fitness culture. But after a long time within the highlight, Simmons began stepping back within the 2000s, eventually disappearing from public life entirely around 2014.<\/p>\n<p>The special addresses that abrupt shift, with Sawyer questioning the length of his absence and his manager, Michael Catalano, reflecting on how things have modified. \u201cHe felt the love,\u201d Catalano said, to which Sawyer responds, \u201cUntil he didn\u2019t.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen it just got real quiet,\u201d Catalano added.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-new-richard-simmons-doc-promises-to-pull-back-the-curtain-on-his-life-legacy-and-final-years\">Latest Richard Simmons Doc Guarantees To \u2018Pull Back The Curtain\u2019 On His Life, Legacy, And Final Years<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"1182\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-3-788x1182.jpg\" alt=\"Richard Simmons at Macy's 87th AnnualThanksgiving Day Parade-NYC\" class=\"wp-image-799825\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-3-788x1182.jpg 788w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-3-428x642.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The documentary also explores Simmons\u2019 upbringing, his rise to fame, and the emotional connection he built with fans over a long time. It teases latest revelations, including a long-awaited phone call after years of silence and intimate moments together with his family, including his brother Lenny Simmons. The special ultimately goals to \u201cpull back the curtain\u201d on the person behind the persona, one who built a \u201cjoyful revolution\u201d in fitness and left behind an enduring cultural impact.<\/p>\n<p>And in true Simmons fashion, his humor stays a part of the story. \u201cRichard at all times said, \u2018I don\u2019t care in the event that they\u2019re laughing with me or at me. I just want them to be laughing,\u2019\u201d Catalano recalled. Even in his final chapter, Simmons\u2019 legacy continues to spark curiosity, emotion, and conversation.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-diane-sawyer-goes-behind-the-scenes\">Diane Sawyer Goes Behind The Scenes<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"525\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-1-1-788x525.jpg\" alt=\"Richard Simmons at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2013\" class=\"wp-image-799826\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-1-1-788x525.jpg 788w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-1-1-428x285.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">ZUMAPRESS.com \/ MEGA <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The trailer for the special was released to <a href=\"https:\/\/people.com\/diane-sawyer-interviews-richard-simmons-inner-circle-in-new-special-exclusive-11962353\">PEOPLE<\/a> on Friday and opens with archival footage of Simmons himself, offering a glimpse into the mindset that made him a household name. \u201cWe\u2019re all waiting for support from others, and sometimes we don\u2019t get it,\u201d he said. \u201cThat\u2019s why God made me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>From there, the special reflects on his youth, with a narrator asking, \u201cHow did a bit boy who needed to run from bullies defy the percentages and turn into a megastar? There was just one Richard Simmons.\u201d However the tone quickly shifts, turning to considered one of the largest questions surrounding his legacy. \u201cThen, abruptly, in the future, he disappeared for a decade.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-richard-simmons-decade-long-disappearance-still-raises-questions\">Richard Simmons\u2019 Decade-Long Disappearance Still Raises Questions<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-medium_large caption_belowImage credit_onImage mobile-image-full-width\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"788\" height=\"1609\" src=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-4-788x1609.jpg\" alt=\"Richard Simmons in a red shirt\" class=\"wp-image-799828\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-4-788x1609.jpg 788w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-4-752x1536.jpg 752w, https:\/\/media.theblast.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/richard-simmons-4-428x874.jpg 428w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 430px) 100px, 100vw\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">MEGA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>For those unaware, Simmons quietly stepped away from the general public eye around 2014. He stopped teaching, canceled appearances, and largely cut off communication with fans, sparking widespread concern and speculation. <\/p>\n<p>For years, his absence fueled rumors about his health, well-being, and private life, especially as someone who had built his profession on connection and accessibility. Those closest to him maintained that he simply wanted privacy, however the silence only deepened the mystery.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special\u201d premieres May 12 on ABC, with streaming available on Disney+ and Hulu starting May 13.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Richard Simmons\u2019 mysterious final days are back within the highlight, and now, someone who was there may be finally speaking out. Simmons was found dead at his Los Angeles home on July 13, 2024, just in the future after celebrating his 76th birthday. Based on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Richard Simmons\u2019 death was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":327731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[337],"tags":[506,1499,37252,2054,11974,507,12320],"class_list":["post-327730","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-breaks","tag-final","tag-housekeeper","tag-moments","tag-richard","tag-silence","tag-simmons"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327730","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=327730"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327730\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":327733,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/327730\/revisions\/327733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/327731"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=327730"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=327730"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=327730"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}