Richard Simmons acknowledged his legion of fans in an emotional interview just two days before his death at age 76 on Saturday.
Simmons spoke with People On Thursday, one day before celebrating his 76th birthday and two days before his death at his home in Los Angeles.
At the conclusion of the interview, the outlet told the fitness entrepreneur that he had been “missed” after keeping a low profile for the past decade, and asked if he understood the affection fans had for him.
“I know people miss me,” Simmons told the outlet. “And you know what? I miss them, too. But I can communicate with them through phone calls… and emails.”
Simmons also revealed in her final interview that she had gone public hiding her appearance.
Richard Simmons acknowledged his legion of fans in an emotional interview just two days before his death at age 76 on Saturday. Photographed in August 2013 in Los Angeles
The fitness entrepreneur was photographed at a March 1999 event at the University of Nebraska.
“I do go out sometimes,” Simmons said. “But I wear a costume.”
The outlet reported that the interview with Simmons just before his passing was his first since 2014, the year he stopped making public appearances.
The New Orleans-born star, who had been a fixture on television promoting her ventures in the fitness industry (including studios, books, weight-loss programs and videos), had been at the center of speculation over the past decade after she stopped making public appearances, fueling speculation about her safety and well-being.
Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason she retreated from the public eye was a knee surgery she had undergone and a second knee surgery she had refused to undergo.
Simmons told People on Thursday that she also had a skin cancer scare after undergoing a procedure to remove it earlier this year.
“Basal cell carcinoma was a scary thing,” Simmons said of the disease. “But it never came back.”
Simmons told the outlet that she strives to spread optimism and positivity to those facing similar health challenges.
“There are a lot of people who have cancer,” Simmons said. “I call them, I sing to them: ‘You’re going to get through this. You just have to believe it.'”
Sources close to the late celebrity told the outlet that the reason he retired from public life was a knee surgery he had undergone and a second knee surgery he had refused to undergo. Photographed in New York in 2006
Simmons told the outlet that he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months. Pictured in October 2013
Simmons told the outlet that he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months.
“I’ve written 14 songs for a Broadway show,” he said. “And I’m working with an incredible man: Patrick Leonard. I don’t know if you know his name, but he wrote music for Madonna and Elton John. He’s one of the greats.”
“We talk a couple of times a week. I write the lyrics and he writes the music. The whole show is about my life, from selling chocolates in a candy store in New Orleans as a kid until I decided to retire.”
Simmons had been gradually re-emerging his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with fans.
She told People on Thursday: “Today is a beautiful day, but nothing is really different. I got up this morning, said my prayers, counted my blessings and then went to work.
“You know, I write messages, I answer emails… and when the email is really extreme, I ask for their numbers and I call them. It feels really good because I’m helping people.”
Her last social media post was on Saturday, quoting a line from the 1968 musical comedy Funny Girl.
Simmons had been gradually re-emerging in her public role, communicating via X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with fans. Photographed in August 2013
When Simmons was asked about his low-key interactions with his fans, he told the outlet that his measure of success was the number of people he had provided assistance and inspiration to.
“Well, when I decided to retire, it was because my body told me I needed to retire,” Simmons said. “I’ve spent time just reflecting on my life. All the books I wrote, the videos.
“I never thought, ‘Look what I’ve done.’ I was interested in, ‘Look how many people I’ve helped.'”
