After 2014, Richard Simmons vanished from view. He was immensely popular in the 1980s. He refuted rumors that his housekeeper was holding him captive, but the rumors persisted.
He explained that no one was holding him against his will and that he was only taking advantage of some alone time. Nevertheless, his supporters began to worry about his safety as the days, months, and years went by without any public sightings.
However, now that Simmons’ 75th birthday has passed, everyone may exhale in relief as the fitness guru’s agent offered a rare update.
“This is a big milestone. I just want to see him happy, which he is,” Tom Estey told ET.
Estey’s update confirms what a buddy said in 2018 on Simmons’ 70th birthday.
“He’s doing very well. He’s his jovial self. He spends most of his time at home and in his yard,” the friend said. “He keeps up with his reading and does what he wants to do. He deserves this time to himself. Seventy years is a milestone but he doesn’t look at it that way.”
In 2014, Simmons ceased instructing at his gym and unexpectedly vanished from public view.
He called Today two years later to refute allegations that his housekeeper was holding him captive.
“No one is holding me in my house as a hostage,” he said at the time. “You know, I do what I want to do as I’ve always done so people should sort of just believe what I have to say because, like, I’m Richard Simmons!”
In order to recover from the injuries he sustained while instructing “thousands and thousands of classes,” Simmons said he intended to live alone for a period.
While in the hospital in 2017, the Sweatin’ to the Oldies star told his audience that he was “just a little under the weather.”
Simmons thanked his supporters on Facebook in the wake of the 2022 documentary that followed his whereabouts since becoming well-known and thanked them for their support.
“Thank you, everyone, for your kindness and love! Love, Richard.”
I once adored Richard Simmons. I’m relieved to hear that he’s doing well because I frequently worry about him.