Falls, heart disease cited as causes of Richard Simmons’ accidental death, family says

Fitness guru Richard Simmons died accidentally due to complications from recent falls and heart disease, a spokesperson for his family said Wednesday.

Family spokesperson Tom Estey confirmed the cause and manner of death, pointing NBC News to a statement initially provided to People magazine, which broke the news of the reasons underlying Simmons’ death.

The statement cites the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, which it said called Simmons’ brother, Lenny, with the news on Wednesday.

Toxicology testing revealed Simmons’ body contained only medications the fitness guru had been prescribed, Estey said in the statement.

A spokesperson for the medical examiner’s office said it would distribute information on the cause and manner of death when Simmons’ autopsy report is finalized, but offered no specific date or time.

Simmons was found unresponsive on July 13 at his home in the Hollywood Hills, a city neighborhood overlooking Los Angeles, one day after his 76th birthday, two law enforcement sources said at the time.

The guru rose to fame after facing struggles with his own weight and health, turning his 268 pounds into 156 — and a reason to fight obesity for a lifetime. He said that in the early 1970s in Los Angeles it was hard for him to find a gym for people who weren’t already fit.

Simmons established his own gym, SLIMMONS, in 1974, and his own restaurant, Ruffage, as well as adjoining exercise studio, Anatomy Asylum, the next year. They attracted celebrities, and that attracted television, video productions and Simmons’ own stardom.

His fitness proselytizing included mass media products: “The Richard Simmons Show” on TV and “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” on VHS.

On March 20, Simmons said on social media he had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer. He followed up with a statement saying it had been resolved through three procedures with a cancer specialist.