Richard Simmons: a look back at some of his best moments

He was born 'Milton Teagle Simmons' on July 12th, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was an original with a huge personality and was unmistakable with his curly hair, golden tan, striped short shorts, and sparkly tank tops.

As a child and into adolescence, he became aware of how he was negatively perceived due to being overweight. At his heaviest, he weighed 270 lbs. He used this experience to transform his own health and build an enduring career.

As a fitness guru, personal trainer, and motivational speaker, Simmons devoted his time to helping others lose weight, feel better, and live healthier lives.

When he moved to California, he noticed how the fitness studios of the time were filled with people who were maintaining an already fit physique. He wanted to develop spaces for people in need of weight loss support and motivation.

He opened 'Slimmons,' a gym where he taught fitness classes and motivated his clients for decades until the gym closed in 2016.

If you were around in the 1980s, you remember Simmons'popular aerobics videos which featured him leading high-energy, motivating classes with participants of all shapes and sizes.

His books covered a variety of topics including weight loss, fitness, healthy cooking, motivation, self-help, and his own personal story.

Simmons regularly made appearances on daytime television programs offering health and exercise tips with his sense of humour and joyful disposition.

Simmons was a frequent guest on 'Late Night with David Letterman.' The comedic pair shared an antagonistic relationship featuring sometimes risky pranks and hilarious antics.

During a memorable appearance on Letterman's show in 2006, Letterman sent Simmons running when a vegetable steamer exploded in front of him.

Over the years, Simmons gave us comedic performances on popular television series including 'Amazing Stories,' 'General Hospital,' 'Arrested Development, and 'Whose Line is it Anyway?'.

Simmons used his voice and personal experiences to share the importance of physical education for all children in American schools.

Although Simmons all but disappeared from public life since 2014, he continued to reach out to his friends, fans, and those seeking his help via email and social media.

Simmons was interviewed for People magazine just 2 days before his death. The interview provided Simmons an opportunity to review his many life accomplishments.

In his recent interview with People magazine, Simmons shared his belief that, 'kindness lives inside of all of us, you just have to let it out.'

Comedian Pauly Shore has been working to launch the project in which he will portray Simmons. Unfortunately, Simmons shared that he had not endorsed the film and said that he wished to tell his own story. In light of his passing, fans are hopeful that the biopic will do justice to the legacy of the beloved, larger-than-life, Richard Simmons.

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