Investigation Launched Into Richard Simmons’ Cause of Death

Days after authorities said he had a “natural death,” the passing of fitness guru Richard Simmons is now under investigation.

According to People, the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner’s office said on July 15, it deferred Simmons’ autopsy report, meaning an investigation and additional testing are required.

The investigation could take up to three months.

Simmons died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday, July 13. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to his home in the Hollywood Hills at 9:55 a.m. At that time, the fire department said he died from natural causes.

Simmons had just turned 76 a day before, and celebrated by thanking fans for their well-wishes on his verified Facebook page.

“So many of you have sent me birthday wishes on my Facebook and other platforms. I really appreciate that. I don’t know when your birthday is but I wish you a happy and healthy birthday!” he wrote.

Two days before his death, he spoke to People in his final interview.

“I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day,” he said. “I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people.”

Born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948, he graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and moved to Los Angeles in the 1970s.

Simmons, who had been overweight, eventually decided to get fit. He built a fitness empire by encouraging people struggling with their weight to exercise, eat healthier, and focus on a positive attitude. He released fitness DVDs, wrote cookbooks, and started a “Cruise to Lose,” taking fans on ship journeys to better health.

After becoming a household name, Simmons left public life in 2014, causing many fans to wonder what happened to him.

Following the release of the 2022 documentary “TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons,” the fitness legend broke his silence to thank fans for their continued support.

In March of this year, Simmons revealed he was being treated for skin cancer.

After undergoing three rounds of treatment, he posted an update writing: “We got all the cancer cells out.”