Richard Simmons
Encyclopedia
Milton Teagle Simmons (born July 12, 1948), known professionally as Richard Simmons, is an American fitness
personality
who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics
videos and DVDs and is known for his eccentric, outgoing and frequently flamboyant personality. Currently, he also provides the voice of Coach Salmons on the Disney Channel animated series Fish Hooks
.
Simmons began his career by opening a gym called Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California
, catering to the overweight, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. He became a cultural icon, often parodied, and a frequent guest of late night television talk shows such as The Late Show With David Letterman. Today, Simmons continues to promote health and has broadened his activities to include political activism, notably in support of a bill mandating non-competitive physical education in public schools as a part of the "No Child Left Behind" act.
. Simmons was born to show business parents and raised Catholic in the French Quarter
of New Orleans, Louisiana
. He attended Cor Jesu High School (now Brother Martin High School
). He was obese throughout his adolescence
and by the time he graduated from high school, he weighed 268 pounds
.
His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines at Leah's. After starting college at the University of Southwestern Louisiana
, he transferred to Florida State University
. While enrolled there, he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. He graduated with a BA
in Art. After graduation, Simmons moved to New York City
where he worked in advertising, as a waiter
, and for cosmetics companies Revlon
and Coty Cosmetics.
in the 1970s, Simmons worked as the Maître d'hotel
at Derek's, a restaurant in Beverly Hills
. He developed an interest in fitness, but was dissatisfied with the unhealthy fad diet methods and the established gym
s and exercise studios of the day which favored the already fit customer. It was his interest in fitness that helped him lose 123 lb (55.8 kg).
Simmons later opened his own exercise studio
, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where emphasis was placed on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise in a supportive atmosphere. The business originally included a salad bar
restaurant called "Ruffage," the name a pun
on the word roughage
(dietary fiber), though it was eventually removed as the focus of the Asylum shifted solely to exercise. Now called Slimmons, the establishment continues operations in Beverly Hills, and Simmons teaches motivational classes and aerobics
throughout the week.
On February 16, 2010, Simmons appeared on the Dr. Oz Show. At that time it was stated that Simmons has kept off his own 100+ pound weight loss for 42 years, has been helping others lose weight for 35 years, and that in the course of his fitness career has helped humanity lose approximately 12,000,000 pounds. Simmons now uses the web as a method of outreach by running his own membership based website, and also indicates on his home page that he has established official pages on numerous social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube.
where he was shown at work. He introduced customers whom he had helped to lose weight. He later made guest appearances on the celebrity game shows: Battlestars
, Body Language
, Super Password, the ABC
version of Match Game
, the syndicated version of Hollywood Squares
, Win, Lose or Draw
and Nickelodeon's
Figure It Out
.
Positive viewer reaction landed Simmons a recurring role as himself on the American soap opera
General Hospital, over a four-year period. This in turn led to further media notoriety, as well as personal appearances in shopping mall
s, where he taught exercise classes. In the early 1980s, Simmons hosted two shows; Slim Cookin, and an Emmy Award-winning talk show, The Richard Simmons Show, in which he focused on personal health, fitness, exercise, and healthy cooking.
Simmons has appeared as himself on numerous TV shows, including Whose Line Is It Anyway?
, CHiPs
, Saturday Night Live
, The Larry Sanders Show and on an episode of Arrested Development, "Bringing Up Buster
". In 1999, he hosted a short lived TV show called DreamMaker. Eight years later he filmed a pledge drive special for PBS, called Love Yourself And Win.
Simmons has been featured in TV advertisements for Sprint
, Yoplait
, Herbal Essence Shampoos,and toward the end of 2007, he appeared in a "This is SportsCenter
" commercial on ESPN
as the show's "conditioning coach." In Canada, Simmons appeared in an advertisement for Simmons
mattresses. The mattress company hired the exercise celebrity because of the similarity in name, and for his appeal to the company's target audience of women over 35. Beyond this, there is no further business partnership between the two.
For three years, he hosted a radio show on Sirius Stars, Sirius Satellite Radio
channel 102, called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons. The show is no longer in production.
crystals.
Simmons is known for interacting at a personal level with people using his products. This began by personally answering fan mail he received as a cast member of General Hospital
. Simmons still personally answers emails and letters, and makes hundreds of phone calls each week to those who seek his help. He also talked to people on the air during his radio show, and holds weekly live chats in the "clubhouse" area of his website. His appearances also include a "meet and greet" time, so that people can speak to him one on one.
Simmons claims to have few friends, saying "I don't have a lot to offer one person. I have a lot to offer to a lot of people." Aside from his three Dalmatians and two maids, Simmons lives alone in the Hollywood Hills. Although there has been frequent speculation about his sexual orientation
due to his campy
personality, Simmons has never publicly discussed his sexuality.
to discuss the effects of Hurricane Katrina
on his family in his hometown of New Orleans
and his involvement in aiding those affected by the hurricane. On August 29, 2006 Simmons appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto
while making a return visit to New Orleans one year after the flooding, a visit he repeated on March 2, 2007, now talking about his recent trip to Washington D.C. to promote and raise awareness about The Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007 (bill HR 1224).
Physical fitness
Physical fitness comprises two related concepts: general fitness , and specific fitness...
personality
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
videos and DVDs and is known for his eccentric, outgoing and frequently flamboyant personality. Currently, he also provides the voice of Coach Salmons on the Disney Channel animated series Fish Hooks
Fish Hooks
Fish Hooks is an American animated television series created by Noah Z. Jones. Twenty-one episodes have been ordered for the first season. It premiered on September 24, 2010. An 11-minute preview was shown on September 3, 2010, following the Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam...
.
Simmons began his career by opening a gym called Slimmons in Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, catering to the overweight, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. He became a cultural icon, often parodied, and a frequent guest of late night television talk shows such as The Late Show With David Letterman. Today, Simmons continues to promote health and has broadened his activities to include political activism, notably in support of a bill mandating non-competitive physical education in public schools as a part of the "No Child Left Behind" act.
Early life
Richard Simmons was born in New Orleans, LouisianaNew Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. Simmons was born to show business parents and raised Catholic in the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
of New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
. He attended Cor Jesu High School (now Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School
Brother Martin High School is an all-male, Catholic, university preparatory school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. It was established in 1869 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, establishing the school as St. Aloysius College...
). He was obese throughout his adolescence
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
and by the time he graduated from high school, he weighed 268 pounds
Pound (mass)
The pound or pound-mass is a unit of mass used in the Imperial, United States customary and other systems of measurement...
.
His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines at Leah's. After starting college at the University of Southwestern Louisiana
University of Louisiana at Lafayette
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette, is a coeducational, public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana...
, he transferred to Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. While enrolled there, he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. He graduated with a BA
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Art. After graduation, Simmons moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
where he worked in advertising, as a waiter
Waiter
Waiting staff, wait staff, or waitstaff are those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers — supplying them with food and drink as requested. Traditionally, a male waiting tables is called a "waiter" and a female a "waitress" with the gender-neutral version being a "server"...
, and for cosmetics companies Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
and Coty Cosmetics.
Fitness career
Upon moving to Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
in the 1970s, Simmons worked as the Maître d'hotel
Maître d'hôtel
The maître d’hôtel in the original French language is literally the "master of the hotel". In a suitably staffed restaurant or hotel, it is the person in charge of assigning customers to tables and dividing the dining area into areas of responsibility for the various servers on duty. The plural...
at Derek's, a restaurant in Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
. He developed an interest in fitness, but was dissatisfied with the unhealthy fad diet methods and the established gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
s and exercise studios of the day which favored the already fit customer. It was his interest in fitness that helped him lose 123 lb (55.8 kg).
Simmons later opened his own exercise studio
Health club
A health club is a place which houses exercise equipment for the purpose of physical exercise.-Main workout area:...
, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where emphasis was placed on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise in a supportive atmosphere. The business originally included a salad bar
Salad bar
A salad bar is a buffet-style table or counter at a restaurant or food market on which salad components are provided for customers to assemble their own salad plates...
restaurant called "Ruffage," the name a pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
on the word roughage
Dietary fiber
Dietary fiber, dietary fibre, or sometimes roughage is the indigestible portion of plant foods having two main components:* soluble fiber that is readily fermented in the colon into gases and physiologically active byproducts, and* insoluble fiber that is metabolically inert, absorbing water as it...
(dietary fiber), though it was eventually removed as the focus of the Asylum shifted solely to exercise. Now called Slimmons, the establishment continues operations in Beverly Hills, and Simmons teaches motivational classes and aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
throughout the week.
On February 16, 2010, Simmons appeared on the Dr. Oz Show. At that time it was stated that Simmons has kept off his own 100+ pound weight loss for 42 years, has been helping others lose weight for 35 years, and that in the course of his fitness career has helped humanity lose approximately 12,000,000 pounds. Simmons now uses the web as a method of outreach by running his own membership based website, and also indicates on his home page that he has established official pages on numerous social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and YouTube.
Media appearances
Simmons began to draw media attention due to the success of his health club that began with an appearance on the television show Real PeopleReal People
Real People is an NBC reality television series that aired from 1979 to 1984, on Wednesday and then Sunday nights. Its initial episodes aired live in the Eastern and Central Time Zones.-Synopsis:...
where he was shown at work. He introduced customers whom he had helped to lose weight. He later made guest appearances on the celebrity game shows: Battlestars
Battlestars (game show)
Battlestars is an American game show that aired for two separate runs on NBC during the early 1980s. The show's first run aired from October 26, 1981 to April 23, 1982...
, Body Language
Body Language (game show)
Body Language is an American game show produced by Mark Goodson Productions. The show aired on CBS from June 4, 1984 until January 3, 1986, and was hosted by Tom Kennedy...
, Super Password, the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
version of Match Game
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
, the syndicated version of Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares
Hollywood Squares is an American panel game show in which two contestants play tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The "board" for the game is a 3 × 3 vertical stack of open-faced cubes, each occupied by a celebrity seated at a desk and facing the contestants...
, Win, Lose or Draw
Win, Lose or Draw
Win, Lose or Draw is an American television game show that aired from 1987 to 1990 in syndication and on NBC. It was taped at CBS Television City, often in Studios 31, 33, and 43 at various times...
and Nickelodeon's
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
Figure It Out
Figure It Out
Figure It Out is an American children's game show hosted by Summer Sanders that aired on Nickelodeon for four seasons from July 7, 1997 to December 12, 1999....
.
Positive viewer reaction landed Simmons a recurring role as himself on the American soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
General Hospital, over a four-year period. This in turn led to further media notoriety, as well as personal appearances in shopping mall
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
s, where he taught exercise classes. In the early 1980s, Simmons hosted two shows; Slim Cookin, and an Emmy Award-winning talk show, The Richard Simmons Show, in which he focused on personal health, fitness, exercise, and healthy cooking.
Simmons has appeared as himself on numerous TV shows, including Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway?
Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run...
, CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
, Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, The Larry Sanders Show and on an episode of Arrested Development, "Bringing Up Buster
Bringing Up Buster
"Bringing Up Buster" is the third episode of the American television series Arrested Development.-Plot:Michael is making cornballs for breakfast in preparation for another tradition: the Sunday bike ride. However, George Michael is ambivalent about the plan...
". In 1999, he hosted a short lived TV show called DreamMaker. Eight years later he filmed a pledge drive special for PBS, called Love Yourself And Win.
Simmons has been featured in TV advertisements for Sprint
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
, Yoplait
Yoplait
Yoplait is a brand of yogurt produced by a company owned by two French holdings, SODIAAL and PAI Partners.-History:In 1964, 100,000 French farmers merged their regional dairy cooperatives to sell nationally. In 1965, two co-ops, "Yola" and "Coplait", merged, becoming "Yoplait"...
, Herbal Essence Shampoos,and toward the end of 2007, he appeared in a "This is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter
This is SportsCenter is the name of a series of comical television commercials run by ESPN to promote their SportsCenter sports news show. The ads are presented in a deadpan mockumentary style, lampooning various aspects of sports, and sports broadcasting. The commercials debuted in 1994...
" commercial on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
as the show's "conditioning coach." In Canada, Simmons appeared in an advertisement for Simmons
Simmons Bedding Company
Simmons Bedding Company is a major manufacturer of mattresses and related bedding products. The company is founded in 1870. Simmons' flagship brand is Beautyrest, and it is one of the oldest companies of this type in the USA. According to a Simmons press release, net sales for 2005 were $855...
mattresses. The mattress company hired the exercise celebrity because of the similarity in name, and for his appeal to the company's target audience of women over 35. Beyond this, there is no further business partnership between the two.
For three years, he hosted a radio show on Sirius Stars, Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio
Sirius Satellite Radio is a satellite radio service operating in North America, owned by Sirius XM Radio.Headquartered in New York City, with smaller studios in Los Angeles and Memphis, Sirius was officially launched on July 1, 2002 and currently provides 69 streams of music and 65 streams of...
channel 102, called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons. The show is no longer in production.
- Simmons was a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show in the 1990s. While he resolved at one point to refuse future appearances after Stern insulted him one too many times, he finally reappeared on Stern's show on November 16, 2006.
- Simmons was also a frequent guest on Late Night with David LettermanLate Night with David LettermanLate Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
(NBC) and The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS). On November 22, 2000, they had a falling out after an incident that occurred on that night's show. Simmons (while dressed as a turkey) was sprayed in the face by Letterman with a fire extinguisher after Simmons grabbed Letterman as if to hug or kiss him, causing Simmons to have a severe asthma attack. Simmons did not appear on the Letterman show for six years, finally returning on November 29, 2006. During that appearance, Letterman once again set Simmons up for a prank. While Richard Simmons was demonstrating a steamer branded with his name, Letterman insisted on placing a tray under the steamer which Simmons did not believe belonged there. When Simmons turned the steamer on, something in the tray exploded and caught fire. Simmons took the incident in fairly good nature, even joking that he "felt like Michael Jackson" (referring to a mishap where Jackson's hair was set on fire by a pyrotechnics accident). - Simmons also appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He and LenoJay LenoJames Douglas Muir "Jay" Leno is an American stand-up comedian and television host.From 1992 to 2009, Leno was the host of NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Beginning in September 2009, Leno started a primetime talk show, titled The Jay Leno Show, which aired weeknights at 10:00 p.m. ,...
went door-to-door to market Simmons' health program, only to have people spew as many insults at him as they could. - Simmons appeared as a guest on the U.S. versionWhose Line Is It Anyway? (U.S. TV series)Whose Line is it Anyway? is a comedy improv show hosted by Drew Carey on ABC that ran from August 5, 1998 to September 4, 2004, and subsequently on ABC Family since 2005...
of Whose Line Is It Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway?Whose Line Is It Anyway? is a short-form improvisational comedy TV show. Originally a British radio programme, it moved to television in 1988 as a series made for the UK's Channel 4, for a 10 series run... - Simmons appears on tracks 1 and 10 of Bob RiversBob RiversBob Rivers is a well-known American rock and roll radio on air personality in the Pacific Northwest as well as a prolific producer of parody songs, most famous for his Christmas song parodies....
's 1997 holiday album More Twisted ChristmasMore Twisted ChristmasMore Twisted Christmas is the third Christmas album by Bob Rivers. It was released in 1997, four years after I Am Santa Claus, and three years before Chipmunks Roasting On an Open Fire...
. - Simmons has appeared multiple times on The Glenn Beck ProgramGlenn Beck (TV program)Glenn Beck is a United States cable news show hosted by Glenn Beck that aired weekdays on Fox News Channel. The program, originally on CNN Headline News , premiered on FNC on January 19, 2009 and aired weekdays at 5:00 PM EST...
on HLN. - Simmons is featured heavily in the film clip of 'Hawker Boat' by TobaccoTobacco (musician)Thomas Fec, better known by the alias Tobacco, is an American electronic musician. He is the frontman of the band Black Moth Super Rainbow, in addition to working as a solo artist; in both settings he works most conspicuously with pre-digital electronic instruments such as analog synthesizers and...
, taken from the album Fucked Up FriendsFucked Up FriendsFucked Up Friends is the first album by Pennsylvania based artist Tobacco, released on October 14, 2008. It is Tobacco's first album as a solo artist away from his regular band Black Moth Super Rainbow. The album is regarded to have an edgier sound than his normal work with Black Moth Super Rainbow...
. - Simmons provided the voice for Coach Salmons, a reoccurring character modeled after his own likeness, for the first season of Disney Channel's animated television series Fish HooksFish HooksFish Hooks is an American animated television series created by Noah Z. Jones. Twenty-one episodes have been ordered for the first season. It premiered on September 24, 2010. An 11-minute preview was shown on September 3, 2010, following the Disney Channel Original Movie, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam...
, a Disney Channel Original Series that premiered on September 24, 2010. On December 8, 2010, it was announced that the show has been picked up for a second season. - In 2011, Simmons starred in "Fit to Fly with Richard Simmons", an Air New ZealandAir New ZealandAir New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
inflight safety briefing video modeled after his aerobic workouts.
Personality
Simmons is noted for his flamboyant, high-energy, motivational demeanor, an attribute he uses to help encourage people to lose weight. His high energy level is always featured in his workout videos. His trademark attire is candy-striped Dolfin shorts and tank tops decorated with SwarovskiSwarovski
Swarovski is the brand name for a range of precisely-cut crystal and related luxury products produced by Swarovski AG of Wattens, Austria...
crystals.
Simmons is known for interacting at a personal level with people using his products. This began by personally answering fan mail he received as a cast member of General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
. Simmons still personally answers emails and letters, and makes hundreds of phone calls each week to those who seek his help. He also talked to people on the air during his radio show, and holds weekly live chats in the "clubhouse" area of his website. His appearances also include a "meet and greet" time, so that people can speak to him one on one.
Simmons claims to have few friends, saying "I don't have a lot to offer one person. I have a lot to offer to a lot of people." Aside from his three Dalmatians and two maids, Simmons lives alone in the Hollywood Hills. Although there has been frequent speculation about his sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
due to his campy
Camp (style)
Camp is an aesthetic sensibility that regards something as appealing because of its taste and ironic value. The concept is closely related to kitsch, and things with camp appeal may also be described as being "cheesy"...
personality, Simmons has never publicly discussed his sexuality.
Hurricane Katrina response
In September 2005 Simmons appeared on Entertainment TonightEntertainment Tonight
Entertainment Tonight is a daily tabloid television entertainment television news show that is syndicated by CBS Television Distribution throughout the United States, Canada and in many countries around the world. Linda Bell Blue is currently the program's executive producer...
to discuss the effects of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
on his family in his hometown of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and his involvement in aiding those affected by the hurricane. On August 29, 2006 Simmons appeared on Your World with Neil Cavuto
Your World with Neil Cavuto
Your World with Neil Cavuto , which debuted as the Cavuto Business Report on the network's launch in 1996, is an American business television program appearing on Fox News Channel.-About the program:...
while making a return visit to New Orleans one year after the flooding, a visit he repeated on March 2, 2007, now talking about his recent trip to Washington D.C. to promote and raise awareness about The Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007 (bill HR 1224).
Books
- Never Say Diet ISBN 0-517-40284-X
- Never Say Diet Cookbook
- The Better Body Book
- Reach for Fitness: A Special Book of Exercises for the Physically Challenged Warner Books 1986 ISBN 0-446-51302-4
- Deal-A-Meal Cookbook
- Richard Simmons' Never Give Up: Inspirations, Reflections, Stories of Hope Warner Books, 1984 ISBN 0-446-60085-7
- Farewell to Fat Atlantic Books 2002 ISBN 1-57719-102-1
- Sweetie Pie
- Still Hungry After All These Years: My Story Gt Pub Corp 1999 ISBN 1-57719-356-3
- The FoodMover Cookbook
- Cookin' on Broadway
- Steam Away the Pounds
Audio cassette
- Project Me (six tape set)
- Sweatin' and Sharin
- Colors of Your Life (single tape)
- Colors of Your Life (six tape set)
- Secrets of the Winners (single tape)
- Take a Walk
- Take a Hike
- Take a Classical Walk
- Walk Across America
- Walkin' on Broadway
- Walk Around the World
- Never Give Up (book on tape, read by Simmons)
Compact discs
- Richard Picks the Hits, Volume 1
- Richard Picks the Hits, Volume 2
- Country Cardio
- Oh Happy Day
- Fitness Fiesta
- Wicked Workout
- Big Screen Burn
- Shimmy Into Shape
- In the Mood to Lose
- Classical Chillout
Digital Compact Cassette
- Colors of Your Life (single tape) (Goodtimes Entertainment, BASF 90 Min. 1998)
DVDs
- Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes
- Disco Sweat
- 60's Blast Off
- 80's Blast Off
- SuperSweatin': Party Off the Pounds
- SuperTonin': Totally Tonin
- SuperTonin': Totally Tonin' with Toning Rings
- Sit Tight
- Sweatin' to the Oldies
- Sweatin' to the Oldies 2
- Sweatin' to the Oldies 3
- Sweatin' to the Oldies 4
- Sweatin' to the Oldies 5
- Love Yourself and Win
- Boogie Down the Pounds
- Tonin' to the Oldies
Video cassette
- Everyday with Richard Simmons
- The Stomach Formula
- Get Started
- Reach for Fitness
- Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes
- Sweatin' to the Oldies
- Sweatin' to the Oldies 2
- Sweatin' to the Oldies 3
- Sweat and Shout (also sold as Sweatin to the Oldies 4)
- Day By Day (Volumes 1-12)
- Pump and Sweat
- Step and Sweat
- Tone and Sweat
- Disco Sweat
- Stretchin' to the Classics
- Dance Your Pants Off!
- Tonin' Uptown
- Tonin' Downtown
- Groovin' In The House
- The Ab Formula
- No Ifs Ands or Butts
- Love to Stretch
- Blast Off
- Broadway Sweat
- Tone Up On Broadway
- Broadway Blast Off
- Platinum Sweat
- Sit Tight
- Latin Blast Off (also marketed as Sudar Mucho)
- Mega Mix Blast Off
- Mega Mix 2 Blast Off
- Disco Blast Off
- 60's Blast Off
- 80's Blast Off
- Blast and Tone
External links
- The official Richard Simmons website
- Richard Simmons is a Diet and Fitness Coach at AOL CoachesAOLAOL Inc. is an American global Internet services and media company. AOL is headquartered at 770 Broadway in New York. Founded in 1983 as Control Video Corporation, it has franchised its services to companies in several nations around the world or set up international versions of its services...
- Richard Simmons talks about how to remain motivated at Lemondrop.com