Fitness icon Richard Simmons’ death has been ruled accidental due to complications from falls and heart disease. His family thanks fans for their love and support.
Bollywood Fever: Richard Simmons‘ death has been officially ruled as accidental, his brother Lenny Simmons exclusively told PEOPLE on Wednesday, August 21.
The Simmons family spokesperson, Tom Estey, issued a statement confirming that Lenny received a call from the Los Angeles Coroner’s office, informing him that Richard’s death was due to complications from recent falls, with heart disease as a contributing factor.
“The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed,” Estey noted.
The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.
The beloved fitness guru was found deceased on July 13 by his longtime housekeeper, just one day after celebrating his 76th birthday.
Although the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that “there is no foul play,” the cause of death was initially deferred pending further testing.
Earlier reports indicated that Simmons had fallen at his home on July 12 after feeling dizzy. He reportedly told his housekeeper that he might seek medical care the following day if his symptoms persisted.
“The world has truly lost an angel,” Estey told PEOPLE.
In a conversation with PEOPLE just two days before his passing, Simmons shared his plans for celebrating his 76th birthday, joking that he would blow out a candle, but “the candle will probably be on a zucchini,” he quipped, referencing his vegetarian lifestyle. Simmons expressed his gratitude for life, saying, “I feel good! I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day. I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people.”
Reflecting on his life, Simmons humbly remarked, “I never thought of myself as a celebrity. People don’t know this, but I’m really a shy person and a little bit of an introvert. But when that curtain goes up, that’s a different story. I’m there to make people happy.”
Lenny Simmons previously shared with PEOPLE, “I don’t want people to be sad about my brother. I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives. He truly cared about people. He called, wrote, and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help.”
Richard Simmons’ legacy as a fitness icon and a compassionate individual who touched countless lives will be remembered by many.
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