Renowned fitness guru Richard Simmons, who inspired many to become active and embrace healthier lifestyles, passed away on Saturday at the age of 76.

Famous for his colorful tank tops and shorts, Simmons brought unparalleled energy to television as the charismatic clown of physical fitness. He had just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday.

Simmons’ publicist, Tom Estey, confirmed to The Associated Press that he died at his Los Angeles home. “We lost an Angel today – a true Angel,” Estey stated.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed that officers responded to a 911 call from Simmons’ home on Belfast Drive at 9:57 a.m. on Saturday.

“Upon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes. As a result, no hospital transport was necessary,” LAFD Captain Erik Scott said.

Just two days before his passing, Simmons reflected on his legacy, telling People, “I never thought of myself as a celebrity. People don’t know this – 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. The accolades I get from emails… today, we’ll answer over 100 emails. They’ll say, ‘I’m your No. 1 fan,’ and I just write back, ‘Don’t say that because I’m a human being just like you. And I know that you do good things, too.’”

Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, confirmed his death in a statement, urging people to remember Richard for the joy and love he brought to others. “We are in shock,” Lenny added. “Please respect the family at this difficult time.”

Tom Estey, Simmons’ longtime publicist, reiterated, “Today the World lost an Angel.”

A day before his passing, Simmons thanked everyone for the birthday wishes on social media. “Thank you… I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life!” he wrote. “I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday.” He signed off with “Love, Richard.”

Simmons, who was raised in New Orleans, struggled with weight issues from a young age, reaching nearly 200 pounds by age 15 and 268 pounds by high school graduation, as noted on his website.

From 1980 to 1984, he hosted “The Richard Simmons Show,” focusing on personal health and fitness. He also gained fame through his aerobic exercise videos, such as 1988’s “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” and its sequels in 1990 and 1991.

Simmons expanded his early success with frequent appearances on various TV shows, from “The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson” to game shows like “Match Game” and “The New Hollywood Squares.” He became a staple of late-night television during the ’90s and 2000s, appearing on shows hosted by Jay Leno and David Letterman.

Throughout his career, Simmons sold millions of workout videos. He owned a Beverly Hills exercise studio and restaurant frequented by celebrities like Barbra Streisand and Paul Newman.

After withdrawing from public life and revealing a skin illness in March 2024, speculation about Simmons’ health and well-being circulated. His death was initially reported by TMZ.

We are deeply saddened by this loss. May he rest in peace.