The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special (2026) Movie Script
1
TONIGHT, INSIDE A MYSTERY.
WHAT HAPPENED TO
RICHARD SIMMONS?
WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR
SUPPORT FROM OTHERS.
AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET IT.
THAT'S WHY GOD MADE ME.
HIS EXPLOSIVE ROCKET RIDE.
YOU ARE LOVED BY OH SO MANY!
AMERICA'S LEASLIKELY SUPERSTAR.
IT'S SWEATIN' TIME!
THIS IS THE HIGHEST SELLING
VIDEOTAPE IN THE HISTORY
OF HOME VIDEO SALES.
THE MAN WHO GAVE HOPE TO
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
DESPERATE FOR HELP.
YOU'VE MADE ME LIVE AGAIN.
WHY DID HE BOUNCE HIGHER
AND HIGHER, AND THEN ONE
DAY ALL OF A SUDDEN VANISH
FOR AN ENTIRE DECADE?
AND THEN IT JUST GOT REAL QUIET.
WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN.
WHERE IN THE WORLD
IS RICHARD SIMMONS?
THE FITNESS CELEBRITY
REPORTEDLY HASN'T BEEN SEEN
BY EVEN HIS CLOSESFRIENDS FOR YEARS.
AND HERE'S HOW I BECAME
PART OF THE STORY.
AFTER 10 YEARS HIDING IN
THIS HOUSE IN HOLLYWOOD,
RICHARD SIMMONS CALLED ME.
SENDING ROSES, VASE AFTER
VASE, ALL WITH THE SAME NOTE,
HE SAID HE WAS FINALLY READY
TO EMERGE AND TELL HIS STORY.
I WAS ABOUT TO FLY
OUT TO MEET HIM.
AND THEN...
FITNESS GURU RICHARD SIMMONS
HAS DIED IN LOS ANGELES JUSONE DAY AFTER TURNING 76.
RUMORS RECENTLY SWIRLING
ABOUT SIMMONS' HEALTH.
AND IT WAS SO SUDDEN THEY SAID
THEY HAD TO BE IN AUTOPSY.
THE CORONER CALLED US AND SAID,
"WE GOT THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT."
SO TONIGHT WE GO IN
SEARCH OF ANSWERS.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE 10 YEARS?
WHY WAS HE AFRAID TO BE
SEEN BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD?
AND WHAT WILL THE ONE PERSON
WHO LIVED INSIDE THAT HOUSE
WITH HIM FOR A DECADE SAY
ABOUT THE FINAL DAYS?
- OKAY, THIS IS THE FIRSTIME I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS.
THE GATES OPEN.
THIS IS THE HOUSE THACONCEALED THE DARK MYSTERY.
THE TEN-YEAR DISAPPEARANCE
OF RICHARD SIMMONS.
HIS HIDDEN WORLD
EXACTLY AS HE LEFT IT.
NO ONE HAS LIVED HERE SINCE.
HIS BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW
HAVE AGREED TO LET ME IN.
- HELLO. -HELLO.
- HI. -COME IN.
- DIANE. -WELCOME
TO RICHARD'S HOME
I MEET LENNY SIMMONS, JUSFIVE FEET OF SUNNY ENERGY.
ENERGY LIKE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.
LENNY'S WIFE KATHY SAYS RICHARD
HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUOUR PLAN TO DO AN INTERVIEW.
HE WOULD CALL.
GUESS WHO I TALKED TO TODAY?
HE WAS SO EXCITED.
AND SO I GET MY FIRST LOOK ARICHARD SIMMONS' HIDDEN WORLD.
IT'S NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
ABOVE, VAULTED CEILINGS SKY
BLUE WITH FLUFFY CLOUDS.
ALL AROUND, ANGELS
WITH WINGS AND DOLLS.
A KIND OF TIME CAPSULE OF
CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE AND SAFETY.
- I THINK HE COLLECTED
BECAUSE IT MADE HIM HAPPY.
- AS A KID AT CHRISTMAS,
HE WOULD GET THE PACKAGE,
RIP THAT OPEN, AND, "WHERE
AM I GOING TO PUT THIS?"
SOME OF THE DOLLS ARE
LARGE, SOME ARE EERIE.
COLLECTORS' ITEMS
MADE BY ARTISTS.
WE'LL SHOW YOU MORE
OF HIS HOUSE LATER,
INCLUDING THE WALLS
LINED WITH MEMORIES,
PHOTOS OF THAT UNHAPPY LITTLE
BOY AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WHO, AGAINST ALL ODDS,
TURNED HIMSELF INTO A
KIND OF HUMAN DISCO BALL.
LET'S START AGAIN WITH THOSE
TAPES WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES
WOULD GROSS MORE THAN $200
MILLION, SMASHING RECORDS.
BY 1980, RICHARD SIMMONS
HAD ALSO BECOME A
SURPRISING TV POWERHOUSE.
I WANT YOU TO GET UP
BRIGHT AND EARLY FOR THE
RICHARD SIMMONS SHOW.
THE RATINGS HIT ON
EVERY SHOW, EVERYWHERE.
PLEASE WELCOME A MAN
WHOSE SHORTS LEAD NOTHING
TO THE IMAGINATION.
PLEASE WELCOME THE
ONE, THE ONLY...
RICHARD SIMMONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING DOOR
TO DOOR, TALKING TO PEOPLE
ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS, AND
LOOK WHO I BROUGHT WITH ME.
COME ON.
HI.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF THIS DOESN'T BRING THE
COPS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL.
FROM DAVID LETTERMAN TO SATURDAY
NIGHT LIVE WITH MIKE MYERS.
IT'S RICHARD SIMMONS!
[SCREAMING]
OH MY GOSH!
AND SOMEHOW THE TINY GUY WITH
THE BILLOWING HALO OF CURLY HAIR
TOOK HIS PLACE ALONGSIDE
THE GOLIATHS OF FITNESS.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
- THE MOST SATISFYING FEELING
YOU CAN GET IN THE GYM
IS THE PUMP.
- AND WHAT ABOUT JANE FONDA
WITH HER 25-INCH WAIST?
- ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, DOWN.
- THEY WERE ALL PERFECT LOOKING.
THEY WERE BREATHTAKING.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE I
LOOK LIKE A POTATO.
- A POTATO WITH A
POTENT SUPERPOWER.
LOOK AT THE DANCERS
BEHIND JANE FONDA.
NOW, LOOK AT THE DANCERS
BEHIND RICHARD SIMMONS.
HE WAS INVITING
EVERYONE TO THE PARTY.
TO DANCE LIKE YOU WOULD
HAVE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
PROM YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.
LIKE THE LITTLE GIRL WHO
PUTS A PROM DRESS ON AND
COMES DOWN THE STAIRS,
SHE JUST WANTS SOMEONE TO
TELL HER SHE LOOKS PRETTY.
WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR
SUPPORT FROM OTHERS,
FROM A SPOUSE, FROM
CHILDREN, FROM PARENTS.
AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET IT.
THAT'S WHY GOD MADE ME.
IT WAS HIS IDEA FROM
THE VERY START.
WE FOUND THIS OLD NEWS
FOOTAGE OF AN UNKNOWN GUY
IN HIS 20S WITH A LITTLE
FITNESS STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES.
I POOLED MY MONEY
TOGETHER, $25,000,
AND I OPENED THE EXERCISE SUITE
HE CONDUCTS SPECIAL
CLASSES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE
MUCH HEAVIER THAN HIM.
AND IT'S A WAY OF SAYING,
"YOU'RE 400 POUNDS,
AND I'M 400 POUNDS.
YOU FAILED ON DIET,
AND I FAILED ON DIET.
BUT NOW RICHARD CARES, AND
WE'RE GOING TO BUST OUR
CHOPS AND DO IT TOGETHER."
COME ON, MOVE IT!
SOME OF THEM DON'T PAY.
SOME OF THEM ARE NOT MARRIED,
HAVE CHILDREN, OR DIVORCED,
OR NO ONE CARES ABOUT THEM.
AND THEY CAN'T GET HIRED FOR
JOBS IF YOU'RE 400 POUNDS.
YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED.
I JUST LOVE THESE PEOPLE.
BACK, BACK, GO AWAY.
GIVE IT ALL TO DORIS DAY.
I'M JUST OUTRAGEOUS.
I THINK BEING OUTRAGEOUS IS
GREAT AND I THINK THAT ANYBODY
OUT THERE, IF THEY HAVEN'TRIED IT, GO BUY SOME.
HE ALSO SAID LAUGHTER IS THE
BEGINNING OF HOPE AND HIS
MISSION WAS TO MAKE YOU LOVE
YOURSELF JUST ENOUGH TO
FIGHT YOUR WAY BACK TO HELL.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE,
RICHARD SAID, "OKAY, I WANYOU TO TOUCH YOUR TOES."
AND I WENT.
AND THAT WAS IT.
AND TEN WEEKS LATER,
I'M DOING THIS.
RICHARD SAVED MY LIFE.
BEFORE I CAME HERE, I
LITERALLY COULDN'T MOVE.
I COULD BARELY WALK UP THE
STAIRS TO MY APARTMENT.
WHICH IS HOW HE BECAME THE
FITNESS KING WHO CREATED...
STRETCH AND STRETCH.
...EXERCISE TAPES
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
AGAIN, STRETCH.
HE ALSO MADE EXERCISE
TAPES FOR THE DISABLED.
FOUR, FIVE, NOW
TAKE IT FOR FOUR.
ONE. RICHARD SIMMONS WAS THE
KIND OF CELEBRITY MOTIVATOR
WHO CALLED HIS CLIENTS AT HOME
TO KEEP THEM FROM GIVING UP.
I WANT YOU TO MEET SOMEONE
WHO SAW A LOT OF RESULTS.
ELIJAH JONES, HE WAS
ALMOST 500 POUNDS.
ELIJAH JONES HAS
LOST 300 POUNDS.
MY FRIEND, ELIJAH JONES.
YOUR TOP WEIGHT WAS?
6'12". 6'12".
YEAH. AND YOU HAVE LOST NOW?
301 POUNDS I LOST.
AND WHEN RICHARD SIMMONS
SHOWED UP IN SMALL
TOWNS ACROSS AMERICA, THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE STORMED THE
MALL, COVERED BY LOCAL NEWS.
HIS LONGTIME MANAGER AND
FRIEND, MICHAEL CATALANO,
TRAVELED WITH HIM.
FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE?
AND HE LOVED IT BECAUSE IT WAS
FREE, EVERYONE WAS WELCOME.
YOU KNOW, RICHARD WAS
ABOUT INCLUSIVITY WAY
BEFORE IT BECAME POPULAR.
I MEAN, HE WANTED
EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE
EXERCISED THIS MORNING?
RAISE YOUR HAND.
[CHEERING]
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A MINISTRY,
LIKE A PRIEST OR A MINISTER
WOULD HAVE A MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
AND AGAIN, HE TOOK
IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
MAYBE I CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
MAYBE THIS IS THE MISSION
THAT GOD HAS FOR ME.
AND MAYBE A MISSION THAT WOULD
HELP HEAL THE DEEP WOUNDS
INSIDE A LITTLE BOY
AN UNDERLYING THEME IN RICHARD'S
LIFE IS, YOU KNOW, INSECURITY.
AND IN A WAY, THE
INSECURITY DROVE HIM
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO
TAKE POWER OVER IT.
BUT HE USED TO SAY TO
ME, "ISN'T IT AMAZING?
"HERE WE ARE, WE'VE
ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH,
"I'VE DONE SO MUCH,
AND I'M STILL LITTLE,
INSECURE DICKIE SIMMONS."
I THINK THAT I'M
JUST A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF A CHUBBY, FAT, UNHAPPY KID
WHO LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS,
LOUISIANA, AND DREAMED.
AND NOW ALL MY DREAMS
ARE COMING TRUE.
AND IN MANY WAYS, THAGREAT RESPONSE THAHE GOT FROM PEOPLE,
THAT FUELED HIM.
THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, HE
FELT THE LOVE, LET'S SAY.
- UNTIL HE DIDN'T.
- UNTIL HE DIDN'T. EXACTLY
SO WHY DID THE BIG-HEARTED
MEGASTAR HIDE FROM THE
WORLD FOR 10 YEARS?
BACK IN THE 1980S, AMERICANS
STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHWERE FAIR GAME FOR JOKES.
LAST WEEK, DUCHESS OF
YORK, SARAH FERGUSON,
VISITED THE BIG APPLE AND
SHOWED OFF HER 14-POUND
ON WEIGHT LOSS.
HOPEFULLY THIS
WILL NOT INTERFERE
WITH HER OFFICIAL DUTIES
OF SITTING ON HER FAT ASS
ALL DAY LONG.
- SO HOW'D YOU GAIN THE WEIGHT?
- I ATE A LOT.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
- NO, NO, NO, YOU
SAID 50 POUNDS.
YOU SHOULDN'T LETHAT HAPPEN TO YOU.
YOU'RE VERY PRETTY.
- I'M TRYING, YOU KNOW WHAT?
- NO, I DON'T WANNA HEAR.
LET ME TELL YOU.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
LET ME TELL YOU, IF
YOU'RE A PRETTY GIRL
AND YOU'RE SINGLE, YOU
MUST LOSE THE WEIGHT.
- AND ON TV, YOU ARE
A LITTLE FULLER,
A LITTLE BIT MORE THICKER.
- I WOULDN'T CALL MYSELF THICK.
- SOME GIRL ATE MONICA.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
THAT I'M OVERWEIGHT, BASICALLY.
YOU REALLY ARE.
IT MAKES ME THINK OF THAT LITTLE
BOY WHO WOULD ONE DAY GROW UP
TO BUILD HIMSELF A HOUSE
FULL OF DOLLS, ANGELS, AND
MEMORIES OF WHAT RIDICULE
USED TO DO TO HIM.
HIS MOTHER HAD BEEN A FAN
DANCER IN OLD-TIME VAUDEVILLE.
SHE ENDED UP WORKING LONG
HOURS AT A DEPARTMENT STORE
TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY.
HIS FATHER, A FORMER VAUDEVILLE
ACTOR, STAYED AT HOME
AND TAUGHT THE CHILDREN
TO LOVE MUSICALS
AND SING THE SHOW TUNES.
GROWING UP IN NEW
ORLEANS, RICHARD
WAS A DEVOUT LITTLE
CATHOLIC SCHOOLBOY
WHO DRESSED UP AS A
CARDINAL FOR A FUNDRAISER.
HE LOVED THE NUNS AND WORRIED
ABOUT THEIR DREARY CONVENROOMS. HE TOLD ME ON THE
PHONE, HE SAID, I
PERSUADED THEM TO TAKE ME
OVER TO SEE WHERE THEY
LIVE, THE LITTLE ROOMS
WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND HE CAME BACK TO
YOUR MOM AND SAID,
MOM, WE'VE GOT TO GETHEM THROW PILLOWS.
WE NEED SOME COLOR
IN THOSE ROOMS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'LL MAKE THEM HAPPY.
ABSOLUTELY. I WAS
TAUGHT BY NUNS,
WHO ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS,
LIKE, AGAIN AN ALIEN,
BECAUSE I WOULD SING TO
THEM AND I WOULD DO CRAZY,
SILLY THINGS FOR THEM.
A LITTLE PEOPLE PLEASER WHO
HAD NO DEFENSE WHEN BULLIES
ATTACKED, CALLING HIM A SISSY
CHASING HIM WITH A BASEBALL BAT.
DID YOU KNOW HE
WAS BEING BULLIED?
YEAH, WE BOTH WERE BECAUSE
WE WERE, WE WERE HEAVY.
WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
MATTER OF FACT, MY DAD MADE
OUR OUTFITS AND MOST PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT WE WERE ON
WHAT THEY CALL WORK SCHOLARSHIPS
AND TO ONLY TO GET HALF OF
OUR TUITION OFF, WE'D HAVE TO
SERVE THE FOOD AT THE CAFETERIA
AND THEN PICK UP GARBAGE AND
TRASH WHILE THEY WERE STUDYING.
AND THEY WOULD MAKE FUN
OF US FOR DOING THAT.
HE DESCRIBES SOME HEARTBREAKING
SCENES OF GOING IN THE
BATHROOM AND THE KIDS WOULD BE
WAITING FOR HIM AND HE ENDED
UP JUST NOT GOING TO THE
BATHROOM AT THE SCHOOL.
I MEAN, THE STORIES HE WOULD
TELL ME, WHEN HE WAS BULLIED,
HE WOULD COME HOME AND PUT THE
RECORD ON THE RECORD PLAYER
AND JUST DANCE LIKE
THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
WHEN YOU'RE ALONE AND
LIFE IS MAKING YOU LONELY
IMAGINE A LITTLE
BOY, DAY AFTER DAY,
DANCING ON THE EDGE
OF DESPERATION.
EVEN LATER IN HIS LIFE,
HE'LL REMEMBER EVERY
DETAIL OF THAT TIME.
I WOULD RUSH HOME FROM SCHOOL
AND I'D BUY ALL THESE 45S.
I NEVER TRIED TO DEAL WITH
THAT HURT IN FRONT OF ANYBODY.
STILL A CHILD, HE WAS
SO HEAVY HIS DOCTOR PUHIM ON HIS FIRST DIET,
BUT HE KEPT SNEAKING
THE CONSOLATION OF
PO'BOYS AND PRALINES.
HE STOLE DIET PILLS FROM
THE MOTHER OF A FRIEND.
THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE EACH
MEAL DEPRESSES YOUR APPETITE.
DIET PILLS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THROWING UP FOUR OR
FIVE TIMES A DAY.
TRYING TO BE ACCEPTED, TRYING
TO CHANGE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.
HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, YOU
COULD BE A NEW PERSON
AND GET RID OF THE OLD PERSON
THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE SO MUCH.
WE COULDN'T FIND ANY PHOTOS
OF HIM AT HIS HIGHEST WEIGHT,
BUT BY COLLEGE, THE SMALL CLASS
CLOWN WEIGHED 268 POUNDS.
A STRANGER LEFT HIM
A NOTE, "THAT WEIGHIS GOING TO KILL YOU."
THERE WAS A NOTE ON
MY CAR AND IT SAID,
"DEAR RICHARD, YOU'RE
VERY FUNNY, BUT FAPEOPLE DIE YOUNG."
IN A PANIC, HE STARVES
HIMSELF, LETTUCE AND WATER,
LOSING MORE THAN 100
POUNDS IN ONLY TWO MONTHS.
BUT IT ENDS HIM UP IN THE
HOSPITAL WITH DEHYDRATION
AND PROBLEMS WITH HIS
KIDNEYS AND HIS LUNGS.
WHEN HE COMES TO LOS
ANGELES AT AGE 25,
HE'S THIN, BUT HORRIFIED
BY THE DAMAGE HE HAS DONE.
MY HAIR FELL OUT, THE EYES
DROOPED, THE CHIN DROOPED.
IF YOU DON'T EXERCISE WHILE
YOU'RE LOSING THE WEIGHT,
YOU WILL END UP TO LOOK
LIKE A VERY THIN GLAD BAG.
I HAD TO GO TO A
PLASTIC SURGEON.
CHIN HAD TO GO UP,
EYES HAD TO BE DONE,
NOSE FIXED, 900 HAIR TRANSPLANT.
WHAT'S TO PREVENT OTHER
PEOPLE FROM LOOKING AT YOU
AND SAYING, "HEY, RICHARD
DID IT, WHY CAN'T I DO IT?"
CAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T MAKE THE
SAME ANGUISH MISTAKE THAT I MADE
'CAUSE I ALMOST DIED.
HE'S THE WORKOUT COACH
WITH A POWERFUL PURPOSE
AND A MAN READY FOR
ANOTHER TRANSFORMATION.
UNDER HIS TASTEFUL CARDIGAN,
CRYSTAL STUDDED TANK TOPS,
THE GRAY SLACKS NOW
DOLPHIN SHORTS,
HIS CURLY HAIR ON A
FLIGHT OF ITS OWN.
AS IF TO SAY,
"BULLIES BE DAMNED,"
THAT TORMENTED LITTLE
BOY HAS BECOME A DARING
PIONEER OF AMBIGUITY.
HE SAW HIMSELF AS
A COURT JESTER.
RICHARD ALWAYS SAID, "I
DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE
LAUGHING WITH ME OR AT ME.
I JUST WANT THEM
TO BE LAUGHING."
HERE AGAIN ON DAVID LETTERMAN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO
GO GET HIM PANTS.
PUT HIM IN SOME LIKE
JUNGLE FATIGUE, THAKIND OF THING, YOU KNOW?
I'M NOT GOING.
LOOK LIKE A TOUGH GUY.
YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE A
TOUGH GUY, DON'T YOU?
NO... ALL RIGHT.
OH MY GOD!
I AM ALIGNMENT FOR THE COUNTY!
COME ON, HERE WE GO.
I DON'T WANT TO GO OUDRESSED LIKE THAT.
I DON'T CARE.
LET'S GO.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU GO ON THESE
INTERVIEWS AND YOU THINK,
WHY IS HE PUNISHING HIMSELF?
IT FELT LIKE A LITTLE BOY
WHO WANTED TO BE FRIENDS
WITH THE COOL KIDS, YOU KNOW?
FELT LIKE A LITTLE BOY WHO
WANTED TO BE INCLUDED.
AND I'M SURE WHEN HE WAS A
LITTLE BOY, HE WASN'T INCLUDED.
DO YOU THINK HE DID IBECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE
COULD WIN THEM OVER?
HE KIND OF DID
WITH HOWARD STERN.
YOU'RE MY FAVORITE
GUEST OF ALL TIME.
I KNOW, I KNOW.
AND I LOVE YOU.
BUT LET ME SAY THIS TOO.
I LOVE YOU.
WITH EVERY APPEARANCE,
MORE PEOPLE WOULD
SIGN UP FOR HIS HELP.
ROSIE O'DONNELL SAW THE MAGIC.
WHAT WAS THE DEFINITION OF WHAHE DID THAT WAS DIFFERENT?
I THINK HE LOVED
PEOPLE BACK TO HEALTH.
ALWAYS THINKING OF OTHER PEOPLE
AND CHEERING YOU ON, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, AS I STRUGGLED
WITH MY WEIGHT UP AND
DOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS.
AND THAT WAS HIS GIFTHAT HE GAVE EVERYONE.
HE CARED ABOUT EVERY
STORY HE HEARD.
HEY, IT'S RICHARD
SIMMONS CALLING.
HOW ARE YOU?
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I
PERSONALLY TOLD YOU
HOW TERRIFIC YOU ARE?
WHETHER IT WAS A
SENATOR, OR THE CEO OF A
FORTUNE 500 COMPANY,
OR YOU WERE DELIVERING
THE FEDEX PACKAGE,
OR YOU WERE THE
HOUSEKEEPER AT THE HOTEL,
EVERYONE GOT THE SAME.
I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE
A GREAT FRIEND.
BYE, SWEET MAN.
FOR DECADES, SIMMONS
WOULD BE A ONE-MAN
OZEMPIC, TIRELESSLY
HELPING AMERICANS
LOSE AN ESTIMATED
THREE MILLION POUNDS.
HOW MUCH?
FIFTY POUNDS.
EIGHTY-FIVE. TWENTY POUNDS.
FORTY. A HUNDRED.
TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR POUNDS.
IT WAS HIS WHOLE LIFE.
EVERY MONTH, EVERY
WEEK, EVERY DAY FOR 30
FOR 20 YEARS, HE TRAVELED
10 MILLION MILES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AN INEXHAUSTIBLE MAN IN
SHORTS AND TANK TOPS,
FLYING HIGH IN HIS
30S, HIS 40S, HIS 50S.
EVEN TRYING TO FIRE UP
THE DANCE IN HIS 60S.
BUT COMING UP, IS SOMETHING
HAPPENING TO THE LAUGHING,
LEAPING COURT JESTER?
A DARK SHADOW
BEGINNING TO MOVE IN.
IT WAS 1997 WHEN ELLEN DEGENERES
MADE THE PIONEERING CALL TO
COME OUT ON HER OWN TV SITCOM.
I'M GAY.
CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH
WAS IMMEDIATE.
THE IDEA OF SAYING TO
THE CHILDREN OF AMERICA
THAT THE GAY AND LESBIAN
ALTERNATIVE ONE, CHILDREN
SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN
THAT KIND OF TEMPTATION.
THE AUDIENCES
GRADUALLY RETREATED.
HER SHOW WAS TAKEN OFF THE AIR.
SHE AND I SPOKE AFTERWARDS
ABOUT THE CANCELLATION OF
THE SHOW AND HER COURAGE.
I'M GOING TO MISS THE SHOW,
BUT IT'S STILL, IT DOESN'MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME IF I
WOULD HAVE STAYED ON, YOU KNOW,
TWO MORE YEARS OR TEN MORE
YEARS IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN NOFOLLOWING MY HEART.
ANOTHER TELEVISION PIONEER,
ROSIE O'DONNELL, REMEMBERS THATREACHEROUS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
AND SAYS IF RICHARD
SIMMONS WAS LIVING ON A
BLURRED LINE, SO WAS SHE.
WE'RE IN A SIMILAR POSITION ATHE TIME IN MY SHOW, RIGHT?
HOW DO YOU MEAN?
HE WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT HIS
RELATIONSHIPS OR LOVE LIFE
OR IDENTIFYING HIMSELF
IN ANY WAY BACK IN THE
BEGINNING, NOR WAS I.
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE DID THE
INTERVIEW THAT I CAME OUT AND
SPOKE ABOUT THE
TRUTH OF MY LIFE.
IT WAS YEARS AFTER ELLEN'S SHOW
HAD BEEN CANCELLED THAT ROSIE
DID THIS INTERVIEW WITH ME.
YOU SEEM SO FEARLESS.
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THERE'S
NO WAY BACK FROM THAT?
I GUESS, I MEAN, PART OF THE
REASON WHY I'VE NEVER, LIKE,
SAID THAT I WAS GAY UNTIL NOW
WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANTHAT ADJECTIVE ASSIGNED TO
MY NAME FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.
I DON'T THINK HE FELT, NOT ONLY
NOT COMFORTABLE, BUT I THINK HE
MAYBE FELT THERE'D BE BACKLASH.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ELLEN?
RIGHT? ADD TO THAT, GROWING UP A
DEVOUT CATHOLIC BOY WHO FINALLY
GOT HIS DREAM, AN AUDIENCE WITH
THE POPE
HE WOULD NOT DISCUSS HIS PRIVATE
RELATIONSHIPS IN PUBLIC,
AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED
FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY
RESOLUTELY HONOR
THAT PRIVACY TODAY.
HE WAS JUST DICKIE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE
WAS NOT GOING TO DISCUSS.
BUT HE'D GO RIGHT TO
THE LINE, REAL CLOSE,
AND PUT HIS TOE OVER THE LINE.
AND AGAIN, BACK TO SOROF, "I WANT PEOPLE TO
LAUGH AND FEEL GOOD."
EVEN AT PRIVATE DINNERS, HE
MIGHT SHOW UP IN FULL DRAG.
THE ELEVATOR OPENED,
AND OUT HE COMES.
AND HE'S JUST IN FULL REGALIA,
LOOKING LIKE SOMEBODY'S
AUNT BARBARA.
AND I'M LIKE, "ALL RIGHT.
HEY, LISTEN, I'M
ALL GOOD WITH IT.
I HAVE NO ISSUE
WITH IT, YOU KNOW."
ON "JAY LENO," WHEN A
RUGGED ACTION STAR APPEARS,
RICHARD SUPPLIES THE PUNCHLINE.
- HI, I'M DICK SIMMONS.
HOW YOU DOING?
THERE YOU GO, THERE YOU GO.
DICK. HEY, YOU SEE
THAT SUPER BOWL?
DAMN.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
THERE YOU GO.
WOW, THERE YOU ARE.
HE'S A MAN'S MAN.
- PLEASE WELCOME
OUR MYSTERY GUEST.
- ON "ROSIE," HE
FEARLESSLY SHOWS UP
TO PLAY HER MACHO
MYSTERY SURPRISE.
- OKAY, WAIT, ARE
YOU A SPORTS FIGURE?
- YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR MIND.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
TAKE YOUR HANDS.
BRING THEM UP.
PUT THEM ON MY HEAD.
RICHARD SIMMONS!
THAT'S IT.
I ALWAYS TRY TO GET CLOSE
TO HIM AT THE COMMERCIALS.
I ALWAYS TRY TO, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, SAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A SPOUSE AND
KIDS AND, YOU KNOW,
DO YOU GOT ANYBODY YOU LOVE?
AND HE WOULD ALWAYS GO, OH,
CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, YOU KNOW?
AND I SENSED A SADNESS,
TOO, YOU KNOW?
BECAUSE I STRUGGLE WITH
DEPRESSION MYSELF,
AND I CAN SOMETIMES SEE OTHER
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
AND THEN, AS TIME WENT ON,
NEW INSECURITIES SEEMED
TO COMPOUND THE OLD ONES.
HIS SIGNATURE BOYISH
FACE WEATHERED,
HIS HAIR THINNING, THAHIGH-FLYING CHARMER
NOW HOBBLED BY PAIN.
WHEN HE WOULD STAND, ILOOKED LIKE HE WOULD POSE
AND HIS LEG WOULD GO OUT.
HE HAD A LOT OF
PROBLEMS WITH HIS KNEE.
AND HE WOULD COME HOME,
HE'D SAY, "I GOT ICE.
I AM SO SORE.
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN SEE HIS LEGS IN
THE OLD TAPE ON THE LEFAND THE LATER TAPE ON THE RIGHT.
HE HAD REPLACEMENSURGERY ON ONE KNEE
AND TRIED STEM CELL
THERAPY ON THE OTHER,
BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
I THINK EVERYTHING
HAPPENED AT ONE TIME
AND HE JUST DIDN'T LIKE
THE WAY HE LOOKED AT 65.
HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
THE IMPISH CHEERLEADER
- BIG CURLY HAIR.
- BIG HAIR AND ALL THAT.
- NOBODY WANTS A CHEERLEADER
TO COME OUT, YOU KNOW,
WITH NO POM-POMS.
- HOWARD STERN HAD OPENLY
ADORED RICHARD SIMMONS,
WHO WAS ON HIS SHOW 64 TIMES.
BUT NOW, WHEN STERN TRIES
TO GET BEHIND THE MASK--
- AND YOU ARE A LOVING MAN.
I JUST WONDER IF YOU'VE
EVER HAD LOVE IN YOUR LIFE.
AND I DON'T MEAN THAIN ANY COMICAL SENSE.
DO YOU KNOW LOVE?
- I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE
PICKING ON ME TODAY.
- IS THAT PICKING?
- YEAH, A LITTLE BIT.
MY WONDERFUL HOUSEKEEPER
TODAY, TERESA,
WHO'S BEEN WITH ME 24 YEARS.
BUT THAT'S SOMEONE YOU PAY.
IS THERE ANYONE THERE
WHO CARES ABOUT YOU?
NO, SHE CARES ABOUT ME.
SHE LOVES ME VERY MUCH.
NOW IN HIS 60S, SIMMONS
CAN FEEL THAT THE TIMES
AND TASTES ARE CHANGING.
MICHELLE OBAMA HAD LAUNCHED
A NEW FITNESS CAMPAIGN.
RICHARD SPOKE ABOUT ION HUFFINGTON POST.
I LOVE MICHELLE OBAMA.
YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO
MEET THEM, BOTH OF THEM.
I WANTED TO HELP HER BECAUSE I'M
JUST NOT THEIR SET OF SHEETS.
HE BEGINS TO PULL BACK FROM
HIS TRAVELS MORE TIME AT HOME
WITH HIS DALMATIANS AND DOLLS,
THE ANGELS AND THE CROSSES
ON THE WALL, AND THE
BEDROOM, A QUIET REFUGE.
THE CHARACTER HE ONCE INVENTED,
NOW JUST SEQUINS IN THE CLOSET.
OH, THEY'RE AMAZING.
LOOK AT THE ONE YOU PICK.
IT'S THE SMILING ONE.
THAT IS.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE'S
SMILING RIGHT NOW.
ABSOLUTELY. TALK
ABOUT THE CRYSTALS.
AND FEEL HOW HEAVY THEY ARE.
THEY ARE.
AND THE MAN WHO SPENT HIS LIFE
GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS
WAKES UP TO WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
TO GET HIM THROUGH EVERY DAY.
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE
BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.
AND THEN THERE'S
ANOTHER ANGEL UP HERE.
SO THIS WAS BY ALBERT EINSTEIN.
ONLY A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS
IS A LIFE WORTHWHILE.
HE HAS SAID AFTER ALL
THE YEARS ON THE ROAD,
HE NEVER CREATED A
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.
IN HIS HOUSE, HE HAD A DOLL OF
HIS IDOL, BARBARA STREISAND,
BUT THEY DIDN'SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
WHO'S THE MOST FAMOUS
PERSON YOU MEAND GOT TO HANG OUT WITH?
I JUST DON'T, I DON'T SOCIALIZE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOCIALIZE
'CAUSE AS A FAT KID,
I SORT OF KEPT TO MYSELF.
I WOULDN'T KNOW WHATO DO AT A PARTY.
I DON'T GO TO ANYONE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO
ANYONE'S HOUSE.
REALLY? IN SEVEN YEARS.
AND THEN HATTIE, THE LAST OF
HIS BELOVED DALMATIANS, DIED.
IT DEVASTATED HIM.
WHEN I WOULD GO OVER THERE AND
HE WAS JUST QUIET, YOU KNOW?
AND PERHAPS SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED.
SADDER, SADDER.
HE WASN'T THE BOUNCING
OFF THE WALLS, RICHARD.
CERTAINLY. HE STILL TRIES.
YOU CAN SEE IT IN THIS
VIDEO, WHICH IS ABOUT A YEAR
BEFORE HE'LL GO INTO HIDING.
HE DOES ROUSE HIMSELF TO
GREET A CELEBRITY TOUR BUS.
THEY SPOT HIM FOR A SECOND.
THE OLD RICHARD TURNS IT ON
TO MAKE THE TOURISTS HAPPY.
THERE HE IS, HE'S FOUND HER.
EVERYONE WAVE AND HE MIGHT COME.
WHERE'S HE GONE?
HOW ARE YOU?
COME ON!
EXCELLENT.
WHERE ARE YOU ALL FROM?
AUSTRALIA! LET'S GO!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO...
- DRAGOS. -YEAH.
- WE LOVE THE OYSTERS.
- JUST A MINUTE.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER,
DID YOU EVER TASTE
ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
TAKE THIS PLACE.
TAKE THIS 007.
SKYFALL. -WHY ARE WE HERE?
- WE'RE FRESH HERE.
IT IS JANUARY 2014.
THE TMZ CORNERS A SUBDUED
SIMMONS ON THE SIDEWALK.
HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS THE LAST KNOWN
IMAGE OF RICHARD SIMMONS.
IN JUST A FEW WEEKS,
HE'LL DISAPPEAR
AND HIDE FROM THE
WORLD FOR TEN YEARS.
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO YOU
AND ALL YOUR VIEWERS.
I HOPE THAT THEY'RE GONNA
EXERCISE THIS YEAR.
ACTUALLY, I'M SQUEEZING MY
BUNS WHILE I'M TALKING.
AND THEN IT JUST GOT REAL QUIET.
AND IT WAS THE HOUSEKEEPER
AND THE ASSISTANT.
THAT WAS EVERYTHING.
COMING UP, IS IT VANITY?
IS IT FEAR?
IS IT A PHOBIA? YOU'LL
MEET THE PERSON WHO SPENTHAT DECADE INSIDE
THE HOUSE, WITH HIM
2014 THE FIRST YEAR OF RICHARD
SIMMONS' DISAPPEARANCE,
THE 65-YEAR-OLD TELLS
HIS CLOSE FAMILY HE
JUST NEEDS A REST.
I'D SAY, "OKAY, THE FIRSYEAR, I UNDERSTAND.
SECOND YEAR, OKAY, YOU'RE
REALLY TIRED, I UNDERSTAND.
BY THE THIRD YEAR,
I'D BE WORRIED.
- WE WERE ALL
CONCERNED ABOUT IT,
AND HE DID SEE SOMEONE, HE
SAW A DOCTOR AT SOME POINT,
BUT HE WASN'T OVERLY
RECEPTIVE TO IT.
HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK HE
GAVE IT ENOUGH OF A CHANCE,
HONESTLY, YOU KNOW.
- EVERYBODY CALLS ISOMETHING DIFFERENT.
HIS FUNK, HIS YEARS OF SOLITUDE,
HIS DECADE OF SOLITUDE.
NOBODY EVER REALIZED IWAS GOING TO BE 10 YEARS.
10 YEARS OF SOMETHING LIKE
A PHOBIA OF BEING SEEN.
AT ONE POINT, HIS
HOUSE MANAGER, TERESA,
HAS TO HIDE HIM UNDER
A BLANKET TO TAKE HIM
TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A MEDICAL
PROCEDURE ON HIS ESOPHAGUS.
HIS BROTHER, LENNY, FLIES
OUT TO BE WITH HIM.
LENNY GOT ON THE PHONE.
HE SAID, YOU'RE GOING.
I'M COMING OUT.
GOODBYE. AND LENNY WAS ON THE
NEXT PLANE OUT HERE.
BUT AT SOME POINT, FAMILY
VISITS BEGAN TO TRAIL OFF,
THOUGH LENNY AND KATHY
STAY IN FAITHFUL TOUCH
ONCE A WEEK BY PHONE.
AS YEARS BEGIN TO GO BY,
A HIT PODCAST RAISES
WORRIED QUESTIONS ABOUHIS DISAPPEARANCE.
TABLOID MAGAZINES MAKE
WILD ACCUSATIONS.
THEY SUGGEST HE
WAS TRANSITIONING,
WHICH WASN'T TRUE, AND
EVEN REPORTED THATERESA HAD TAKEN HIM HOSTAGE.
POLICE DETECTIVES COME TO THE
HOUSE FOR A WELLNESS CHECK.
RICHARD CONVINCES
THEM HE'S FINE.
AT ONE POINT, HE
PHONES THE TODAY SHOW
TO DENY ALL THOSE RUMORS.
- NO ONE IS HOLDING ME IN
MY HOUSE AS A HOSTAGE.
- BUT HE DOESN'T DENY HE IS
IN THE GRIP OF SOMETHING
THAT ECHOES CHILDHOOD FEARS,
LIKE PETER PAN'S SHADOW.
- WHEN YOU'RE AN OVERWEIGHKID, AND YOU'RE MADE FUN OF,
YOU'RE PUT DOWN.
SOME OF THAT STUFF
NEVER LEAVES YOU.
IT ALWAYS SORT OF IS LIKE
A SHADOW LIKE PETER PAN.
AND THERE, INSIDE
THAT HOUSE WITH HIM,
THE HOUSE MANAGER HAD BEEN
BY HIS SIDE FOR 36 YEARS.
YOU COMFORTABLE?
TERESA RAVELLAS
RELUCTANTLY AGREES
TO COME BEFORE OUR CAMERAS.
SHE SAYS HE WAS SO KIND AND
SEEMED HAPPY AT HOME WITH HER,
BUT SHE CONFIRMS HIS
FEAR OF BEING SEEN BY
ANYONE FROM THE OUTSIDE.
WHEN TERESA GOT CANCER,
HE TOOK CARE OF HER,
BUT IF A NURSE HAD TO COME IN,
HE'D HIDE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
HE WAS INSECURE, OKAY,
THAT HE DON'T LOOK GOOD,
THAT HE DON'T LOOK GOOD ANYMORE.
BUT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS.
THEY GONNA SAY, "OH,
RICHARD SIMMONS, I SAW
RICHARD, HE LOOKS OLD.
HE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ANYMORE.
BUT IS THAT JUST VANITY
OR SOMETHING DEEPER?
BACK WITH THE BASEBALL
BATS AND BULLIES
AND THE MORTAL PAIN
OF BEING RIDICULED.
A LEGACY OF WOUNDS
THAT NEVER HEAL.
THAT IMAGE WILL
KILL RICHARD, OKAY?
SO WHAT WAS HE DOING IN
THAT HOUSE ALL THAT TIME?
TERESA SAYS HE HAD
BREAKFAST WITH HER.
THEY WATCHED THE NEWS
TOGETHER AT NIGHT.
WE ALSO TRACKED DOWN HIS
LONGTIME ASSISTANT, MICHELLE,
WHO USED TO WORK ON HIS VIDEOS
AND WOULD NOW DROP BY
REGULARLY JUST TO MEET.
TERESA SAYS THAT RICHARD
ABSOLUTELY FORBADE ANYONE
FROM EVER TAKING A PHOTO OF
HIM, EVEN INSIDE THE HOUSE.
SO THIS IS THE PHOTO
ALBUM FROM ALL THAT TIME.
ANIMALS COMING UP TO THE DOOR
TO BE FED BY RICHARD SIMMONS.
THEY ARE LOOKING AHIM, BUT WE CAN'T.
TERESA CONFIRMS THASOMETIMES SHE WOULD TAKE HIM
OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR
A DRIVE AND A WALK,
BUT HE WAS IN COMPLETE DISGUISE.
- OH, HE DO A VERY
DIFFERENT COSTUME.
SOMETIMES HE BE A CLOWN.
SOMETIMES HE BE A WOMAN.
NOBODY KNOWS WAS HIM.
AND THEN LATER,
WE GO IN THE CAR,
AND I TAKE HIM OUT OF THE
CITY SO WE CAN SEE THE NEW
BUILDINGS, THE NEW STORE.
NINE YEARS AND 11
MONTHS WILL GO BY.
AN OLD FRIEND WHO REACHED
OUT SAID HE NEVER
RETURNED HER CALLS.
ARE WE WRONG TO HAVE
TROUBLE BELIEVING
WHAT WAS JUST BEING
SAID ALL THE TIME?
THAT HE JUST WANTS TO REST?
I DON'T THINK SO.
BUT A 10-YEAR DEPRESSION, DO
YOU THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE?
I CERTAINLY DO.
THESE WHOLE 10 YEARS.
I CERTAINLY DO.
I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE
A 10-YEAR DEPRESSION,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOABLE TO GET THE KIND OF HELP
THAT YOU NEED.
AND IT SEEMS TO
ME THAT HE WASN'A GUY WHO WOULD LOVE THERAPY.
NO, BUT SOMETIMES
DEPRESSION WINS.
JANUARY 2024, RICHARD
SIMMONS IS NOW 75 YEARS OLD
WHEN SUDDENLY SOMETHING JOLTS
HIM OUT OF HIS FEARFUL HIDING.
HE SEES THIS VIDEO OF
THE COMEDIAN PAULY SHORE
ANNOUNCING HE IS GOING TO
PLAY RICHARD SIMMONS IN A
BIOGRAPHY OF SIMMONS LIFE.
IN A STUNNING MOVE, RICHARD
GOES ONLINE TO SAY HE DIDN'AUTHORIZE THIS BIOPIC AND HE
DIDN'T WANT THE PURPOSE OF HIS
LIFE REINVENTED
WITHOUT PERMISSION.
THIS MORNING, RECLUSIVE
FITNESS ICON RICHARD SIMMONS
ISSUING A RARE STATEMENT AFTER
WORD THAT A BIOPIC ABOUT HIS
LIFE WILL SOON BE RELEASED.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
THE NIAGARA OF EXCITEMENT,
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FANS
AND THEN HE WAS LIKE, "WOW,
THEY REALLY MISSED ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE WOULD
CARE THAT I WAS GONE."
AND THAT JUST COMES
BACK TO THAT WHOLE
INSECURITY THING, YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
RICHARD NEVER FELT FAMOUS.
HE THOUGHT THAT NOBODY'S
GOING TO REMEMBER HIM
BECAUSE 10 YEARS WENT BY.
AND WHEN HE SAW THARIGHT AWAY IN A SECOND,
AND THEN RICHARD SAYS,
"TERESA, LOOK IT."
- AND THAT'S WHEN I
GOT THE CALL FROM HIM
ABOUT DOING AN INTERVIEW
TO TELL HIS STORY HIMSELF.
HE TOLD ME HE HAD FEVERISHLY
STARTED WRITING SONGS
FOR A BROADWAY MUSICAL
VERSION OF HIS LIFE,
HOW HE PLANNED TO TAKE THE
FRONT SEATS OUT OF THE THEATER
SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME DOWN
AND DANCE LIKE THE OLD DAYS.
AND WE STARTED JOKING
THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
I SAID, "THERE'S A PART OF
'HAMILTON' THAT SHE SAYS,
'WHY DO YOU WRITE LIKE YOU'RE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME?'"
AND WE WOULD BOTH SING
THAT SONG TOGETHER.
'CAUSE HE WOULD CALL,
"I HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
YOU WANNA HEAR IT?"
IT WAS JUST THIS
CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE,
JUST EFFERVESCENT AND
GIGGLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE
A LITTLE BOY AGAIN.
IT WAS, LIKE, SO GOOD
TO HAVE HIM BACK.
YEAH. AND THE LASOUR PHONE CALL, HE TELLS ME,
"I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS
RIGHT AND I TRUST YOU."
AND THEN HE BEGAN TO CRY.
JULY 12, 2024, HIS
76TH BIRTHDAY.
I SENT HIM A BIRTHDAY MESSAGE.
LENNY AND KATHY CALL HIM.
WE TALKED-- CALLED
HIM ON HIS BIRTHDAY,
OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
HE SAID HE HAD GOTTEN SOME
FOOD POISONING, SOME BAD LUCK.
HIS VOICE WAS A LITTLE OFF.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IS
THAT HE WAS IMMOBILIZED.
HE HAD FALLEN AND LAIN ON THE
FLOOR FOR HOURS AND HOURS
WITH A TERRIBLE INJURY, THE
INJURY THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY
LEAD TO HIS DEATH.
LEGENDARY FITNESS GURU RICHARD
SIMMONS HAS DIED IN LOS ANGELES
JUST ONE DAY AFTER TURNING 76.
YO, THIS IS CRAZY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
BUT RICHARD SIMMONS JUST DIED.
SIMMONS WAS JUST ONE OF
THOSE CULTURAL ICONS
WITH ZERO SCANDAL.
AND IT WAS LIKE, THE THING
THAT I HAD NEVER EXPECTED.
AND I GOT THE PHONE CALL.
WHO CALLED WHO?
TERESA CALLED.
A SHATTERED OLDER BROTHER
FLIES TO CALIFORNIA.
THE CORONER, DR. GRANT HO,
GAVE HIM UNSETTLING NEWS.
HIS BROTHER'S DEATH WAS
NOT FROM NATURAL CAUSES.
IT WAS ACCIDENTAL, PRECIPITATED
BY THAT TERRIBLE FALL
TWO NIGHTS BEFORE HE DIED.
WHEN DR. HO SAID THE MANNER
OF DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL,
IT REALLY THREW US.
HE HAD APPARENTLY
BROKEN HIS FEMUR,
AND IT WAS PRONATED, SO NOOUT OF THE SKIN, BUT OUT.
BY THE HIP JOINT.
PAINFUL.
IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT IN THABATHROOM OFF THE BEDROOM.
TERESA'S BEDROOM IS DOWNSTAIRS
IN A WING BACK OFF THE KITCHEN.
THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN HE'S
NOT DOWN FOR BREAKFAST,
SHE GOES UP AND FINDS HIM.
I WENT TO HIS ROOM AND
I KNOCKED THE DOOR.
AND I SAID, RICHARD, HE
SAYS, COME IN, TERESA.
AND HE WAS SITTING ON THE
FLOOR IN HIS BEDROOM.
AND I SAID, WHAT HAPPENED?
HE SAYS, "I COME TO
THE BATHROOM, AND I
GOT DIZZY AND I FELL.
AND I TRIED TO GET UP,
BUT MY LEFT LEG HURTS ME.
I CAN'T GET UP."
HE SAYS, "I JUST SCREAMED TO
YOU, AND YOU DON'T HEAR ME."
I SAID, "RICHARD, YOU KNOW WHAT?
MAYBE YOU HAVE A FRACTURE.
CAN WE GO TO THE HOSPITAL?"
AND YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT EVEN
COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAIN.
"NOT ON MY BIRTHDAY, TERESA.
WE GO TOMORROW.
SHE CALLS FOR THE REGULAR
CLEANING PERSON THERE THAT DAY,
IRMA, TO COME HELP.
THE TWO OF THEM GEHIM BACK IN BED.
AND HE SAYS, IF I DON'T MOVE AND
I'M IN THE BED, NOTHING HURTS.
ONLY WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE
WEIGHT ON MY LEG, IT HURTS ME.
BUT HE NEVER COMPLAINED
THAT IT HURTS A LOT.
AND HE SAYS, NO, THE LONG AS I
STAYED ON MY BED WITH MY LEG,
NOTHING HURTS.
I WANT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY.
AND THEN TOMORROW
MORNING, WE WILL DO IT.
AND I HAVE TO DO WHAT HE
WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW?
AT 10 O'CLOCK THANIGHT, SHE SAYS
SHE GOES UP TO HIS BEDROOM
TO GIVE HIM HIS SLEEPING
MEDICATION AND ASKS HIM AGAIN
IF SHE CAN CALL AN AMBULANCE.
NOW THAT IT'S DARK OUTSIDE,
NO ONE WILL SEE HIM.
NOBODY'S GOING TO SEE YOU.
IT'S NICE TO GO PEACE AT NIGHT.
HE SAYS, "NOT TODAY, TERESA.
TOMORROW I DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.
TOMORROW CALL THE AMBULANCE.
TOMORROW MORNING,
YOU DO EVERYTHING."
SHE LEAVES RICHARD
ALONE IN HIS BEDROOM.
BUT AT SOME POINT, HE WILL
TRY ONCE AGAIN TO GET UP
AND FALLS BESIDE THE BED.
AT 9.30 THE NEXT MORNING,
TERESA COMES UP AND
FINDS HIM ON THE FLOOR.
HE HAS DIED.
I OPENED THE DOOR, AND I
DON'T SEE HIM IN HIS BED.
WHEN I COME HERE, THEN
I SAW HIM ON THE FLOOR.
OKAY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS.
AND I KNOW HE PASSED
OUT RIGHT AWAY.
RIGHT AWAY, I KNEW
HE PASSED OUT.
I RUN.
I WENT AND CALLED HIM.
I KNEW IT WAS TOO
LATE TO HELP HIM.
I HUGGED HIM, I KISSED HIM,
AND I TOLD HIM TO TALK TO ME.
THE CORONER'S REPOROF WHAT HAPPENED IS
FILLED WITH SOME
ANSWERS AND SOME STILL
MYSTERIOUS QUESTIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF BRUISES HERE, HERE, HERE.
SOME OF THEM NEW,
WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN
FROM THE NIGHT OF THE FALL,
BUT OTHERS CLEARLY OLDER.
- WELL, THAT I DON'T KNOW WHY.
HE NEVER COMPLAINED
ABOUT ANYTHING,
AND HE NEVER TOLD ME
UNLESS HE BRUISES
WHEN HE WAS DOING EXERCISE.
I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, HE WAS DOING THE WEIGHTS,
HE WAS DOING THE MACHINES.
- THE AUTOPSY ALSO SHOWS
SAYS THAT HE HAD SOME
SIGNIFICANT HEART BLOCKAGE,
BUT A HEART ATTACK WAS
NOT THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
SO WHAT WAS IT?
THE REPORT SAYS ONLY HE
DIED OF COMPLICATIONS
AFTER THE TRAUMATIC FALL.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DOES NOSPECIFY THE POSSIBILITIES
LIKE STROKE, INFECTION,
KIDNEY FAILURE.
AND BY PRACTICE, HE
DOES NOT COMMENT.
SO LENNY IS LEFT TO WONDER.
IF RICHARD HAD AGREED
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL,
WOULD EVERYTHING BE DIFFERENT?
HAD HE GONE TO THE HOSPITAL,
WOULD HE STILL BE AROUND?
ONLY GOD KNOWS THAT.
I THINK RICHARD WOULD BE
DOING THIS INTERVIEW WITH YOU
AND NOT ME.
AND SO ON OCTOBER 5 AT THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ORLEANS,
THEY PREPARE FOR A CELEBRATION.
LENNY, KATHY, TERESA HAVE
READIED RICHARD FOR BURIAL.
SO HE'S WEARING A BEAUTIFUL
PINK BICHON JACKET.
THAT WAS HIS FAVORITE
COLOR, WAS PINK.
BEAUTIFUL GRAY SLACKS.
THEY PUT ONE OF HIS FAVORITE
PRALINES NEAR HIS BODY
AND MAKE SURE THAT UNDERNEATH
THAT TASTEFUL JACKET,
HE IS WEARING A GLITTERING
TANK TOP AND SHORTS
SO HE'S READY TO SWEAWITH THE HOLIES.
GOD HAS ANOTHER PLAN FOR
HIM TO HELP THE SAINTS
AND THE ANGELS GET INTO SHAPE.
RICHARD SIMMONS WILL FOREVER
BE SWEATING WITH THE HOLIES.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
AND IF ONLY THAT INSECURE
LITTLE BOY COULD HAVE SEEN
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
TURNING OUT FOR HIM.
- DARING THE BULLIES TO MAKE
FUN OF SEQUINED TANK TOPS,
DOLPHIN SHORTS, CURLY HAIR,
AND A MAN WHO ONCE PROMISED,
"YOUR LIFE, YOUR
HEALTH, YOUR JOY
ARE JUST ONE DANCE,
ONE HUG AWAY."
- I DON'T THINK UNITED
STATES OR THE WORLD
IS GONNA HAVE ANOTHER
RICHARD SIMMONS.
- AND EVERYONE IN THE
AUDIENCE IS GONNA GET ONE.
I ASKED ROSIE O'DONNELL WHASHE WOULD SAY TO HIM TODAY,
AND SHE QUOTED A BELOVED
SHOW TUNE FROM LES MIS.
"MY SOUL BELONGS TO GOD I KNOW.
I MADE THAT BARGAIN LONG AGO.
HE GAVE ME HOPE
WHEN HOPE WAS GONE.
HE GAVE ME STRENGTH
TO CARRY ON."
SO IF YOU COULD ASK
HIM ONE MORE QUESTION
ABOUT ANYTHING,
WHAT WOULD IT BE?
DID YOU FINALLY FEEL THE LOVE?
AND I THINK HE WOULD
SAY OVERWHELMINGLY YES.
I'D WANT TO KNOW
IF HE WAS HAPPY.
WAS HE HAPPY BEFORE HE PASSED?
I DO PLAN FOR A NICE RECEPTION
IN HEAVEN, YOU KNOW, I DO.
AND MAYBE A LOOF SOUTHERN FOOD.
AND ANGELS ONLY GAIN
WEIGHT IN THEIR WINGS.
AND THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.
TONIGHT, INSIDE A MYSTERY.
WHAT HAPPENED TO
RICHARD SIMMONS?
WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR
SUPPORT FROM OTHERS.
AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET IT.
THAT'S WHY GOD MADE ME.
HIS EXPLOSIVE ROCKET RIDE.
YOU ARE LOVED BY OH SO MANY!
AMERICA'S LEASLIKELY SUPERSTAR.
IT'S SWEATIN' TIME!
THIS IS THE HIGHEST SELLING
VIDEOTAPE IN THE HISTORY
OF HOME VIDEO SALES.
THE MAN WHO GAVE HOPE TO
MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
DESPERATE FOR HELP.
YOU'VE MADE ME LIVE AGAIN.
WHY DID HE BOUNCE HIGHER
AND HIGHER, AND THEN ONE
DAY ALL OF A SUDDEN VANISH
FOR AN ENTIRE DECADE?
AND THEN IT JUST GOT REAL QUIET.
WHAT GOES UP MUST COME DOWN.
WHERE IN THE WORLD
IS RICHARD SIMMONS?
THE FITNESS CELEBRITY
REPORTEDLY HASN'T BEEN SEEN
BY EVEN HIS CLOSESFRIENDS FOR YEARS.
AND HERE'S HOW I BECAME
PART OF THE STORY.
AFTER 10 YEARS HIDING IN
THIS HOUSE IN HOLLYWOOD,
RICHARD SIMMONS CALLED ME.
SENDING ROSES, VASE AFTER
VASE, ALL WITH THE SAME NOTE,
HE SAID HE WAS FINALLY READY
TO EMERGE AND TELL HIS STORY.
I WAS ABOUT TO FLY
OUT TO MEET HIM.
AND THEN...
FITNESS GURU RICHARD SIMMONS
HAS DIED IN LOS ANGELES JUSONE DAY AFTER TURNING 76.
RUMORS RECENTLY SWIRLING
ABOUT SIMMONS' HEALTH.
AND IT WAS SO SUDDEN THEY SAID
THEY HAD TO BE IN AUTOPSY.
THE CORONER CALLED US AND SAID,
"WE GOT THE TOXICOLOGY REPORT."
SO TONIGHT WE GO IN
SEARCH OF ANSWERS.
WHAT HAPPENED IN THOSE 10 YEARS?
WHY WAS HE AFRAID TO BE
SEEN BY THE OUTSIDE WORLD?
AND WHAT WILL THE ONE PERSON
WHO LIVED INSIDE THAT HOUSE
WITH HIM FOR A DECADE SAY
ABOUT THE FINAL DAYS?
- OKAY, THIS IS THE FIRSTIME I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS.
THE GATES OPEN.
THIS IS THE HOUSE THACONCEALED THE DARK MYSTERY.
THE TEN-YEAR DISAPPEARANCE
OF RICHARD SIMMONS.
HIS HIDDEN WORLD
EXACTLY AS HE LEFT IT.
NO ONE HAS LIVED HERE SINCE.
HIS BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW
HAVE AGREED TO LET ME IN.
- HELLO. -HELLO.
- HI. -COME IN.
- DIANE. -WELCOME
TO RICHARD'S HOME
I MEET LENNY SIMMONS, JUSFIVE FEET OF SUNNY ENERGY.
ENERGY LIKE HIS YOUNGER BROTHER.
LENNY'S WIFE KATHY SAYS RICHARD
HAD TALKED TO THEM ABOUOUR PLAN TO DO AN INTERVIEW.
HE WOULD CALL.
GUESS WHO I TALKED TO TODAY?
HE WAS SO EXCITED.
AND SO I GET MY FIRST LOOK ARICHARD SIMMONS' HIDDEN WORLD.
IT'S NOT WHAT I EXPECTED.
ABOVE, VAULTED CEILINGS SKY
BLUE WITH FLUFFY CLOUDS.
ALL AROUND, ANGELS
WITH WINGS AND DOLLS.
A KIND OF TIME CAPSULE OF
CHILDHOOD INNOCENCE AND SAFETY.
- I THINK HE COLLECTED
BECAUSE IT MADE HIM HAPPY.
- AS A KID AT CHRISTMAS,
HE WOULD GET THE PACKAGE,
RIP THAT OPEN, AND, "WHERE
AM I GOING TO PUT THIS?"
SOME OF THE DOLLS ARE
LARGE, SOME ARE EERIE.
COLLECTORS' ITEMS
MADE BY ARTISTS.
WE'LL SHOW YOU MORE
OF HIS HOUSE LATER,
INCLUDING THE WALLS
LINED WITH MEMORIES,
PHOTOS OF THAT UNHAPPY LITTLE
BOY AT CATHOLIC SCHOOL
WHO, AGAINST ALL ODDS,
TURNED HIMSELF INTO A
KIND OF HUMAN DISCO BALL.
LET'S START AGAIN WITH THOSE
TAPES WE WILL NEVER FORGET.
SWEATIN' TO THE OLDIES
WOULD GROSS MORE THAN $200
MILLION, SMASHING RECORDS.
BY 1980, RICHARD SIMMONS
HAD ALSO BECOME A
SURPRISING TV POWERHOUSE.
I WANT YOU TO GET UP
BRIGHT AND EARLY FOR THE
RICHARD SIMMONS SHOW.
THE RATINGS HIT ON
EVERY SHOW, EVERYWHERE.
PLEASE WELCOME A MAN
WHOSE SHORTS LEAD NOTHING
TO THE IMAGINATION.
PLEASE WELCOME THE
ONE, THE ONLY...
RICHARD SIMMONS.
WE'RE GOING TO BE GOING DOOR
TO DOOR, TALKING TO PEOPLE
ABOUT VARIOUS THINGS, AND
LOOK WHO I BROUGHT WITH ME.
COME ON.
HI.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
IF THIS DOESN'T BRING THE
COPS, I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL.
FROM DAVID LETTERMAN TO SATURDAY
NIGHT LIVE WITH MIKE MYERS.
IT'S RICHARD SIMMONS!
[SCREAMING]
OH MY GOSH!
AND SOMEHOW THE TINY GUY WITH
THE BILLOWING HALO OF CURLY HAIR
TOOK HIS PLACE ALONGSIDE
THE GOLIATHS OF FITNESS.
(UPBEAT MUSIC)
- THE MOST SATISFYING FEELING
YOU CAN GET IN THE GYM
IS THE PUMP.
- AND WHAT ABOUT JANE FONDA
WITH HER 25-INCH WAIST?
- ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR, DOWN.
- THEY WERE ALL PERFECT LOOKING.
THEY WERE BREATHTAKING.
AND, YOU KNOW, HERE I
LOOK LIKE A POTATO.
- A POTATO WITH A
POTENT SUPERPOWER.
LOOK AT THE DANCERS
BEHIND JANE FONDA.
NOW, LOOK AT THE DANCERS
BEHIND RICHARD SIMMONS.
HE WAS INVITING
EVERYONE TO THE PARTY.
TO DANCE LIKE YOU WOULD
HAVE AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
PROM YOU MAY HAVE MISSED.
LIKE THE LITTLE GIRL WHO
PUTS A PROM DRESS ON AND
COMES DOWN THE STAIRS,
SHE JUST WANTS SOMEONE TO
TELL HER SHE LOOKS PRETTY.
WE'RE ALL WAITING FOR
SUPPORT FROM OTHERS,
FROM A SPOUSE, FROM
CHILDREN, FROM PARENTS.
AND SOMETIMES WE DON'T GET IT.
THAT'S WHY GOD MADE ME.
IT WAS HIS IDEA FROM
THE VERY START.
WE FOUND THIS OLD NEWS
FOOTAGE OF AN UNKNOWN GUY
IN HIS 20S WITH A LITTLE
FITNESS STUDIO IN LOS ANGELES.
I POOLED MY MONEY
TOGETHER, $25,000,
AND I OPENED THE EXERCISE SUITE
HE CONDUCTS SPECIAL
CLASSES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE
MUCH HEAVIER THAN HIM.
AND IT'S A WAY OF SAYING,
"YOU'RE 400 POUNDS,
AND I'M 400 POUNDS.
YOU FAILED ON DIET,
AND I FAILED ON DIET.
BUT NOW RICHARD CARES, AND
WE'RE GOING TO BUST OUR
CHOPS AND DO IT TOGETHER."
COME ON, MOVE IT!
SOME OF THEM DON'T PAY.
SOME OF THEM ARE NOT MARRIED,
HAVE CHILDREN, OR DIVORCED,
OR NO ONE CARES ABOUT THEM.
AND THEY CAN'T GET HIRED FOR
JOBS IF YOU'RE 400 POUNDS.
YOU'RE UNEMPLOYED.
I JUST LOVE THESE PEOPLE.
BACK, BACK, GO AWAY.
GIVE IT ALL TO DORIS DAY.
I'M JUST OUTRAGEOUS.
I THINK BEING OUTRAGEOUS IS
GREAT AND I THINK THAT ANYBODY
OUT THERE, IF THEY HAVEN'TRIED IT, GO BUY SOME.
HE ALSO SAID LAUGHTER IS THE
BEGINNING OF HOPE AND HIS
MISSION WAS TO MAKE YOU LOVE
YOURSELF JUST ENOUGH TO
FIGHT YOUR WAY BACK TO HELL.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED HERE,
RICHARD SAID, "OKAY, I WANYOU TO TOUCH YOUR TOES."
AND I WENT.
AND THAT WAS IT.
AND TEN WEEKS LATER,
I'M DOING THIS.
RICHARD SAVED MY LIFE.
BEFORE I CAME HERE, I
LITERALLY COULDN'T MOVE.
I COULD BARELY WALK UP THE
STAIRS TO MY APARTMENT.
WHICH IS HOW HE BECAME THE
FITNESS KING WHO CREATED...
STRETCH AND STRETCH.
...EXERCISE TAPES
FOR SENIOR CITIZENS.
AGAIN, STRETCH.
HE ALSO MADE EXERCISE
TAPES FOR THE DISABLED.
FOUR, FIVE, NOW
TAKE IT FOR FOUR.
ONE. RICHARD SIMMONS WAS THE
KIND OF CELEBRITY MOTIVATOR
WHO CALLED HIS CLIENTS AT HOME
TO KEEP THEM FROM GIVING UP.
I WANT YOU TO MEET SOMEONE
WHO SAW A LOT OF RESULTS.
ELIJAH JONES, HE WAS
ALMOST 500 POUNDS.
ELIJAH JONES HAS
LOST 300 POUNDS.
MY FRIEND, ELIJAH JONES.
YOUR TOP WEIGHT WAS?
6'12". 6'12".
YEAH. AND YOU HAVE LOST NOW?
301 POUNDS I LOST.
AND WHEN RICHARD SIMMONS
SHOWED UP IN SMALL
TOWNS ACROSS AMERICA, THOUSANDS
OF PEOPLE STORMED THE
MALL, COVERED BY LOCAL NEWS.
HIS LONGTIME MANAGER AND
FRIEND, MICHAEL CATALANO,
TRAVELED WITH HIM.
FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE?
AND HE LOVED IT BECAUSE IT WAS
FREE, EVERYONE WAS WELCOME.
YOU KNOW, RICHARD WAS
ABOUT INCLUSIVITY WAY
BEFORE IT BECAME POPULAR.
I MEAN, HE WANTED
EVERYONE TO PARTICIPATE.
HOW MANY PEOPLE HERE
EXERCISED THIS MORNING?
RAISE YOUR HAND.
[CHEERING]
IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A MINISTRY,
LIKE A PRIEST OR A MINISTER
WOULD HAVE A MINISTRY OF HEALTH.
AND AGAIN, HE TOOK
IT VERY SERIOUSLY.
MAYBE I CAN HELP OTHER PEOPLE.
MAYBE THIS IS THE MISSION
THAT GOD HAS FOR ME.
AND MAYBE A MISSION THAT WOULD
HELP HEAL THE DEEP WOUNDS
INSIDE A LITTLE BOY
AN UNDERLYING THEME IN RICHARD'S
LIFE IS, YOU KNOW, INSECURITY.
AND IN A WAY, THE
INSECURITY DROVE HIM
BECAUSE HE WANTED TO
TAKE POWER OVER IT.
BUT HE USED TO SAY TO
ME, "ISN'T IT AMAZING?
"HERE WE ARE, WE'VE
ACCOMPLISHED SO MUCH,
"I'VE DONE SO MUCH,
AND I'M STILL LITTLE,
INSECURE DICKIE SIMMONS."
I THINK THAT I'M
JUST A GOOD EXAMPLE
OF A CHUBBY, FAT, UNHAPPY KID
WHO LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS,
LOUISIANA, AND DREAMED.
AND NOW ALL MY DREAMS
ARE COMING TRUE.
AND IN MANY WAYS, THAGREAT RESPONSE THAHE GOT FROM PEOPLE,
THAT FUELED HIM.
THAT REALLY, YOU KNOW, HE
FELT THE LOVE, LET'S SAY.
- UNTIL HE DIDN'T.
- UNTIL HE DIDN'T. EXACTLY
SO WHY DID THE BIG-HEARTED
MEGASTAR HIDE FROM THE
WORLD FOR 10 YEARS?
BACK IN THE 1980S, AMERICANS
STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHWERE FAIR GAME FOR JOKES.
LAST WEEK, DUCHESS OF
YORK, SARAH FERGUSON,
VISITED THE BIG APPLE AND
SHOWED OFF HER 14-POUND
ON WEIGHT LOSS.
HOPEFULLY THIS
WILL NOT INTERFERE
WITH HER OFFICIAL DUTIES
OF SITTING ON HER FAT ASS
ALL DAY LONG.
- SO HOW'D YOU GAIN THE WEIGHT?
- I ATE A LOT.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
- NO, NO, NO, YOU
SAID 50 POUNDS.
YOU SHOULDN'T LETHAT HAPPEN TO YOU.
YOU'RE VERY PRETTY.
- I'M TRYING, YOU KNOW WHAT?
- NO, I DON'T WANNA HEAR.
LET ME TELL YOU.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
LET ME TELL YOU, IF
YOU'RE A PRETTY GIRL
AND YOU'RE SINGLE, YOU
MUST LOSE THE WEIGHT.
- AND ON TV, YOU ARE
A LITTLE FULLER,
A LITTLE BIT MORE THICKER.
- I WOULDN'T CALL MYSELF THICK.
- SOME GIRL ATE MONICA.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
I KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING.
WHAT AM I SAYING?
THAT I'M OVERWEIGHT, BASICALLY.
YOU REALLY ARE.
IT MAKES ME THINK OF THAT LITTLE
BOY WHO WOULD ONE DAY GROW UP
TO BUILD HIMSELF A HOUSE
FULL OF DOLLS, ANGELS, AND
MEMORIES OF WHAT RIDICULE
USED TO DO TO HIM.
HIS MOTHER HAD BEEN A FAN
DANCER IN OLD-TIME VAUDEVILLE.
SHE ENDED UP WORKING LONG
HOURS AT A DEPARTMENT STORE
TO SUPPORT THE FAMILY.
HIS FATHER, A FORMER VAUDEVILLE
ACTOR, STAYED AT HOME
AND TAUGHT THE CHILDREN
TO LOVE MUSICALS
AND SING THE SHOW TUNES.
GROWING UP IN NEW
ORLEANS, RICHARD
WAS A DEVOUT LITTLE
CATHOLIC SCHOOLBOY
WHO DRESSED UP AS A
CARDINAL FOR A FUNDRAISER.
HE LOVED THE NUNS AND WORRIED
ABOUT THEIR DREARY CONVENROOMS. HE TOLD ME ON THE
PHONE, HE SAID, I
PERSUADED THEM TO TAKE ME
OVER TO SEE WHERE THEY
LIVE, THE LITTLE ROOMS
WHERE THEY LIVE.
AND HE CAME BACK TO
YOUR MOM AND SAID,
MOM, WE'VE GOT TO GETHEM THROW PILLOWS.
WE NEED SOME COLOR
IN THOSE ROOMS.
THAT'S RIGHT.
WE'LL MAKE THEM HAPPY.
ABSOLUTELY. I WAS
TAUGHT BY NUNS,
WHO ALWAYS THOUGHT I WAS,
LIKE, AGAIN AN ALIEN,
BECAUSE I WOULD SING TO
THEM AND I WOULD DO CRAZY,
SILLY THINGS FOR THEM.
A LITTLE PEOPLE PLEASER WHO
HAD NO DEFENSE WHEN BULLIES
ATTACKED, CALLING HIM A SISSY
CHASING HIM WITH A BASEBALL BAT.
DID YOU KNOW HE
WAS BEING BULLIED?
YEAH, WE BOTH WERE BECAUSE
WE WERE, WE WERE HEAVY.
WE DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF MONEY.
MATTER OF FACT, MY DAD MADE
OUR OUTFITS AND MOST PEOPLE
DON'T KNOW THIS, BUT WE WERE ON
WHAT THEY CALL WORK SCHOLARSHIPS
AND TO ONLY TO GET HALF OF
OUR TUITION OFF, WE'D HAVE TO
SERVE THE FOOD AT THE CAFETERIA
AND THEN PICK UP GARBAGE AND
TRASH WHILE THEY WERE STUDYING.
AND THEY WOULD MAKE FUN
OF US FOR DOING THAT.
HE DESCRIBES SOME HEARTBREAKING
SCENES OF GOING IN THE
BATHROOM AND THE KIDS WOULD BE
WAITING FOR HIM AND HE ENDED
UP JUST NOT GOING TO THE
BATHROOM AT THE SCHOOL.
I MEAN, THE STORIES HE WOULD
TELL ME, WHEN HE WAS BULLIED,
HE WOULD COME HOME AND PUT THE
RECORD ON THE RECORD PLAYER
AND JUST DANCE LIKE
THERE'S NO TOMORROW.
WHEN YOU'RE ALONE AND
LIFE IS MAKING YOU LONELY
IMAGINE A LITTLE
BOY, DAY AFTER DAY,
DANCING ON THE EDGE
OF DESPERATION.
EVEN LATER IN HIS LIFE,
HE'LL REMEMBER EVERY
DETAIL OF THAT TIME.
I WOULD RUSH HOME FROM SCHOOL
AND I'D BUY ALL THESE 45S.
I NEVER TRIED TO DEAL WITH
THAT HURT IN FRONT OF ANYBODY.
STILL A CHILD, HE WAS
SO HEAVY HIS DOCTOR PUHIM ON HIS FIRST DIET,
BUT HE KEPT SNEAKING
THE CONSOLATION OF
PO'BOYS AND PRALINES.
HE STOLE DIET PILLS FROM
THE MOTHER OF A FRIEND.
THIRTY MINUTES BEFORE EACH
MEAL DEPRESSES YOUR APPETITE.
DIET PILLS IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
THROWING UP FOUR OR
FIVE TIMES A DAY.
TRYING TO BE ACCEPTED, TRYING
TO CHANGE WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.
HOPEFULLY, YOU KNOW, YOU
COULD BE A NEW PERSON
AND GET RID OF THE OLD PERSON
THAT YOU DIDN'T LIKE SO MUCH.
WE COULDN'T FIND ANY PHOTOS
OF HIM AT HIS HIGHEST WEIGHT,
BUT BY COLLEGE, THE SMALL CLASS
CLOWN WEIGHED 268 POUNDS.
A STRANGER LEFT HIM
A NOTE, "THAT WEIGHIS GOING TO KILL YOU."
THERE WAS A NOTE ON
MY CAR AND IT SAID,
"DEAR RICHARD, YOU'RE
VERY FUNNY, BUT FAPEOPLE DIE YOUNG."
IN A PANIC, HE STARVES
HIMSELF, LETTUCE AND WATER,
LOSING MORE THAN 100
POUNDS IN ONLY TWO MONTHS.
BUT IT ENDS HIM UP IN THE
HOSPITAL WITH DEHYDRATION
AND PROBLEMS WITH HIS
KIDNEYS AND HIS LUNGS.
WHEN HE COMES TO LOS
ANGELES AT AGE 25,
HE'S THIN, BUT HORRIFIED
BY THE DAMAGE HE HAS DONE.
MY HAIR FELL OUT, THE EYES
DROOPED, THE CHIN DROOPED.
IF YOU DON'T EXERCISE WHILE
YOU'RE LOSING THE WEIGHT,
YOU WILL END UP TO LOOK
LIKE A VERY THIN GLAD BAG.
I HAD TO GO TO A
PLASTIC SURGEON.
CHIN HAD TO GO UP,
EYES HAD TO BE DONE,
NOSE FIXED, 900 HAIR TRANSPLANT.
WHAT'S TO PREVENT OTHER
PEOPLE FROM LOOKING AT YOU
AND SAYING, "HEY, RICHARD
DID IT, WHY CAN'T I DO IT?"
CAUSE THEY SHOULDN'T MAKE THE
SAME ANGUISH MISTAKE THAT I MADE
'CAUSE I ALMOST DIED.
HE'S THE WORKOUT COACH
WITH A POWERFUL PURPOSE
AND A MAN READY FOR
ANOTHER TRANSFORMATION.
UNDER HIS TASTEFUL CARDIGAN,
CRYSTAL STUDDED TANK TOPS,
THE GRAY SLACKS NOW
DOLPHIN SHORTS,
HIS CURLY HAIR ON A
FLIGHT OF ITS OWN.
AS IF TO SAY,
"BULLIES BE DAMNED,"
THAT TORMENTED LITTLE
BOY HAS BECOME A DARING
PIONEER OF AMBIGUITY.
HE SAW HIMSELF AS
A COURT JESTER.
RICHARD ALWAYS SAID, "I
DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE
LAUGHING WITH ME OR AT ME.
I JUST WANT THEM
TO BE LAUGHING."
HERE AGAIN ON DAVID LETTERMAN.
SO WE'RE GOING TO
GO GET HIM PANTS.
PUT HIM IN SOME LIKE
JUNGLE FATIGUE, THAKIND OF THING, YOU KNOW?
I'M NOT GOING.
LOOK LIKE A TOUGH GUY.
YOU WANT TO LOOK LIKE A
TOUGH GUY, DON'T YOU?
NO... ALL RIGHT.
OH MY GOD!
I AM ALIGNMENT FOR THE COUNTY!
COME ON, HERE WE GO.
I DON'T WANT TO GO OUDRESSED LIKE THAT.
I DON'T CARE.
LET'S GO.
BUT SOMETIMES YOU GO ON THESE
INTERVIEWS AND YOU THINK,
WHY IS HE PUNISHING HIMSELF?
IT FELT LIKE A LITTLE BOY
WHO WANTED TO BE FRIENDS
WITH THE COOL KIDS, YOU KNOW?
FELT LIKE A LITTLE BOY WHO
WANTED TO BE INCLUDED.
AND I'M SURE WHEN HE WAS A
LITTLE BOY, HE WASN'T INCLUDED.
DO YOU THINK HE DID IBECAUSE HE THOUGHT HE
COULD WIN THEM OVER?
HE KIND OF DID
WITH HOWARD STERN.
YOU'RE MY FAVORITE
GUEST OF ALL TIME.
I KNOW, I KNOW.
AND I LOVE YOU.
BUT LET ME SAY THIS TOO.
I LOVE YOU.
WITH EVERY APPEARANCE,
MORE PEOPLE WOULD
SIGN UP FOR HIS HELP.
ROSIE O'DONNELL SAW THE MAGIC.
WHAT WAS THE DEFINITION OF WHAHE DID THAT WAS DIFFERENT?
I THINK HE LOVED
PEOPLE BACK TO HEALTH.
ALWAYS THINKING OF OTHER PEOPLE
AND CHEERING YOU ON, YOU KNOW?
I MEAN, AS I STRUGGLED
WITH MY WEIGHT UP AND
DOWN FOR SO MANY YEARS.
AND THAT WAS HIS GIFTHAT HE GAVE EVERYONE.
HE CARED ABOUT EVERY
STORY HE HEARD.
HEY, IT'S RICHARD
SIMMONS CALLING.
HOW ARE YOU?
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I
PERSONALLY TOLD YOU
HOW TERRIFIC YOU ARE?
WHETHER IT WAS A
SENATOR, OR THE CEO OF A
FORTUNE 500 COMPANY,
OR YOU WERE DELIVERING
THE FEDEX PACKAGE,
OR YOU WERE THE
HOUSEKEEPER AT THE HOTEL,
EVERYONE GOT THE SAME.
I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE
A GREAT FRIEND.
BYE, SWEET MAN.
FOR DECADES, SIMMONS
WOULD BE A ONE-MAN
OZEMPIC, TIRELESSLY
HELPING AMERICANS
LOSE AN ESTIMATED
THREE MILLION POUNDS.
HOW MUCH?
FIFTY POUNDS.
EIGHTY-FIVE. TWENTY POUNDS.
FORTY. A HUNDRED.
TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR POUNDS.
IT WAS HIS WHOLE LIFE.
EVERY MONTH, EVERY
WEEK, EVERY DAY FOR 30
FOR 20 YEARS, HE TRAVELED
10 MILLION MILES
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
AN INEXHAUSTIBLE MAN IN
SHORTS AND TANK TOPS,
FLYING HIGH IN HIS
30S, HIS 40S, HIS 50S.
EVEN TRYING TO FIRE UP
THE DANCE IN HIS 60S.
BUT COMING UP, IS SOMETHING
HAPPENING TO THE LAUGHING,
LEAPING COURT JESTER?
A DARK SHADOW
BEGINNING TO MOVE IN.
IT WAS 1997 WHEN ELLEN DEGENERES
MADE THE PIONEERING CALL TO
COME OUT ON HER OWN TV SITCOM.
I'M GAY.
CONSERVATIVE BACKLASH
WAS IMMEDIATE.
THE IDEA OF SAYING TO
THE CHILDREN OF AMERICA
THAT THE GAY AND LESBIAN
ALTERNATIVE ONE, CHILDREN
SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN
THAT KIND OF TEMPTATION.
THE AUDIENCES
GRADUALLY RETREATED.
HER SHOW WAS TAKEN OFF THE AIR.
SHE AND I SPOKE AFTERWARDS
ABOUT THE CANCELLATION OF
THE SHOW AND HER COURAGE.
I'M GOING TO MISS THE SHOW,
BUT IT'S STILL, IT DOESN'MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO ME IF I
WOULD HAVE STAYED ON, YOU KNOW,
TWO MORE YEARS OR TEN MORE
YEARS IF I WOULD HAVE BEEN NOFOLLOWING MY HEART.
ANOTHER TELEVISION PIONEER,
ROSIE O'DONNELL, REMEMBERS THATREACHEROUS CULTURAL LANDSCAPE
AND SAYS IF RICHARD
SIMMONS WAS LIVING ON A
BLURRED LINE, SO WAS SHE.
WE'RE IN A SIMILAR POSITION ATHE TIME IN MY SHOW, RIGHT?
HOW DO YOU MEAN?
HE WASN'T SPEAKING ABOUT HIS
RELATIONSHIPS OR LOVE LIFE
OR IDENTIFYING HIMSELF
IN ANY WAY BACK IN THE
BEGINNING, NOR WAS I.
IT WASN'T UNTIL WE DID THE
INTERVIEW THAT I CAME OUT AND
SPOKE ABOUT THE
TRUTH OF MY LIFE.
IT WAS YEARS AFTER ELLEN'S SHOW
HAD BEEN CANCELLED THAT ROSIE
DID THIS INTERVIEW WITH ME.
YOU SEEM SO FEARLESS.
ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THERE'S
NO WAY BACK FROM THAT?
I GUESS, I MEAN, PART OF THE
REASON WHY I'VE NEVER, LIKE,
SAID THAT I WAS GAY UNTIL NOW
WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANTHAT ADJECTIVE ASSIGNED TO
MY NAME FOR ALL OF ETERNITY.
I DON'T THINK HE FELT, NOT ONLY
NOT COMFORTABLE, BUT I THINK HE
MAYBE FELT THERE'D BE BACKLASH.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO ELLEN?
RIGHT? ADD TO THAT, GROWING UP A
DEVOUT CATHOLIC BOY WHO FINALLY
GOT HIS DREAM, AN AUDIENCE WITH
THE POPE
HE WOULD NOT DISCUSS HIS PRIVATE
RELATIONSHIPS IN PUBLIC,
AND THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED
FOR HIM AND HIS FAMILY
RESOLUTELY HONOR
THAT PRIVACY TODAY.
HE WAS JUST DICKIE.
THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT HE
WAS NOT GOING TO DISCUSS.
BUT HE'D GO RIGHT TO
THE LINE, REAL CLOSE,
AND PUT HIS TOE OVER THE LINE.
AND AGAIN, BACK TO SOROF, "I WANT PEOPLE TO
LAUGH AND FEEL GOOD."
EVEN AT PRIVATE DINNERS, HE
MIGHT SHOW UP IN FULL DRAG.
THE ELEVATOR OPENED,
AND OUT HE COMES.
AND HE'S JUST IN FULL REGALIA,
LOOKING LIKE SOMEBODY'S
AUNT BARBARA.
AND I'M LIKE, "ALL RIGHT.
HEY, LISTEN, I'M
ALL GOOD WITH IT.
I HAVE NO ISSUE
WITH IT, YOU KNOW."
ON "JAY LENO," WHEN A
RUGGED ACTION STAR APPEARS,
RICHARD SUPPLIES THE PUNCHLINE.
- HI, I'M DICK SIMMONS.
HOW YOU DOING?
THERE YOU GO, THERE YOU GO.
DICK. HEY, YOU SEE
THAT SUPER BOWL?
DAMN.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
THERE YOU GO.
WOW, THERE YOU ARE.
HE'S A MAN'S MAN.
- PLEASE WELCOME
OUR MYSTERY GUEST.
- ON "ROSIE," HE
FEARLESSLY SHOWS UP
TO PLAY HER MACHO
MYSTERY SURPRISE.
- OKAY, WAIT, ARE
YOU A SPORTS FIGURE?
- YOU MUST BE OUT OF YOUR MIND.
(AUDIENCE LAUGHING)
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?
TAKE YOUR HANDS.
BRING THEM UP.
PUT THEM ON MY HEAD.
RICHARD SIMMONS!
THAT'S IT.
I ALWAYS TRY TO GET CLOSE
TO HIM AT THE COMMERCIALS.
I ALWAYS TRY TO, LIKE, YOU
KNOW, SAY, LIKE, YOU KNOW,
I HAVE A SPOUSE AND
KIDS AND, YOU KNOW,
DO YOU GOT ANYBODY YOU LOVE?
AND HE WOULD ALWAYS GO, OH,
CHOO, CHOO, CHOO, YOU KNOW?
AND I SENSED A SADNESS,
TOO, YOU KNOW?
BECAUSE I STRUGGLE WITH
DEPRESSION MYSELF,
AND I CAN SOMETIMES SEE OTHER
PEOPLE WHO ARE STRUGGLING.
AND THEN, AS TIME WENT ON,
NEW INSECURITIES SEEMED
TO COMPOUND THE OLD ONES.
HIS SIGNATURE BOYISH
FACE WEATHERED,
HIS HAIR THINNING, THAHIGH-FLYING CHARMER
NOW HOBBLED BY PAIN.
WHEN HE WOULD STAND, ILOOKED LIKE HE WOULD POSE
AND HIS LEG WOULD GO OUT.
HE HAD A LOT OF
PROBLEMS WITH HIS KNEE.
AND HE WOULD COME HOME,
HE'D SAY, "I GOT ICE.
I AM SO SORE.
LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE.
YOU CAN SEE HIS LEGS IN
THE OLD TAPE ON THE LEFAND THE LATER TAPE ON THE RIGHT.
HE HAD REPLACEMENSURGERY ON ONE KNEE
AND TRIED STEM CELL
THERAPY ON THE OTHER,
BUT IT DIDN'T WORK.
I THINK EVERYTHING
HAPPENED AT ONE TIME
AND HE JUST DIDN'T LIKE
THE WAY HE LOOKED AT 65.
HE DIDN'T LOOK LIKE
THE IMPISH CHEERLEADER
- BIG CURLY HAIR.
- BIG HAIR AND ALL THAT.
- NOBODY WANTS A CHEERLEADER
TO COME OUT, YOU KNOW,
WITH NO POM-POMS.
- HOWARD STERN HAD OPENLY
ADORED RICHARD SIMMONS,
WHO WAS ON HIS SHOW 64 TIMES.
BUT NOW, WHEN STERN TRIES
TO GET BEHIND THE MASK--
- AND YOU ARE A LOVING MAN.
I JUST WONDER IF YOU'VE
EVER HAD LOVE IN YOUR LIFE.
AND I DON'T MEAN THAIN ANY COMICAL SENSE.
DO YOU KNOW LOVE?
- I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU'RE
PICKING ON ME TODAY.
- IS THAT PICKING?
- YEAH, A LITTLE BIT.
MY WONDERFUL HOUSEKEEPER
TODAY, TERESA,
WHO'S BEEN WITH ME 24 YEARS.
BUT THAT'S SOMEONE YOU PAY.
IS THERE ANYONE THERE
WHO CARES ABOUT YOU?
NO, SHE CARES ABOUT ME.
SHE LOVES ME VERY MUCH.
NOW IN HIS 60S, SIMMONS
CAN FEEL THAT THE TIMES
AND TASTES ARE CHANGING.
MICHELLE OBAMA HAD LAUNCHED
A NEW FITNESS CAMPAIGN.
RICHARD SPOKE ABOUT ION HUFFINGTON POST.
I LOVE MICHELLE OBAMA.
YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO
MEET THEM, BOTH OF THEM.
I WANTED TO HELP HER BECAUSE I'M
JUST NOT THEIR SET OF SHEETS.
HE BEGINS TO PULL BACK FROM
HIS TRAVELS MORE TIME AT HOME
WITH HIS DALMATIANS AND DOLLS,
THE ANGELS AND THE CROSSES
ON THE WALL, AND THE
BEDROOM, A QUIET REFUGE.
THE CHARACTER HE ONCE INVENTED,
NOW JUST SEQUINS IN THE CLOSET.
OH, THEY'RE AMAZING.
LOOK AT THE ONE YOU PICK.
IT'S THE SMILING ONE.
THAT IS.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW HE'S
SMILING RIGHT NOW.
ABSOLUTELY. TALK
ABOUT THE CRYSTALS.
AND FEEL HOW HEAVY THEY ARE.
THEY ARE.
AND THE MAN WHO SPENT HIS LIFE
GIVING ENCOURAGEMENT TO OTHERS
WAKES UP TO WORDS OF AFFIRMATION
TO GET HIM THROUGH EVERY DAY.
THE FUTURE BELONGS TO
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE
BEAUTY OF THEIR DREAMS.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT.
AND THEN THERE'S
ANOTHER ANGEL UP HERE.
SO THIS WAS BY ALBERT EINSTEIN.
ONLY A LIFE LIVED FOR OTHERS
IS A LIFE WORTHWHILE.
HE HAS SAID AFTER ALL
THE YEARS ON THE ROAD,
HE NEVER CREATED A
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.
IN HIS HOUSE, HE HAD A DOLL OF
HIS IDOL, BARBARA STREISAND,
BUT THEY DIDN'SPEND TIME TOGETHER.
WHO'S THE MOST FAMOUS
PERSON YOU MEAND GOT TO HANG OUT WITH?
I JUST DON'T, I DON'T SOCIALIZE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW TO SOCIALIZE
'CAUSE AS A FAT KID,
I SORT OF KEPT TO MYSELF.
I WOULDN'T KNOW WHATO DO AT A PARTY.
I DON'T GO TO ANYONE.
I HAVEN'T BEEN TO
ANYONE'S HOUSE.
REALLY? IN SEVEN YEARS.
AND THEN HATTIE, THE LAST OF
HIS BELOVED DALMATIANS, DIED.
IT DEVASTATED HIM.
WHEN I WOULD GO OVER THERE AND
HE WAS JUST QUIET, YOU KNOW?
AND PERHAPS SOMEWHAT DEPRESSED.
SADDER, SADDER.
HE WASN'T THE BOUNCING
OFF THE WALLS, RICHARD.
CERTAINLY. HE STILL TRIES.
YOU CAN SEE IT IN THIS
VIDEO, WHICH IS ABOUT A YEAR
BEFORE HE'LL GO INTO HIDING.
HE DOES ROUSE HIMSELF TO
GREET A CELEBRITY TOUR BUS.
THEY SPOT HIM FOR A SECOND.
THE OLD RICHARD TURNS IT ON
TO MAKE THE TOURISTS HAPPY.
THERE HE IS, HE'S FOUND HER.
EVERYONE WAVE AND HE MIGHT COME.
WHERE'S HE GONE?
HOW ARE YOU?
COME ON!
EXCELLENT.
WHERE ARE YOU ALL FROM?
AUSTRALIA! LET'S GO!
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO...
- DRAGOS. -YEAH.
- WE LOVE THE OYSTERS.
- JUST A MINUTE.
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER,
DID YOU EVER TASTE
ANYTHING LIKE THAT?
TAKE THIS PLACE.
TAKE THIS 007.
SKYFALL. -WHY ARE WE HERE?
- WE'RE FRESH HERE.
IT IS JANUARY 2014.
THE TMZ CORNERS A SUBDUED
SIMMONS ON THE SIDEWALK.
HELLO. HOW ARE YOU?
THIS IS THE LAST KNOWN
IMAGE OF RICHARD SIMMONS.
IN JUST A FEW WEEKS,
HE'LL DISAPPEAR
AND HIDE FROM THE
WORLD FOR TEN YEARS.
HAPPY NEW YEAR'S TO YOU
AND ALL YOUR VIEWERS.
I HOPE THAT THEY'RE GONNA
EXERCISE THIS YEAR.
ACTUALLY, I'M SQUEEZING MY
BUNS WHILE I'M TALKING.
AND THEN IT JUST GOT REAL QUIET.
AND IT WAS THE HOUSEKEEPER
AND THE ASSISTANT.
THAT WAS EVERYTHING.
COMING UP, IS IT VANITY?
IS IT FEAR?
IS IT A PHOBIA? YOU'LL
MEET THE PERSON WHO SPENTHAT DECADE INSIDE
THE HOUSE, WITH HIM
2014 THE FIRST YEAR OF RICHARD
SIMMONS' DISAPPEARANCE,
THE 65-YEAR-OLD TELLS
HIS CLOSE FAMILY HE
JUST NEEDS A REST.
I'D SAY, "OKAY, THE FIRSYEAR, I UNDERSTAND.
SECOND YEAR, OKAY, YOU'RE
REALLY TIRED, I UNDERSTAND.
BY THE THIRD YEAR,
I'D BE WORRIED.
- WE WERE ALL
CONCERNED ABOUT IT,
AND HE DID SEE SOMEONE, HE
SAW A DOCTOR AT SOME POINT,
BUT HE WASN'T OVERLY
RECEPTIVE TO IT.
HONESTLY, I DON'T THINK HE
GAVE IT ENOUGH OF A CHANCE,
HONESTLY, YOU KNOW.
- EVERYBODY CALLS ISOMETHING DIFFERENT.
HIS FUNK, HIS YEARS OF SOLITUDE,
HIS DECADE OF SOLITUDE.
NOBODY EVER REALIZED IWAS GOING TO BE 10 YEARS.
10 YEARS OF SOMETHING LIKE
A PHOBIA OF BEING SEEN.
AT ONE POINT, HIS
HOUSE MANAGER, TERESA,
HAS TO HIDE HIM UNDER
A BLANKET TO TAKE HIM
TO THE HOSPITAL FOR A MEDICAL
PROCEDURE ON HIS ESOPHAGUS.
HIS BROTHER, LENNY, FLIES
OUT TO BE WITH HIM.
LENNY GOT ON THE PHONE.
HE SAID, YOU'RE GOING.
I'M COMING OUT.
GOODBYE. AND LENNY WAS ON THE
NEXT PLANE OUT HERE.
BUT AT SOME POINT, FAMILY
VISITS BEGAN TO TRAIL OFF,
THOUGH LENNY AND KATHY
STAY IN FAITHFUL TOUCH
ONCE A WEEK BY PHONE.
AS YEARS BEGIN TO GO BY,
A HIT PODCAST RAISES
WORRIED QUESTIONS ABOUHIS DISAPPEARANCE.
TABLOID MAGAZINES MAKE
WILD ACCUSATIONS.
THEY SUGGEST HE
WAS TRANSITIONING,
WHICH WASN'T TRUE, AND
EVEN REPORTED THATERESA HAD TAKEN HIM HOSTAGE.
POLICE DETECTIVES COME TO THE
HOUSE FOR A WELLNESS CHECK.
RICHARD CONVINCES
THEM HE'S FINE.
AT ONE POINT, HE
PHONES THE TODAY SHOW
TO DENY ALL THOSE RUMORS.
- NO ONE IS HOLDING ME IN
MY HOUSE AS A HOSTAGE.
- BUT HE DOESN'T DENY HE IS
IN THE GRIP OF SOMETHING
THAT ECHOES CHILDHOOD FEARS,
LIKE PETER PAN'S SHADOW.
- WHEN YOU'RE AN OVERWEIGHKID, AND YOU'RE MADE FUN OF,
YOU'RE PUT DOWN.
SOME OF THAT STUFF
NEVER LEAVES YOU.
IT ALWAYS SORT OF IS LIKE
A SHADOW LIKE PETER PAN.
AND THERE, INSIDE
THAT HOUSE WITH HIM,
THE HOUSE MANAGER HAD BEEN
BY HIS SIDE FOR 36 YEARS.
YOU COMFORTABLE?
TERESA RAVELLAS
RELUCTANTLY AGREES
TO COME BEFORE OUR CAMERAS.
SHE SAYS HE WAS SO KIND AND
SEEMED HAPPY AT HOME WITH HER,
BUT SHE CONFIRMS HIS
FEAR OF BEING SEEN BY
ANYONE FROM THE OUTSIDE.
WHEN TERESA GOT CANCER,
HE TOOK CARE OF HER,
BUT IF A NURSE HAD TO COME IN,
HE'D HIDE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
HE WAS INSECURE, OKAY,
THAT HE DON'T LOOK GOOD,
THAT HE DON'T LOOK GOOD ANYMORE.
BUT THAT IS WHAT IT WAS.
THEY GONNA SAY, "OH,
RICHARD SIMMONS, I SAW
RICHARD, HE LOOKS OLD.
HE DOESN'T LOOK GOOD ANYMORE.
BUT IS THAT JUST VANITY
OR SOMETHING DEEPER?
BACK WITH THE BASEBALL
BATS AND BULLIES
AND THE MORTAL PAIN
OF BEING RIDICULED.
A LEGACY OF WOUNDS
THAT NEVER HEAL.
THAT IMAGE WILL
KILL RICHARD, OKAY?
SO WHAT WAS HE DOING IN
THAT HOUSE ALL THAT TIME?
TERESA SAYS HE HAD
BREAKFAST WITH HER.
THEY WATCHED THE NEWS
TOGETHER AT NIGHT.
WE ALSO TRACKED DOWN HIS
LONGTIME ASSISTANT, MICHELLE,
WHO USED TO WORK ON HIS VIDEOS
AND WOULD NOW DROP BY
REGULARLY JUST TO MEET.
TERESA SAYS THAT RICHARD
ABSOLUTELY FORBADE ANYONE
FROM EVER TAKING A PHOTO OF
HIM, EVEN INSIDE THE HOUSE.
SO THIS IS THE PHOTO
ALBUM FROM ALL THAT TIME.
ANIMALS COMING UP TO THE DOOR
TO BE FED BY RICHARD SIMMONS.
THEY ARE LOOKING AHIM, BUT WE CAN'T.
TERESA CONFIRMS THASOMETIMES SHE WOULD TAKE HIM
OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR
A DRIVE AND A WALK,
BUT HE WAS IN COMPLETE DISGUISE.
- OH, HE DO A VERY
DIFFERENT COSTUME.
SOMETIMES HE BE A CLOWN.
SOMETIMES HE BE A WOMAN.
NOBODY KNOWS WAS HIM.
AND THEN LATER,
WE GO IN THE CAR,
AND I TAKE HIM OUT OF THE
CITY SO WE CAN SEE THE NEW
BUILDINGS, THE NEW STORE.
NINE YEARS AND 11
MONTHS WILL GO BY.
AN OLD FRIEND WHO REACHED
OUT SAID HE NEVER
RETURNED HER CALLS.
ARE WE WRONG TO HAVE
TROUBLE BELIEVING
WHAT WAS JUST BEING
SAID ALL THE TIME?
THAT HE JUST WANTS TO REST?
I DON'T THINK SO.
BUT A 10-YEAR DEPRESSION, DO
YOU THINK THAT'S POSSIBLE?
I CERTAINLY DO.
THESE WHOLE 10 YEARS.
I CERTAINLY DO.
I THINK IT'S VERY POSSIBLE
A 10-YEAR DEPRESSION,
ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE NOABLE TO GET THE KIND OF HELP
THAT YOU NEED.
AND IT SEEMS TO
ME THAT HE WASN'A GUY WHO WOULD LOVE THERAPY.
NO, BUT SOMETIMES
DEPRESSION WINS.
JANUARY 2024, RICHARD
SIMMONS IS NOW 75 YEARS OLD
WHEN SUDDENLY SOMETHING JOLTS
HIM OUT OF HIS FEARFUL HIDING.
HE SEES THIS VIDEO OF
THE COMEDIAN PAULY SHORE
ANNOUNCING HE IS GOING TO
PLAY RICHARD SIMMONS IN A
BIOGRAPHY OF SIMMONS LIFE.
IN A STUNNING MOVE, RICHARD
GOES ONLINE TO SAY HE DIDN'AUTHORIZE THIS BIOPIC AND HE
DIDN'T WANT THE PURPOSE OF HIS
LIFE REINVENTED
WITHOUT PERMISSION.
THIS MORNING, RECLUSIVE
FITNESS ICON RICHARD SIMMONS
ISSUING A RARE STATEMENT AFTER
WORD THAT A BIOPIC ABOUT HIS
LIFE WILL SOON BE RELEASED.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
THE NIAGARA OF EXCITEMENT,
HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF FANS
AND THEN HE WAS LIKE, "WOW,
THEY REALLY MISSED ME.
I DIDN'T KNOW ANYONE WOULD
CARE THAT I WAS GONE."
AND THAT JUST COMES
BACK TO THAT WHOLE
INSECURITY THING, YOU KNOW?
YOU KNOW WHAT?
RICHARD NEVER FELT FAMOUS.
HE THOUGHT THAT NOBODY'S
GOING TO REMEMBER HIM
BECAUSE 10 YEARS WENT BY.
AND WHEN HE SAW THARIGHT AWAY IN A SECOND,
AND THEN RICHARD SAYS,
"TERESA, LOOK IT."
- AND THAT'S WHEN I
GOT THE CALL FROM HIM
ABOUT DOING AN INTERVIEW
TO TELL HIS STORY HIMSELF.
HE TOLD ME HE HAD FEVERISHLY
STARTED WRITING SONGS
FOR A BROADWAY MUSICAL
VERSION OF HIS LIFE,
HOW HE PLANNED TO TAKE THE
FRONT SEATS OUT OF THE THEATER
SO THAT PEOPLE COULD COME DOWN
AND DANCE LIKE THE OLD DAYS.
AND WE STARTED JOKING
THE LAST SIX MONTHS.
I SAID, "THERE'S A PART OF
'HAMILTON' THAT SHE SAYS,
'WHY DO YOU WRITE LIKE YOU'RE
RUNNING OUT OF TIME?'"
AND WE WOULD BOTH SING
THAT SONG TOGETHER.
'CAUSE HE WOULD CALL,
"I HAVE ANOTHER ONE.
YOU WANNA HEAR IT?"
IT WAS JUST THIS
CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE,
JUST EFFERVESCENT AND
GIGGLY, YOU KNOW, LIKE
A LITTLE BOY AGAIN.
IT WAS, LIKE, SO GOOD
TO HAVE HIM BACK.
YEAH. AND THE LASOUR PHONE CALL, HE TELLS ME,
"I KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS
RIGHT AND I TRUST YOU."
AND THEN HE BEGAN TO CRY.
JULY 12, 2024, HIS
76TH BIRTHDAY.
I SENT HIM A BIRTHDAY MESSAGE.
LENNY AND KATHY CALL HIM.
WE TALKED-- CALLED
HIM ON HIS BIRTHDAY,
OUR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.
HE SAID HE HAD GOTTEN SOME
FOOD POISONING, SOME BAD LUCK.
HIS VOICE WAS A LITTLE OFF.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW IS
THAT HE WAS IMMOBILIZED.
HE HAD FALLEN AND LAIN ON THE
FLOOR FOR HOURS AND HOURS
WITH A TERRIBLE INJURY, THE
INJURY THAT WOULD ULTIMATELY
LEAD TO HIS DEATH.
LEGENDARY FITNESS GURU RICHARD
SIMMONS HAS DIED IN LOS ANGELES
JUST ONE DAY AFTER TURNING 76.
YO, THIS IS CRAZY.
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT.
BUT RICHARD SIMMONS JUST DIED.
SIMMONS WAS JUST ONE OF
THOSE CULTURAL ICONS
WITH ZERO SCANDAL.
AND IT WAS LIKE, THE THING
THAT I HAD NEVER EXPECTED.
AND I GOT THE PHONE CALL.
WHO CALLED WHO?
TERESA CALLED.
A SHATTERED OLDER BROTHER
FLIES TO CALIFORNIA.
THE CORONER, DR. GRANT HO,
GAVE HIM UNSETTLING NEWS.
HIS BROTHER'S DEATH WAS
NOT FROM NATURAL CAUSES.
IT WAS ACCIDENTAL, PRECIPITATED
BY THAT TERRIBLE FALL
TWO NIGHTS BEFORE HE DIED.
WHEN DR. HO SAID THE MANNER
OF DEATH WAS ACCIDENTAL,
IT REALLY THREW US.
HE HAD APPARENTLY
BROKEN HIS FEMUR,
AND IT WAS PRONATED, SO NOOUT OF THE SKIN, BUT OUT.
BY THE HIP JOINT.
PAINFUL.
IT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT IN THABATHROOM OFF THE BEDROOM.
TERESA'S BEDROOM IS DOWNSTAIRS
IN A WING BACK OFF THE KITCHEN.
THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN HE'S
NOT DOWN FOR BREAKFAST,
SHE GOES UP AND FINDS HIM.
I WENT TO HIS ROOM AND
I KNOCKED THE DOOR.
AND I SAID, RICHARD, HE
SAYS, COME IN, TERESA.
AND HE WAS SITTING ON THE
FLOOR IN HIS BEDROOM.
AND I SAID, WHAT HAPPENED?
HE SAYS, "I COME TO
THE BATHROOM, AND I
GOT DIZZY AND I FELL.
AND I TRIED TO GET UP,
BUT MY LEFT LEG HURTS ME.
I CAN'T GET UP."
HE SAYS, "I JUST SCREAMED TO
YOU, AND YOU DON'T HEAR ME."
I SAID, "RICHARD, YOU KNOW WHAT?
MAYBE YOU HAVE A FRACTURE.
CAN WE GO TO THE HOSPITAL?"
AND YOU KNOW, HE WAS NOT EVEN
COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAIN.
"NOT ON MY BIRTHDAY, TERESA.
WE GO TOMORROW.
SHE CALLS FOR THE REGULAR
CLEANING PERSON THERE THAT DAY,
IRMA, TO COME HELP.
THE TWO OF THEM GEHIM BACK IN BED.
AND HE SAYS, IF I DON'T MOVE AND
I'M IN THE BED, NOTHING HURTS.
ONLY WHEN I TRY TO PUT THE
WEIGHT ON MY LEG, IT HURTS ME.
BUT HE NEVER COMPLAINED
THAT IT HURTS A LOT.
AND HE SAYS, NO, THE LONG AS I
STAYED ON MY BED WITH MY LEG,
NOTHING HURTS.
I WANT TO CELEBRATE MY BIRTHDAY.
AND THEN TOMORROW
MORNING, WE WILL DO IT.
AND I HAVE TO DO WHAT HE
WANTS TO DO, YOU KNOW?
AT 10 O'CLOCK THANIGHT, SHE SAYS
SHE GOES UP TO HIS BEDROOM
TO GIVE HIM HIS SLEEPING
MEDICATION AND ASKS HIM AGAIN
IF SHE CAN CALL AN AMBULANCE.
NOW THAT IT'S DARK OUTSIDE,
NO ONE WILL SEE HIM.
NOBODY'S GOING TO SEE YOU.
IT'S NICE TO GO PEACE AT NIGHT.
HE SAYS, "NOT TODAY, TERESA.
TOMORROW I DO ANYTHING YOU WANT.
TOMORROW CALL THE AMBULANCE.
TOMORROW MORNING,
YOU DO EVERYTHING."
SHE LEAVES RICHARD
ALONE IN HIS BEDROOM.
BUT AT SOME POINT, HE WILL
TRY ONCE AGAIN TO GET UP
AND FALLS BESIDE THE BED.
AT 9.30 THE NEXT MORNING,
TERESA COMES UP AND
FINDS HIM ON THE FLOOR.
HE HAS DIED.
I OPENED THE DOOR, AND I
DON'T SEE HIM IN HIS BED.
WHEN I COME HERE, THEN
I SAW HIM ON THE FLOOR.
OKAY, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
I'M TALKING ABOUT THIS.
AND I KNOW HE PASSED
OUT RIGHT AWAY.
RIGHT AWAY, I KNEW
HE PASSED OUT.
I RUN.
I WENT AND CALLED HIM.
I KNEW IT WAS TOO
LATE TO HELP HIM.
I HUGGED HIM, I KISSED HIM,
AND I TOLD HIM TO TALK TO ME.
THE CORONER'S REPOROF WHAT HAPPENED IS
FILLED WITH SOME
ANSWERS AND SOME STILL
MYSTERIOUS QUESTIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, THERE ARE A NUMBER
OF BRUISES HERE, HERE, HERE.
SOME OF THEM NEW,
WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN
FROM THE NIGHT OF THE FALL,
BUT OTHERS CLEARLY OLDER.
- WELL, THAT I DON'T KNOW WHY.
HE NEVER COMPLAINED
ABOUT ANYTHING,
AND HE NEVER TOLD ME
UNLESS HE BRUISES
WHEN HE WAS DOING EXERCISE.
I DON'T KNOW, BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, HE WAS DOING THE WEIGHTS,
HE WAS DOING THE MACHINES.
- THE AUTOPSY ALSO SHOWS
SAYS THAT HE HAD SOME
SIGNIFICANT HEART BLOCKAGE,
BUT A HEART ATTACK WAS
NOT THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
SO WHAT WAS IT?
THE REPORT SAYS ONLY HE
DIED OF COMPLICATIONS
AFTER THE TRAUMATIC FALL.
THE MEDICAL EXAMINER DOES NOSPECIFY THE POSSIBILITIES
LIKE STROKE, INFECTION,
KIDNEY FAILURE.
AND BY PRACTICE, HE
DOES NOT COMMENT.
SO LENNY IS LEFT TO WONDER.
IF RICHARD HAD AGREED
TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL,
WOULD EVERYTHING BE DIFFERENT?
HAD HE GONE TO THE HOSPITAL,
WOULD HE STILL BE AROUND?
ONLY GOD KNOWS THAT.
I THINK RICHARD WOULD BE
DOING THIS INTERVIEW WITH YOU
AND NOT ME.
AND SO ON OCTOBER 5 AT THE
CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ORLEANS,
THEY PREPARE FOR A CELEBRATION.
LENNY, KATHY, TERESA HAVE
READIED RICHARD FOR BURIAL.
SO HE'S WEARING A BEAUTIFUL
PINK BICHON JACKET.
THAT WAS HIS FAVORITE
COLOR, WAS PINK.
BEAUTIFUL GRAY SLACKS.
THEY PUT ONE OF HIS FAVORITE
PRALINES NEAR HIS BODY
AND MAKE SURE THAT UNDERNEATH
THAT TASTEFUL JACKET,
HE IS WEARING A GLITTERING
TANK TOP AND SHORTS
SO HE'S READY TO SWEAWITH THE HOLIES.
GOD HAS ANOTHER PLAN FOR
HIM TO HELP THE SAINTS
AND THE ANGELS GET INTO SHAPE.
RICHARD SIMMONS WILL FOREVER
BE SWEATING WITH THE HOLIES.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
AND IF ONLY THAT INSECURE
LITTLE BOY COULD HAVE SEEN
THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS
TURNING OUT FOR HIM.
- DARING THE BULLIES TO MAKE
FUN OF SEQUINED TANK TOPS,
DOLPHIN SHORTS, CURLY HAIR,
AND A MAN WHO ONCE PROMISED,
"YOUR LIFE, YOUR
HEALTH, YOUR JOY
ARE JUST ONE DANCE,
ONE HUG AWAY."
- I DON'T THINK UNITED
STATES OR THE WORLD
IS GONNA HAVE ANOTHER
RICHARD SIMMONS.
- AND EVERYONE IN THE
AUDIENCE IS GONNA GET ONE.
I ASKED ROSIE O'DONNELL WHASHE WOULD SAY TO HIM TODAY,
AND SHE QUOTED A BELOVED
SHOW TUNE FROM LES MIS.
"MY SOUL BELONGS TO GOD I KNOW.
I MADE THAT BARGAIN LONG AGO.
HE GAVE ME HOPE
WHEN HOPE WAS GONE.
HE GAVE ME STRENGTH
TO CARRY ON."
SO IF YOU COULD ASK
HIM ONE MORE QUESTION
ABOUT ANYTHING,
WHAT WOULD IT BE?
DID YOU FINALLY FEEL THE LOVE?
AND I THINK HE WOULD
SAY OVERWHELMINGLY YES.
I'D WANT TO KNOW
IF HE WAS HAPPY.
WAS HE HAPPY BEFORE HE PASSED?
I DO PLAN FOR A NICE RECEPTION
IN HEAVEN, YOU KNOW, I DO.
AND MAYBE A LOOF SOUTHERN FOOD.
AND ANGELS ONLY GAIN
WEIGHT IN THEIR WINGS.
AND THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN.