After Richard Simmons's Passing, Jane Fonda Expresses Her Sorrow

Richard Simmons, a fellow fitness hero from the 1980s, passed away over the weekend, and Jane Fonda offered a heartfelt tribute to him. He was 76 years old.

Fonda, who is 86 years old, posted a photo of Richard Simmons and himself smiling together on Instagram on Sunday, July 14. She accompanied the post with the caption, "Richard Simmons always wanted people to feel good and be happy." When it came to making other people happy, he would go out of his way. On several occasions, I pondered the possibility that he had been brought joy by no one when he was a little child.

Simmons, who passed away on Saturday, July 13, was a "generous" guy, according to Fonda, who "gave of himself, of his time, to make people happy." Simmons passed away on Saturday. As she reflected on the past, she recalled, "At the launch of some Jane Fonda WORKOUT event, he once emerged from a massive cake." That was very kind of you. Fonda, like Simmons, was a symbol of 1980s training videos and fitness.

In her article, the actress from Grace and Frankie remembered an incident in which Simmons "found out I was in a store where he was, so he quickly bought some small trinket and ran across the store, shouting at the top of his lungs in that unmistakable voice, to let me know he was coming." Simmons was attempting to find her since she was in the same store as him. She remarked, “That was generous.”

Fonda said, “I saw him last when I took him and a boyfriend of his to lunch at the Polo Lounge. The relationship was new and he was proud. I never saw or heard from him again and, like many thousands of others, I’ve regretted his disappearance from my life.”

Fonda, like many others, lost contact with Simmons when he ceased making public appearances and instructing at his exercise studio in February 2014. He subsequently swiftly vanished from public life nearly altogether. “I hope he felt the love so many were sending him these last years,” Fonda’s tweet continued. “I hope it made him happy. I read he died quietly in his sleep in his extremely white home. Rest in Peace, Dear Richard.”

Simmons’ allegedly sudden departure from the public spotlight was the topic of the “Missing Richard Simmons” podcast and a 2022 Hulu documentary called TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons. In 2016, he phoned onto the Today show to address claims that he was being kept captive in his Beverly Hills home.

“You know, I do what I want to do as I’ve always done, so people should sort of just believe what I have to say because, like, I’m Richard Simmons!” he stated at the time. “Right now, I just sort of want to take care of me. I simply genuinely don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to be traveling anymore … it’s taken a toll on me.”

Simmons died at his Los Angeles home on Saturday morning, one day after his 76th birthday. He was pronounced dead by officials on the spot, and his death is assumed to be from natural causes. You may also read this: UK Fans Wonder if Taylor Swift Will Say 'So Long, London

The fitness expert, who was diagnosed with skin cancer in March, had been posting on his official Facebook page up to his birthday on Friday, July 12, when he thanked admirers who had given him good wishes.

“Thank you,” he said over Facebook. “I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here composing emails. Have a most delightful remainder of your Friday.” Another message, allegedly posted early on Saturday morning, read: “Hello gorgeous! Please don’t rain on my parade.”

Simmons was arguably most recognized for his weight-loss programs and line of aerobics videos, Sweatin’ to the Oldies. His flamboyant attitude was widely mimicked by comedians, and he was a frequent guest on talk shows like The Late Show with David Letterman.