Richard Simmons Said ‘I Know People Miss Me’ in Emotional Final Interview 2 Days Before His Death (Exclusive)

The health guru spoke to PEOPLE simply days earlier than he died at 76

was singing: “Glad birthday to… me…” It was in the future earlier than he , and two days earlier than the health and weight reduction legend of obvious pure causes in his Los Angeles house on July 13. He was additionally, inexplicably, serenading himself whereas imitating Marilyn Monroe. And, because it’s gone for the previous 5 a long time, nobody was laughing more durable than Richard Simmons. “I’ll all the time be the courtroom jester,” stated Simmons, on the telephone with PEOPLE for an unique, uncommon interview — his first since his abrupt retirement from the general public eye in 2014.

His reclusivity in recent times was a stark departure from the Richard Simmons his followers had come to know and adore. After rising up in New Orleans, the place he struggled with weight points all through childhood (he weighed 268 lbs. when he graduated highschool in 1966), the health showman first discovered fame in Los Angeles, the place he opened Ruffage and the Anatomy Asylum — a mix health-food eatery and train studio in 1974.

It was the start of a health empire that included 9 books (two bestsellers), his Deal-A-Meal and FoodMover eating regimen plans, plus infomercials and exercise movies (together with “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,”), which have offered over 20 million copies. He appeared often on Basic Hospital, hosted his personal speak present within the ’80s and have become a favourite visitor for the likes of and . Together with his signature crown of curly hair, rhinestone-covered tank tops, dolphin shorts and tube socks, Simmons was a frenetic, high-kicking, arm-waving icon — and a glowing beacon of hope for his hundreds of thousands of followers. “I’ll all the time be playing around,” he instructed PEOPLE. “When the curtain goes up, I’m there to make folks glad.”

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That was additionally a task he took very severely. “Right here at house,” he added quietly, “I stand up daily and assist folks. As a result of my work could be very severe.” Earlier than his loss of life, his joyful identification was shrouded in thriller. His whereabouts and even his security had been questioned. These near Simmons say one motive for his seclusion was that he allegedly had knee surgical procedure and wanted a second however had refused.

However Simmons stated he by no means disappeared. He had been emailing followers and associates (“we reply 100 emails day by day”) and calling these in want. He talked concerning the . “Basal cell carcinoma, it was scary. However it by no means got here again. So many individuals have most cancers,” he added. “I name them, I sing to them. ‘You’re gonna get by way of this. You simply must consider that.’”

As of only a few months in the past, he had been engaged on a musical, with the composer Patrick Leonard. He was excited concerning the future, however much more simply concerning the day forward. On the telephone he was upbeat, and planning a comeback. “I’m grateful I get to stay one other day,” he stated, speaking about how he was planning to have a good time his birthday with one candle “caught in a zucchini. You already know I’m a vegetarian.”

He was additionally tiptoeing again right into a extra public life, releasing statements on Fb and YouTube over the previous 12 months. “Right this moment is a gorgeous day,” he stated. “However nothing’s actually completely different. I acquired up this morning. I stated my prayers, I counted my blessings, after which I went to work. You already know? And writing messages, answering emails — and when the e-mail is actual excessive, I ask for his or her numbers, and I name them. I’m feeling nice, ’trigger I’m serving to folks.” Beneath, extra from Simmons’ emotional, revealing interview.

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Folks say you disappeared, however you actually haven’t. You’ve nonetheless been quietly serving to folks over the past years.

Nicely, after I determined to retire, it was as a result of my physique instructed me I wanted to retire. I’ve frolicked simply reflecting on my life. All the books I wrote, the movies. I by no means was like, “Oh look what I’ve completed.” My factor was, “Oh, look how many individuals I helped.”

The place did this ethos come from, this want to assist others?

My mother and father instilled that in me. They didn’t have some huge cash in New Orleans. They weren’t Catholic however I went to Catholic college as a result of it was three blocks away. And I fell in love with nuns. I’d by no means met a nun in my life. One of many nuns determined to depart the order. And he or she had nowhere to go. She had a small suitcase with possibly two outfits in it. And the place did she go? She went to my home. My mom gave her garments. My father gave her cash for a Greyhound bus ticket to return house. I used to be all the time embroidered with caring for folks.

Of us all the time felt comfy opening as much as you.

I’m telling you, after I did a private look at a shopping center, if I taught a 45-minute class, then folks lined up they usually needed an autograph. However it wasn’t merely that they needed an autograph. They needed to inform me their complete story. As a result of they didn’t really feel anybody listened to them. And I’d sit there and maintain their hand, and I’d do this for possibly three hours till no one was left.

That’s actually your legacy, Richard. You may actually join with folks — and that makes you a legend. Whenever you hear that phrase “legend,” what do you’re feeling?

I don’t hear it in any respect. I don’t hear the phrase legend. I don’t hear the phrase icon. I by no means lived a star life. I by no means considered myself as a star. Folks don’t know this, I’m actually a shy individual and a bit of little bit of an introvert. However when that curtain goes up that’s a distinct story. I’m there to make folks glad. However the accolades I get from emails. I imply, right now likely, we’ll reply over 100 emails. And so they’ll say, “I’m your No. 1 fan.” And I simply write again, and I say, you recognize, “Don’t say that as a result of I’m a human being identical to you. And I do know that you just do good issues, too.”

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However you may look again a bit of bit and see what you’ve achieved and what you’ve modified by way of how we speak about health and diet, proper?

I can. I’m pleased with myself. You already know, after I needed to open my salad bar in my [fitness] studio, there was nothing prefer it. There wasn’t a spot for chubby folks to really feel comfy. I couldn’t consider it. I needed to pinch myself. All of those folks got here in. And I’d simply attempt to educate an excellent class and make ’em an excellent salad. And you recognize, that led to . So in the future I used to be making salads, and the subsequent day I used to be in a cleaning soap opera with and Tony Geary. Then I had my very own present. After which, I acquired into the infomercial world. Then I packed up my aerobics footwear and I did 200 days on the street for over 35 years.

The burden loss and health industries have modified a lot of late. Can we examine and distinction then to now?

Nicely, after I retired, I believed another person was going to take my place. That any person would open up studios for individuals who wanted to drop pounds or didn’t be ok with themselves, however I haven’t seen that. I imply, there’s all the time been locations for match folks.

’s studio was about three miles away from me, and I’ve all the time been a fan— so I dressed up in the future with a brown wig, a mustache, and glasses and a grey sweatshirt and heather-gray pants — and I went to her class. And he or she by no means knew it was me. And he or she was a wonderful trainer.

What are your ideas on weight reduction medicine and surgical procedures?

Right this moment, you recognize, some folks have their weight reduction surgical procedures. That’s none of my enterprise. In the event that they inform me, they inform me. If somebody’s taking a shot to drop pounds, that isn’t my enterprise. I simply hope that it helps them, you recognize, when you get to a sure age, weight is fairly onerous to lose. I by no means advise folks to do phony issues. Once I did my Deal-a-Meal and FoodMover [weight-loss plans], it was all based mostly on the meals teams. Once I gave my train courses, it was all low-impact actions to traditional songs that no one had ever used of their exercise.

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However no matter you probably did as a performer, you all the time performed your self, for lack of a greater time period.

You already know, after I first did my movies, I’m positive folks thought I used to be foolish and a bit of bit completely different. However they appeared to embrace that I used to be simply an bizarre man, nothing particular about me, besides possibly my humorousness. Once I was a waiter at Derrick’s [a now-closed restaurant in L.A.], I used to be an actual cut-up…I made folks snicker. There was no menu, so I did the menu verbally — and if there was a man on the desk, I’d sit on the man’s lap.

You had been additionally in style on speak reveals, like with David Letterman.

Nicely, I knew that I gave Mr. Letterman nice reveals. And gave them good scores! And daily I get emails: “Please return on .”

You’ve all the time stated you’re the courtroom jester.

All the time will likely be. Keep in mind, once you had been an chubby child in grammar college and also you had been bullied [like me], humor turns into your protection. I used to be in a schoolyard, I suppose I used to be in sixth grade, and this man… this boy who was very tall for his age took a baseball bat and hit me on the again of my head. I fell to the ground and the nuns got here out and requested me if I used to be okay they usually despatched me house.

Possibly 25 years later, I used to be in New Orleans buying, and this man got here as much as me with an extended beard and overalls on, together with his spouse, and stated, “I don’t assume you bear in mind me, however I’m the one which hit you within the head with a baseball bat.” And he stated, “Are you able to ever forgive me?” And his spouse began to cry and, you recognize, he got here as much as me and he hugged me and — you recognize, that meant rather a lot to me.

What do you inform folks when they’re actually struggling?

It’s stunning. Particularly when [people I talk to] are younger they usually really feel they’re not accepted. And so they really feel they’re not beloved. Then they wish to take their very own life. And belief me, I’ve made these telephone calls. And stated, “No, no, no, no. God has the day that you just got here in and the day you’re going. And also you simply have to simply accept that and transfer on.”

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You’ve been open about your personal struggles with being bullied. In your darkest moments, what has given you the energy to maintain going?

I all the time bounced again, as a result of I all the time thought that I used to be individual. And the one that was bullying me had their very personal issues. And that’s how I’ve all the time lived my life. You already know, I’ve a saying, kindness lives inside all of us, you simply must let it out.

And now you’re placing all of it—New Orleans, Basic Hospital, Sweatin’ to the Oldies—right into a Broadway present? I hope the well-known tank high and shorts are in there.

I’ve written 14 songs for a Broadway present. And I’m working with a tremendous man — Patrick Leonard. I don’t know if you recognize his title, however he wrote music for , . He’s like one of many greatest. And we speak a few occasions per week. I write the lyrics, and he writes the music. The entire present is about my life — from promoting pralines in New Orleans at a sweet retailer after I was a child, to after I determined to retire. Each week, I write an audio. So that is the one for this week. Can I learn it to you?

After all you may.

How do you take care of loss? It takes a toll in your coronary heart. Some shed many tears, others stare on the sky. It’s so onerous to say goodbye. Here’s what I do know when it’s time for us to go, lovely angels will greet us with a smile and a hi there.

We’ve got missed you, Richard. Your followers, all of us. You do know that, proper?

I do know folks miss me. And you recognize what? I miss them, too. However I’m in a position to attain them by way of telephone calls… and thru emails. And I do depart the home generally. However I’m in disguise.

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