How Did Richard Simmons Die? New ABC Special Revisits His Final Days

Richard Simmons of THE RICHARD SIMMONS SHOW, 1981. — Jim Britt/TV Guide/Everett Collection

What To Know

Richard Simmons died on July 13, 2024, at age 76, from accidental blunt traumatic injuries after a fall.
Simmons was a beloved fitness icon known for his energetic personality and sudden withdrawal from public life.
ABC News Studios will air a Diane Sawyer special in May 2026 exploring Simmons’ private final years.

Richard Simmons, the man who brought joy and fitness to many people around the world, died on July 13, 2024, one day after his 76th birthday. The official cause of death was later determined to be “sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries,” with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease listed as a contributing condition. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident. According to the medical examiner, Simmons had experienced a fall on July 11, spent the next day in bed, and was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor on the morning of July 13.

Now, several years later, ABC News Studios is revisiting Simmons’ life, private final years, and sudden death in The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special, airing Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 9/8c on ABC. The special will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

Simmons, born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948, became one of the most recognizable fitness personalities in America. With his sparkly tank tops and big personality, Simmons built a fitness empire. He opened his famous fitness studio, Slimmons, in Beverly Hills, became a regular television presence, and reached millions through programs such as The Richard Simmons Show and the “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workout videos.

For years, Simmons was everywhere, from talk shows to infomercials and morning television. Then, in 2014, he abruptly stepped away from public life, and fans began raising concerns and starting rumors for years. The new ABC special focuses on that disappearance, his planned return, and the strange timing of his death.

Courtesy of ABC News

According to ABC, Simmons had reached out directly to Diane Sawyer before his death and sent her flowers with a note that read, “I Trust You.” The special says preparations were underway for a long-awaited interview when Simmons died. Afterward, his older brother, Lenny Simmons, invited Sawyer and her team into Richard’s home to explore the private world he had kept largely hidden for a decade. The special will include interviews with people close to Simmons, including his longtime house manager, Teresa Reveles; his manager, Michael Catalano; his brother, Lenny Simmons; and his sister-in-law, Cathy Simmons. PEOPLE reported that Reveles, who had worked with Simmons for 35 years and was the last person to see him alive, speaks publicly in the special about his final days.

The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special premieres Tuesday, May 12, 2026, on ABC and streams on Disney+ and Hulu starting May 13.