Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons (born July 12, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States as Milton Simmons) is a fitness guru and celebrity.

Early Life

Simmons was overweight in his youth. On graduating high school, his weight was 268lb. His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines. After graduating Cora Jesu High School (now named Brother Martin) in New Orleans, Simmons started college at Louisiana State University at Lafayette. He later transferred to Florida State University in Tallahassee. While enrolled at Florida State, he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. Simmons graduated Florida State University with a BA in Art. With his Art degree, Simmons worked in advertising in NYC, and also for Coty Cosmetics and Revlon. During his time in NYC, he also worked as a waiter at the "Auto Pub" a restaurant in the Chrysler building. Upon moving to Los Angeles, Simmons worked as the Maitre D' at Derrick's, a restaurant in Beverly Hills, prior to opening his own exercise studio.

Fitness career

His résumé includes fitness videos (such as his well-known "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series), television shows (including a stint on the American soap opera "General Hospital" in the 1970s), and his own The Richard Simmons Show in the early 1980s. He has written several books, and produced the Deal A Meal and FoodMover weight loss plans. He hosts Cruise to Lose on Carnival Cruise Lines, has made film cameo appearances, and even an exercise album for Elektra records, titled "Reach," in 1983.

Simmons has appeared as himself on dozens of TV shows, ranging from "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" to "CHiPs" and "Saturday Night Live." His trademark attire is candy-striped shorts, and tank tops that have been hand decorated with Swarovski crystals.

Simmons does help seriously obese people lose weight. After losing 123 lb (56 kg), he opened an exercise studio, Slimmons, in the 1970s responding to discrimination by exercise studios of the day against the overweight. Slimmons continues to operate on Civic Center Drive in Beverly Hills, California, and Simmons teaches motivational classes and aerobics on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and Saturday mornings. Slimmons was originally called "The Anatomy Asylum" and included a salad bar restaurant called "Ruffage."

Simmons also teaches other instructors to teach with his method, The Simmons Method. Training is periodically provided at Hoot Camp, which allows AFAA-certified instructors to earn continuing education. Held in Beverly Hills, Hoot Camp is approved by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Hoot Camp has also been held in Saint Joseph, Missouri.

Simmons travels the United States, teaching classes, and spends time phoning people who ask for his help. He is active in the fitness industry and recently launched a new website. In January 2006 Simmons released two new DVDs (Party Off the Pounds, and Totally Tonin'), as well as eight new CDs of exercise music. Simmons has plans to release more DVDs later in 2006.

He currently hosts a three-hour weekly radio show called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons every Sunday afternoon on Sirius radio.

Other

Popular rumor suggests that Richard Simmons is gay; however, Simmons denied this in a press release issued in September 2003.

On March 24, 2004, Simmons was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly slapping a motorcycle salesman at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. The salesman, Chris Farney, spotted Simmons in the crowd and said, "Look, Richard Simmons! Drop your bags, let's rock to the '50s." Simmons replied, "It's not nice to make fun of people with issues." He then lightly slapped Farney's face. Farney, who was uninjured, called the police. All charges against Simmons were dropped.^*

In September 2005, Simmons appeared on Entertainment Tonight to discuss the effects of Hurricane Katrina on his family in his hometown of New Orleans and his involvement in aiding those affected by the hurricane.

In Canada, Simmons has appeared on television ads promoting Simmons Canada's mattresses (the company is a division of the US-based Simmons Bedding Company). This has led some to believe that Simmons is the owner or founder of the company. In fact, he has no other connection to it. The company has stated that they hired him because of his name and because he appeals to their target audience of women over 35.

Trivia

Richard Simmons is left-handed.
Richard Simmons briefly studied to become a priest.
Richard Simmons has Dalmatians as pets.
Richard Simmons had a show in the 1980's called "Slim Cookin'."
Richard Simmons hosted a short lived TV show called "DreamMaker" in 1999.
Richard Simmons has done commercials for Sprint Cellular Phones, Herbal Essence Shampoos, and Simmons Mattresses.

Books

Never Say Diet ISBN 051740284X
Never Say Diet Cookbook
The Better Body Book
Reach for Fitness: A Special Book of Exercises for the Physically Challenged Warner Books 1986 ISBN 0446513024
Richard Simmons' Never Give Up: Inspirations, Reflections, Stories of Hope Warner Books, 1984 ISBN 0446600857
Farewell to Fat Atlantic Books 2002 ISBN 1577191021
Sweetie Pie
Still Hungry After All These Years: My Story Gt Pub Corp 1999 ISBN 1577193563
The FoodMover Cookbook
Cookin' on Broadway

Records

Reach (Elektra Records)

Audio Cassettes

Project Me (six tape set)
Sweatin' and Sharin'
Colors of Your Life (single tape)
Colors of Your Life (six tape set)
Take a Walk
Take a Hike
Take a Classical Walk
Walkin' on Broadway
Walk Around the World
Never Give Up (book on tape, read by Simmons)

Compact Discs

Richard Picks the Hits, Volume 1
Richard Picks the Hits, Volume 2
Country Cardio
Oh Happy Day
Fitness Fiesta
Wicked Workout
Big Screen Burn
Shimmy Into Shape
In the Mood to Lose

DVDs

Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes
Disco Sweat
SuperSweatin': Party Off the Pounds
SuperTonin': Totally Tonin
SuperTonin': Totally Tonin' with Toning Rings

Videos

Everyday with Richard Simmons
The Stomach Formula
Get Started
Reach for Fitness
Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes
Sweatin' to the Oldies
Sweatin' to the Oldies 2
Sweatin' to the Oldies 3
Sweat and Shout (also sold as Sweatin to the Oldies 4'')
Day By Day (Volumes 1-12)
Pump and Sweat
Step and Sweat
Tone and Sweat
Disco Sweat
Stretchin' to the Classics
Dance Your Pants Off!
Tonin' Uptown
Tonin' Downtown
Groovin' In The House
The Ab Formula
No Ifs Ands or Butts
Love to Stretch
Blast Off
Broadway Sweat
Tone Up On Broadway
Broadway Blast Off
Platinum Sweat
Sit Tight
Latin Blast Off (also marketed as Sudar Mucho)
Mega Mix Blast Off
Mega Mix 2 Blast Off
Disco Blast Off
60's Blast Off
''80's Blast Off*
Blast and Tone

External links