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
Richard Simmons attended Cor Jesu High School in New Orleans. At the time of his graduation he weighed 268 lbs. His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines. After starting college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he transferred to Florida State University. While enrolled there he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. He graduated 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 New York he also worked as a waiter.
Fitness career
Originally overweight, he lost 123 lb (56 kg) although he suffered the effects of borderline anorexia in his newfound determination to achieve that goal.
Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Simmons worked as the Maître d' at a restaurant in Beverly Hills, where his humor, and outgoing manner made him a popular attraction. Meanwhile, he was still interested in dieting, but grew dissatisfied with the unhealthy fad diet methods and established gyms and exercise studios of the day which favored the already fit customer at the expense of the overweight and beginners. A favourite establishment expelled him for being the only male participant in the otherwise all female clientele, saying they found him "disruptive." In response, he opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum where the emphasis was placed on providing an enjoyable exercise facility and regime for an otherwise neglected customer base, and encouraged balanced eating in proper portions. The business also included a salad bar restaurant called "Ruffage," that he eventually removed in favor of specializing in exercise. The business, now called Slimmons, continues to operate in Beverly Hills, California and Simmons teaches motivational classes and aerobics throughout the week.
His résumé includes fitness videos such as the Sweatin' to the Oldies series, television shows, including a stint on the American soap opera General Hospital in the 1970s), and The Richard Simmons Show in the early 1980s. His first marketed weight loss plan was called the Live It, and was explained in his first book Never Say Diet. He has since written several more books and produced the Deal A Meal and FoodMover weight loss plans. He hosts the Cruise to Lose program on Carnival Cruise Lines and has made cameo appearances in films. He also made an exercise album for Elektra records, titled Reach, in 1983.
Simmons has appeared as himself on dozens of TV shows, including Whose Line Is It Anyway?, CHiPs and Saturday Night Live. His trademark attire is candy-striped Dolfin shorts and tank tops decorated with Swarovski crystals.
Simmons also teaches other instructors to teach 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 is currently working on DVD release projects. He also hosts a three-hour weekly radio show called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons every Sunday afternoon on Sirius radio.
Other
On March 24, 2004, Simmons was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly slapping Chris Farney, a motorcycle salesman, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. The salesman 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.[1]
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. August 29, 2006 Simmons appeared on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" while making a return visit to New Orleans one year after the flooding.
In Canada, Simmons has appeared on television ads promoting Simmon's mattresses in Canada (the company is a division of the US-based Simmons Bedding Company). This 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
- Briefly studied to become a priest.
- Has dalmatians as pets.
- Had a show in the 1980s called "Slim Cookin'."
- Hosted a short lived TV show called "DreamMaker" in 1999.
- Has done commercials for Sprint Cellular Phones, Herbal Essence Shampoos, and Simmons Mattresses.
- He has also appeared in an episode of Arrested Development called Bringing Up Buster.
- Has appeared on Whose line is it anyway?, the American version of the popular UK Improv sketch show.
- ritchard simmons is never oiled up for photographs, his body is naturally shiny
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Books
- Never Say Diet ISBN 0-517-40284-X
- Never Say Diet Cookbook
- The Better Body Book
- Reach for Fitness: A Special Book of Exercises for the Physically Challenged Warner Books 1986 ISBN 0-446-51302-4
- Richard Simmons' Never Give Up: Inspirations, Reflections, Stories of Hope Warner Books, 1984 ISBN 0-446-60085-7
- Farewell to Fat Atlantic Books 2002 ISBN 1-57719-102-1
- Sweetie Pie
- Still Hungry After All These Years: My Story Gt Pub Corp 1999 ISBN 1-57719-356-3
- The FoodMover Cookbook
- Cookin' on Broadway
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
- Classical Chillout
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
- jammin with jailbirds
- 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
References
External links