After he died in July 2024 at age 76, Richard Simmons’ cause of death has been revealed in the full investigation report by the Los Angeles Medical Examiner.
The report, obtained by NBC News, listed his cause of death as “sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries” due to a “ground level fall.” (Sequelae means after-effects.) It also shared that a significant condition his death was arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, where the blood vessels carrying oxygen away from the heart become damaged.
His cause of death was ruled an accident.
Family spokesperson Tom Estey previously shared Simmons’ cause of death in a statement with TODAY.com, calling it “complications from recent falls” and heart disease. He said that the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office called Richard Simmons’ brother, Lenny Simmons, on Aug. 21 with autopsy results.
“The Coroner informed Lenny that Richard’s death was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor,” the statement read. “The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed. The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.”
In a press release sent out on Aug. 22, the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office confirmed the family’s statement, noting Simmons died from a “sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries” and that “arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a contributing condition.”
Simmons gave his last interview two days before his death. Before that, however, he hadn’t been publicly seen in about a decade.
Here’s what to know about Simmons’ death and his health before his passing.
How did Richard Simmons die?
Richard Simmons’ cause of death was accidental and attributed to “complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor,” according to a family spokesperson.
In the Aug. 22 statement from the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, officials said Simmons “experienced a fall on July 11 and spent the following day in bed.” According to the death investigation, he was reportedly dizzy before he fell.
He was then found unresponsive on his bedroom floor the morning of July 13, according to the coroner’s office, and emergency responders were called.
“Death was determined at 0945 hours,” the statement reads.
The full death investigation says that Simmons sustained external blunt traumatic injuries, including contusions and abrasions, as well as a fracture in his left femur. The autopsy also found that he had cysts in both kidneys and gallstones.
Two law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News last month that Simmons had been found unresponsive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood. L.A. Fire and LA Police Department officials responded to a call at 10 a.m. PT and pronounced Simmons dead at the scene, officials said.
At the time, Lenny Simmons shared a statement to TODAY.com, saying that the family was “in shock” following his brother’s death, but urged the public to “not be sad.”
“I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives,” he said. “He truly cared about people. He called, wrote, and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help.”
“So don’t be sad. Celebrate his life,” Lenny Simmons added.
Did Richard Simmons die of cancer?
No, Richard Simmons did not die of cancer, according to a statement from his family.
However, just four months before his death, he was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer.
He wrote on Facebook that he had a “strange looking bump” under his right eye, which he had been treating with Neosporin until he went to the dermatologist.
“I sat in his chair and he looked at it through a magnifying mirror. He told me he would have to scrape it and put it under the microscope. Now I am getting a little bit nervous. He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C word. You have cancer,” he wrote in the post.
The fitness guru went on to explain that doctors tried twice to burn the skin to remove the cancer, but some malignant cells remained. The Skin Cancer Foundation describes that curettage and electrodessication, both common ways of treating basal cell carcinoma, can involve heat.
In another Facebook post, Richard Simmons said doctors performed the procedure a third a time, which successfully removed the cancerous cells.
“Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my chest and my legs. I had a little Frankenstein under my right eye for a while. He gave me some cream to put on it which I did religiously. Because of his fine work I don’t have a scar,” he wrote.
Richard Simmons wrote that he was “dying”
A day before Richard Simmons revealed his skin cancer diagnosis, he caused concern writing in another Facebook post that he was “dying.”
“I have some news to tell you. Please don’t be sad. I am ….dying,” he began the post.
“Oh I can see your faces now. The truth is we all are dying,” he continued. “Every day we live we are getting closer to our death. Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to enjoy your life to the fullest every single day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.”
Richard Simmons went on to note the importance of maintaining a healthy diet, exercising and having healthy relationships with loved ones.
“There is something else very important that you must do. Tell the ones that you love that you love them. Hug those people and children who you really care for. A big hug really goes a long way,” he wrote. “If you have time I want you to listen to a terrific song. It is by Tim McGraw it is called Live Like You Were Dying. Live today and don’t forget to pray. Love, Richard.”
Following reaction to the post, Richard Simmons clarified on X that he was not dying, though he did not provide additional information on the status of his health at the time.
“Sorry many of you have gotten upset about my message today. Even the press has gotten in touch with me. I am not dying,” Simmons wrote. “It was a message about saying how we should embrace every day that we have. Sorry for this confusion. Love, Richard.”
At the time, his rep told TODAY.com in a statement that Richard Simmons was “happy and healthy.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
