This is a really excellent tribute. I too was very sad to see that Richard Simmons had died, to me he always represented a kinder, gentler, more inclusive, less cynical, and more fundamentally decent America. He was able to reach a lot of people where they were and help them improve and extend their lives, and certainly accomplished more for public health than most professionals in that field. I was saddened in his final years when the punchlines had gotten so mean and cruel, as he had definitely contributed so much positivity over the years.
The interview with his assistant paints a picture of a man winding down from an intense life and generally getting some peace and rest. I think he mostly let the drama fly over his head.
I was <10 years old and worked out to his tapes with my mom. You know how certain phrases from your childhood are on constant repeat throughout your life? I've had him telling me to "stretch, stretch, come on stretch, you can do it!" for my entire life.
He had such kind eyes, it always bothered me that he played as a buffoon. And perhaps I'm being naive here, but I just never really was convinced he was gay. At most, maybe he experienced same sex attraction but his Catholicism kept him from identifying with it.
The point he made, more than once, that he was a jester I think points to a notion of himself as offering his person to the world as a kind of sacrifice of amusement. In a way, it was a kind of mortification; I don’t want to take it too far, but one might imagine him as a type of fool-for-Christ in that sense.
Good essay, gay and cheerful stepping lightly throughout.
Got me re-thinking Liberace who every mother watched and swooned to back in the fifties when I was growing up.
It's his fault, or to his credit I had 2 years of piano lessons before I left a horse behind (A good gallop, a closed gate, the horse abruptly stopped, I didn't.) and broke my arm. When the cast came off I never mentioned piano lessons and neither did my mom.
I still think the sequins were a bit much but he did play a mean piano and crediting him & my mom, I can still read notes and plink out a melody with my right hand.
My mother who died recently at the age of 89 loved Richard Simmons. She used to watch him on TV and he helped her with her weight loss. Even at her elderly age, she would write him letters and he would write her back with cards that looked like he purchased at the local dollar store. His handwriting reflected his age and he always seem genuine and caring to people.
Back in the day I would usually watch letterman at night and sometimes RS would be on. His enthusiasm was always infectious. He seem to have some kind of crush on letterman, or at least wanted badly for them to be close friends, and their banter would get to the point of uncomfortable at which time letterman would kindly insult him to put him in his place, which he always took in stride. This always sticks in my head about but maybe it only happened once or twice. At any rate he was always a hoot just because he had such infectious enthusiasm and joy. Almost to the point of delusion. Which was a fun juxtaposition to letterman’s cynicism and ascerbic wit. I had no idea it seems that he was really quite lonely. That is sad. RIP.
Deal-A-Meal is still the best diet kit ever because it was simple and visual. Simmons was a brilliant man who brought enjoyment to so many and hope to people who were struggling, offering simple solutions that look almost pedestrian in today’s world of specialty diet everything.
Great comparison to Mr Rogers and Bob Ross, all entertainment prior to the intense dopamine hits the world is now used to. Compare Mr Rogers show with the crap my kids watched, like Bubble Guppies, and it’s like a day at a serene lake vs a migraine.
All of Simmons’ health advice was geared toward people overlooked by the fitness industry, and that it was simple and largely common sense in no way detracts from its effectiveness.
I remember Richard being asked on a cooking show if cinnamon was fattening. His response was, "CINNAMON! Oh for goodness sake sprinkle CINNAMON everywhere! Give it to your kids, give it to your grandma!"
Also Celaeno: “Beginning working life as praline salesman, Simmons realized he had more to offer the world than handling sugary nuts in The Big Easy and decided to go to college.”
I didn’t realize he was from New Orleans. That helps explain the accent. And there’s a touch of Ignatius Reilly about him, although Ignatius sold hotdogs from a cart and his statue is on Canal Street.
I would have paid any amount of money to see Richard Simmons starring in A Streetcar Named Desire- any role would work. Even better would be the musical version from the Simpsons.
Simmons was (mostly) before my time, so this was all new to me. It's nice to know that, behind the deceptively simple character he played on television, was a rather unassumingly upright man behind it. For as exhausting as the performative "wholesome" schtick is on Reddit and how tiresome it is to see them act like Fred Rogers and Bob Ross and that one Icelandic actor from Lazy Town were these Christly paragons of humanity because of the memes they became popular in (I don't think it's any coincidence that the decidedly, vehemently secular masses of Reddit idolize these men with distinctly religious terminology), it does become easy - at least for me - to become jaded and cynical and forget that they were legitimately positive forces in culture that brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people, and that's not an ignoble thing. Sometimes I need to be reminded of that. Great read.
Writing this, it felt like the kind of thing you might produce. Reading the comments here, where several people wondered where the ‘new’ Rogers/Simmons/Ross were, I thought of your MrBeast/ Kris Tyson piece. That pair and their associates had every chance to be models of the kind of warmth and goodness those men who came before them were, and they squandered it on degeneracy and evil.
The man was kind and friendly and encouraging. He showed care and concern for those suffering with the problems of being overweight. He helped a lot of people in his unique way. God bless him. RIP Richard Simmons.
It’s telling that no one has come out (that I’m aware of) with any lurid stories about him after his death. Like Rogers and Ross, people behind the scenes really seemed to have liked him personally.
^ Good point. As an aside...In my 26 years in the Navy, way before DADT, the higher ups would purge homosexuals. Kick them out. But it was a selective purge. If the man was productive (most were), discrete, not flamboyant, not flirty, kept his activities off the ship and most important was not a "meat gazer" who made the crew feel uncomfortable in the showers then he was pretty much left alone. It was just a non-issue. Now contrast that to what happens on parade floats in San Francisco or what happened at the Olympics in Paris. Nope. Simmons was a gentleman.
This was lovely. I was never a Simmons fan, but he certainly had a big influence on my mom and the culture at large and it was impossible not to see what a kind, generous man he was. The rumors casually spread about his life in seclusion were sad to hear; how wonderful, then, to know that he was simply living a quieter life with people who loved him.
A lot of people have commented on their memories of watching Simmons in their childhood homes with their mothers. I think that would have made him happy as well.
This was such a lovely essay and deeply moving. Richard Simmons was a household name in my home growing up. Most of my family was poor and obese and it was the Richard Simmon's tapes that helped the women in my family want to get moving! His energy was infectious, and I think he was actually an AUTHENTIC person which is why he went more recluse in his older years. You have to sell your soul to stay relevant in the entertainment MACHINE. It makes me so sad to know his death was overshadowed by such a terrible event. But he will always stay in my heart (just like Rogers + Ross) as a man who through his hard work helped inspire millions. I only wish there were more people like him in our modern times.
This is a really excellent tribute. I too was very sad to see that Richard Simmons had died, to me he always represented a kinder, gentler, more inclusive, less cynical, and more fundamentally decent America. He was able to reach a lot of people where they were and help them improve and extend their lives, and certainly accomplished more for public health than most professionals in that field. I was saddened in his final years when the punchlines had gotten so mean and cruel, as he had definitely contributed so much positivity over the years.
The interview with his assistant paints a picture of a man winding down from an intense life and generally getting some peace and rest. I think he mostly let the drama fly over his head.
Indeed. I have no idea how many lives he impacted in his time on earth. Compared to influencers today, he was very much a force for positive changes.
Absolutely amazing work. You hit every note. I hope we see more biopic content like this in the future.
Thank you very much.
I was <10 years old and worked out to his tapes with my mom. You know how certain phrases from your childhood are on constant repeat throughout your life? I've had him telling me to "stretch, stretch, come on stretch, you can do it!" for my entire life.
He had such kind eyes, it always bothered me that he played as a buffoon. And perhaps I'm being naive here, but I just never really was convinced he was gay. At most, maybe he experienced same sex attraction but his Catholicism kept him from identifying with it.
The point he made, more than once, that he was a jester I think points to a notion of himself as offering his person to the world as a kind of sacrifice of amusement. In a way, it was a kind of mortification; I don’t want to take it too far, but one might imagine him as a type of fool-for-Christ in that sense.
Well put
Good essay, gay and cheerful stepping lightly throughout.
Got me re-thinking Liberace who every mother watched and swooned to back in the fifties when I was growing up.
It's his fault, or to his credit I had 2 years of piano lessons before I left a horse behind (A good gallop, a closed gate, the horse abruptly stopped, I didn't.) and broke my arm. When the cast came off I never mentioned piano lessons and neither did my mom.
I still think the sequins were a bit much but he did play a mean piano and crediting him & my mom, I can still read notes and plink out a melody with my right hand.
Liberace is his own story; the made a biopic featuring Michael Douglas.
My mother who died recently at the age of 89 loved Richard Simmons. She used to watch him on TV and he helped her with her weight loss. Even at her elderly age, she would write him letters and he would write her back with cards that looked like he purchased at the local dollar store. His handwriting reflected his age and he always seem genuine and caring to people.
Others have commented as well about how genuine he was, personally writing his fans and such.
Back in the day I would usually watch letterman at night and sometimes RS would be on. His enthusiasm was always infectious. He seem to have some kind of crush on letterman, or at least wanted badly for them to be close friends, and their banter would get to the point of uncomfortable at which time letterman would kindly insult him to put him in his place, which he always took in stride. This always sticks in my head about but maybe it only happened once or twice. At any rate he was always a hoot just because he had such infectious enthusiasm and joy. Almost to the point of delusion. Which was a fun juxtaposition to letterman’s cynicism and ascerbic wit. I had no idea it seems that he was really quite lonely. That is sad. RIP.
He was funnier than Letterman, and more real.
Letterman was a dick. But the guests usually brought their A game. And since I couldn’t afford cable…
Deal-A-Meal is still the best diet kit ever because it was simple and visual. Simmons was a brilliant man who brought enjoyment to so many and hope to people who were struggling, offering simple solutions that look almost pedestrian in today’s world of specialty diet everything.
Great comparison to Mr Rogers and Bob Ross, all entertainment prior to the intense dopamine hits the world is now used to. Compare Mr Rogers show with the crap my kids watched, like Bubble Guppies, and it’s like a day at a serene lake vs a migraine.
All of Simmons’ health advice was geared toward people overlooked by the fitness industry, and that it was simple and largely common sense in no way detracts from its effectiveness.
Deal-A-Meal is going for over $80 on eBay!
A loving tribute.
I remember Richard being asked on a cooking show if cinnamon was fattening. His response was, "CINNAMON! Oh for goodness sake sprinkle CINNAMON everywhere! Give it to your kids, give it to your grandma!"
Interestingly, Jeff Cavaliere, who I mentioned, is also a huge cinnamon proponent.
Legend
Celaeno: No gay jokes this time
Also Celaeno: “Beginning working life as praline salesman, Simmons realized he had more to offer the world than handling sugary nuts in The Big Easy and decided to go to college.”
I have a lot of pride that I was able to avoid gay jokes in my essay.
You think there's some poltergeist activity going on in the haunted library?
I'm sure its not the Librarian.
I didn’t realize he was from New Orleans. That helps explain the accent. And there’s a touch of Ignatius Reilly about him, although Ignatius sold hotdogs from a cart and his statue is on Canal Street.
I would have paid any amount of money to see Richard Simmons starring in A Streetcar Named Desire- any role would work. Even better would be the musical version from the Simpsons.
He would have been fetching in the Carolyn Jones gangster moll role in King Creole too.
Now that’s an uncommon literary reference!
Wow. I never knew any of this. Requiescat in pace et eum benedicat Deus.
Simmons was (mostly) before my time, so this was all new to me. It's nice to know that, behind the deceptively simple character he played on television, was a rather unassumingly upright man behind it. For as exhausting as the performative "wholesome" schtick is on Reddit and how tiresome it is to see them act like Fred Rogers and Bob Ross and that one Icelandic actor from Lazy Town were these Christly paragons of humanity because of the memes they became popular in (I don't think it's any coincidence that the decidedly, vehemently secular masses of Reddit idolize these men with distinctly religious terminology), it does become easy - at least for me - to become jaded and cynical and forget that they were legitimately positive forces in culture that brought a lot of happiness to a lot of people, and that's not an ignoble thing. Sometimes I need to be reminded of that. Great read.
Writing this, it felt like the kind of thing you might produce. Reading the comments here, where several people wondered where the ‘new’ Rogers/Simmons/Ross were, I thought of your MrBeast/ Kris Tyson piece. That pair and their associates had every chance to be models of the kind of warmth and goodness those men who came before them were, and they squandered it on degeneracy and evil.
The man was kind and friendly and encouraging. He showed care and concern for those suffering with the problems of being overweight. He helped a lot of people in his unique way. God bless him. RIP Richard Simmons.
It’s telling that no one has come out (that I’m aware of) with any lurid stories about him after his death. Like Rogers and Ross, people behind the scenes really seemed to have liked him personally.
^ Good point. As an aside...In my 26 years in the Navy, way before DADT, the higher ups would purge homosexuals. Kick them out. But it was a selective purge. If the man was productive (most were), discrete, not flamboyant, not flirty, kept his activities off the ship and most important was not a "meat gazer" who made the crew feel uncomfortable in the showers then he was pretty much left alone. It was just a non-issue. Now contrast that to what happens on parade floats in San Francisco or what happened at the Olympics in Paris. Nope. Simmons was a gentleman.
This was lovely. I was never a Simmons fan, but he certainly had a big influence on my mom and the culture at large and it was impossible not to see what a kind, generous man he was. The rumors casually spread about his life in seclusion were sad to hear; how wonderful, then, to know that he was simply living a quieter life with people who loved him.
A lot of people have commented on their memories of watching Simmons in their childhood homes with their mothers. I think that would have made him happy as well.
This was such a lovely essay and deeply moving. Richard Simmons was a household name in my home growing up. Most of my family was poor and obese and it was the Richard Simmon's tapes that helped the women in my family want to get moving! His energy was infectious, and I think he was actually an AUTHENTIC person which is why he went more recluse in his older years. You have to sell your soul to stay relevant in the entertainment MACHINE. It makes me so sad to know his death was overshadowed by such a terrible event. But he will always stay in my heart (just like Rogers + Ross) as a man who through his hard work helped inspire millions. I only wish there were more people like him in our modern times.
Thank you. I hope that person comes. If not, it means one of us will have to step up and be him or her.
Thank you for this. It is a kindness and well-deserved. I am glad to know that he was a believer.
Richard Simmons Rest In Peace.