Fitness icon Richard Simmons sudden death sparks investigation

Richard Simmons was a television personality and fitness guru for several decades, teaching Americans about a healthy lifestyle. His sudden death is now the subject of an investigation.

Richard Simmons died on the same day as actress Shannen Doherty, July 13. Just a day earlier, he celebrated his birthday, summarizing it with a social media post. "Thank you. I've never received so many birthday wishes in my life! I'm just sitting and replying to emails. Have a wonderful rest of Friday, everyone. Love you, Richard," these were his last words posted online. What happened to the 76-year-old? There are new reports.

Many things happened the day before Simmons' death. According to TMZ.com, on Friday, July 12, which was his birthday, the man fell in the bathroom. His housekeeper helped him up and suggested that he needed medical assistance. Simmons refused to call an ambulance, stating he wanted to spend his birthday at home. Earlier, he had complained about dizziness. The woman helped him to bed.

Later that same day, "People" magazine published a short birthday interview with Simmons, who said: "I feel good! I’m grateful to be in this place, to be alive. I'll spend my birthday doing what I do every day: helping others."

The next day at 10 AM ET, the housekeeper found Simmons unconscious on the floor beside his bed. The woman called the appropriate services. Investigators on the scene pronounced the man dead. According to sources at TMZ.com, Simmons had no visible wounds or bruises.

Now experts need to determine the cause of the fitness guru's death. According to the "Hollywood Reporter" and "Page Six," an investigation is ongoing, and the toxicology results are not yet available.

In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, the star's brother, Lenny, said: "He didn't feel well the day before. He said he had food poisoning, but he was starting to feel better and went to bed early. We didn't think much of it. Everyone has a bad day sometimes. So when Teresa, his housekeeper, called me, I was in shock. My soul instantly left my body," he said.

Hollywood got to know Richard Simmons when he achieved great success in the 1970s and later in the 1980s. As a teenager, he struggled with weight issues, which he decided to combat. When he regained control over his body and eating habits, he opened a fitness studio in Los Angeles. He quickly won people over to the extent that his VHS workout tapes sold millions of copies. He wrote books and appeared in films. For example, he appeared in "What Women Want" and "Arrested Development." He also lent his voice to animated films like "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer."