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Richard Simmons

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Richard Simmons on the cover of his Sweatin' to the Oldies 3
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Richard Simmons on the cover of his Sweatin' to the Oldies 3

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

Contents

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.[link]

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

Books

Records

Audio Cassettes

Compact Discs

DVDs

Videos

External links

 

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