Richard Simmons reportedly refused medical treatment after falling in his bathroom the day before he died.
According to TMZThe fitness guru and TV star passed out in the bathroom of her West Hollywood home on Friday night.
But when his housekeeper came to help him, Simmons was told to see a doctor.
He was told that he did not want to see the doctor because it was his birthday and that he was going to see the doctor on Saturday.
But around 10 a.m. Saturday, housekeeper Simmons was found dead on the floor next to her bed.
Police responded to the housekeeper’s call, but she was pronounced dead at the scene with no apparent or outward signs of injury.
On the same day as her bathroom fall, Simmons posted a message to fans on Facebook to celebrate her birthday.
His message read: ‘Thank you…I have never received so many messages about my birthday in my life! I’m sitting here writing an email. Have a very nice rest on your Friday. Love, Richard’.
On Friday, Simmons revealed her fun plans to celebrate her birthday in a very rare interview. He told the people: ‘But the candle will probably be on the zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.’
Of turning 76, she added: ‘I feel great! I am grateful to be here and to be alive another day. I will spend my birthday doing what I do every day, helping people.’
Simmons, who grew up in New Orleans’ French Quarter before moving to California, weighed 268 pounds when he graduated high school, according to his website.
Her personal story of struggling to lose weight saw her try everything from fad diets to laxatives before committing to exercise and better lifestyle choices, inspiring millions to do the same.
Simmons has become a master of multiple media formats, sharing his tough weight loss tips as the Emmy-winning daytime ‘Richard Simmons Show’ and author of best-selling books and the meal plan Deal-A-Meal.
He opened fitness studios and starred in fitness videos, including the smash hit ‘Sweatin’ to the Oldies’, which became a cultural phenomenon.
Simmons’ daytime show was seen on over 200 stations in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, ‘Never Say Diet’, was a huge bestseller.
He was known to counsel the severely obese, including Rosalie Bradford, who held the record for the world’s heaviest woman, and Michael Hebrango, who credited Simmons with helping her lose 700 pounds.
After winning legions of fans with her infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped away from the limelight in 2014.
Simmons revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer in an emotional Facebook post in March after discovering a ‘weird-looking bump’ under her right eye.
