The brother of the late fitness guru Richard Simmons has revealed the cause of his death in a statement to the people Wednesday magazine.
Simmons’ brother, Lenny, said the Los Angeles coroner’s office said the TV star’s death at age 76 was due to a combination of complications from a recent fall and heart disease.
“The toxicology report was negative with the exception of the medication Richard was prescribed by his doctor,” said Lenny Simmons. “The family would like to thank everyone for their love and support during this time of tremendous loss.”
Simmons was found on July 13 by his longtime housekeeper, the day after celebrating his 76th birthday, after suffering internal bleeding. He fell in his house On July 12th.
The Los Angeles Police Department ruled the death not suspicious. However, the cause of death was deferred at the time and has not been released.
In the months leading up to Simmons’ death, a series of cryptic social media posts led some fans to speculate about the state of his health.
Social media, especially Facebook, became the primary means Simmons used to reach out to his fan base. The night before his death, he thanked his fans for their birthday wishes.
“So many of you have sent me birthday wishes on my Facebook page and other platforms, and I really appreciate it,” he wrote.
Simmons’ team posted a final Facebook post scheduled before his death, urging fans to reach for the stars: “Let me fly you to the moon so we can stare at the stars,” the post read, alongside a photo of Simmons in a NASA spacesuit. “Love, Richard.”
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