Richard Simmons’ Heartwarming Daily Routine Revealed
Richard Simmons Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic
Before his passing, Richard Simmons’ daily routine was filled with love and compassion, including visits from some furry friends – a family of skunks. Simmons’ house manager, Teresa Reveles, shared that the fitness legend would feed the skunks by hand every night after they arrived at the back door of his West Hollywood, California residence.
Reveles, who lived with Simmons for 35 years, would often warn him about the potential risks of feeding wild animals, saying, “Richard, they probably have rabies!” But Simmons was undeterred, and the skunks even grew familiar with him, touching noses with the fitness icon.
Reveles, who oversaw the home and yard, shopped, and cooked for Simmons, clarified that her role was different from the housekeeper, another woman who worked for Simmons for 40 years. She recalled how Simmons would tell her, “Teresa, come in, you are never going to leave. We are going to be together until I die.” And, as fate would have it, Simmons’ dream came true.
Richard Simmons was a fitness pioneer, known for his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” aerobics workouts, which propelled him to launch his own fitness studio, Slimmons, until its closure in 2016. After Simmons stepped back from the limelight, conspiracy theories about his whereabouts abounded, but Reveles set the record straight.
Reveles came to work for Simmons in 1986 through an agency. She recalled how Simmons would tell her, “Teresa, come in, you are never going to leave. We are going to be together until I die.” And, as fate would have it, Simmons’ dream came true.
Richard Simmons Harry Langdon/Getty Images
Reveles recalled how Simmons would take walks in disguise to avoid attention, and how she faced scrutiny, with people saying she kept him locked up in the house. But she set the record straight, saying that wasn’t true.
Reveles also claimed that a tracking device was put under her car, which she discovered after visiting a mechanic and the police in 2019.
The morning of Simmons’ birthday, he told Reveles that his legs “hurt a lot.” She advised him to go to the hospital, but he insisted on waiting until the morning. Sadly, it was too late, and Reveles found him in his bedroom the next day, where he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Reveles recalled how Simmons looked peaceful, with his hands balled into fists, which led her to believe that he died of a heart attack. Authorities confirmed that Simmons died of natural causes, with no foul play involved.
Following Simmons’ death, Reveles was overcome with grief, saying she “can’t stop crying.” She added, “I still can’t believe what happened.”
Simmons had bought two burial plots next to each other, with one being for Reveles. Reveles said, “Everything happened the way he wanted. He wanted to die first, he went first. And you know what? I’m very happy because Richard was really, very happy. He died very happy.”
