Lenny Simmons says his brother Richard Simmons will be Sweatin’ to the Oldies in his workout clothes in the afterlife as he shared “a little secret” during the late fitness guru’s celebration of life over the weekend
“Just like Clark Kent, underneath his clothing, he is wearing a tank top and shorts,” Lenny said at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans in video obtained by TMZ. “Why, you ask? Because we think that God has another plan for him, and we made sure that he was going to be in his normal costume that we all know and love to help the saints and the angels get into shape.”
Lenny added during his heartfelt speech, “I’m here to say to you that even though he’s not here, and I know he’s in spirit here tonight, Richard Simmons will forever be sweating with the holies.”
Simmons died on July 13, the day after he celebrated his 76th birthday.
Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who rose to fame by sharing his weight-loss tips and motivational mantras as host of the Emmy-winning daytime Richard Simmons Show and author of several best-selling books and the diet plan Deal-A-Meal. He also opened exercise studios and starred exercise videos, including the wildly successful Sweatin’ to the Oldies line, which became a cultural phenomenon.
“My food plan and diet are just two words — common sense. With a dash of good humour,” he told The Associated Press in 1982. “I want to help people and make the world a healthier, happy place.”
Simmons retreated from public life a decade ago, but just two days before his death, he spoke about the bond he shared with his legion of fans.
“I know people miss me,” Simmons said in a rare interview with PEOPLE. “And you know what? I miss them, too. But I’m able to reach them through phone calls … and through emails. And I do leave the house sometimes. But I’m in disguise.”
Simmons assured readers that he had been keeping in touch with fans telling PEOPLE that he responded to “100 emails daily.”
“I never lived a celebrity life. I never thought of myself as a celebrity. People don’t know this, I’m really a shy person and a little bit of an introvert,” he said. “But when that curtain goes up that’s a different story. I’m there to make people happy. But the accolades I get from emails. I mean, today most probably, we’ll answer over 100 emails. And they’ll say, ‘I’m your No. 1 fan.’ And I just write back, and I say, you know, ‘Don’t say that because I’m a human being just like you. And I know that you do good things, too.’”
The fitness icon had stepped back into the public eye in recent years, posting messages on social media. He even shared a birthday greeting with his fans on Facebook.
“So many of you have sent me birthday wishes on my Facebook and other platforms,” he shared. “I really appreciate that. I don’t know when your birthday is but I wish you a happy and healthy birthday!”
Simmons’ cause of death was officially ruled an accident, with Entertainment Weekly reporting in August that he died as a result of “blunt traumatic injuries” after suffering a fall in his home.
The report from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that Simmons “experienced an episode of dizziness and collapsed on the floor on the evening of July 11. He was found the next morning on July 12 and spent the day in bed. On the morning of July 13, he was found unresponsive on the bedroom floor. His death was pronounced at the scene.”
Tom Estey, the Simmons family spokesperson, said he was “devastated” by his longtime client’s death.
“I’ve spent 32 glorious years representing this kind, generous, brilliant and loving man,” Estey wrote in an email to Postmedia. “His family and I are devastated by his passing. The world lost an angel walking amongst us. I can say with 100% certainty there will never be another like him. We ask that you celebrate and respect his memory.”