After Richard Simmons died one day following his 76th birthday, friends and fans are keeping his positive energy alive in social media tributes.
Ricki Lake, Sally Jessy Raphael and Pauly Shore were among those who shared their memories of the late fitness guru in some heartfelt statements after Simmons died on Friday.
“My heart is broken with the loss of this super special human. May he RIP,” wrote Lake on X with a photo of the two of them and Maria Menounos. “I loved him so so much.”
Raphael shared a throwback photo of the “Weight Saint” on her long-running talk show. “I am completely devastated at the loss of @theweightsaint… we’ve done so many shows together, shared so many laughs & hugs, and I considered him a dear friend who changed so many lives over the years,” she wrote.
As he develops an unauthorized biopic of Simmons, Shore paid tribute to the Sweatin’ to the Oldies star in a statement. “I just got word like everyone else that the beautiful Richard Simmons has passed. I hope you’re at peace and twinkling up in the heavens,” he wrote.
“Please give my mother Mitzi and my father Sammy a big hug and a kiss for me,” added Shore. “You’re one of a kind, Richard. An amazing life. An amazing story. They broke the dolphin shorts when they made you. Rest in peace, my friend. Rest in peace.”
Simmons previously expressed his disapproval of the untitled biopic, which will be written by Jordan Allen-Dutton, as he wanted to “live a quiet life and be peaceful.”
Simmons’ death was reported Friday by TMZ after his housekeeper called the Los Angeles Police Department to his Hollywood Hills home, where he is believed to have died of natural causes.