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Richard Simmons through the years
![Photo of Richard Simmons](https://ew.com/thmb/pOvCVtxl4UR6m-a6GJzD3HDhpKE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74285865-2000-7c8946483636407a872ebca8ce7a12a8.jpg)
Born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948, the fitness guru better known as Richard Simmons kicked off his career in the '70s and rose to fame in the '80s. Pictured here around 1970, Simmons spent decades making small-screen appearances as an exercise expert and tried his hand at acting with roles on General Hospital, Hercules, and Fish Hooks. The star made headlines in 2017 with the release of the Missing Richard Simmons podcast, which explored Simmons' decision to step away from the spotlight. See photos of him through the years, ahead.
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Richard Simmons in the early-1980s
![Richard Simmons, ca. early 1980s](https://ew.com/thmb/5n5rv8q0gdeOlWuqx_-RM60Y5dQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pbdrisi_ec007_h-2000-76af0bc869b4415bb9c3f60d989cd23d.jpg)
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Richard Simmons in the 1980s
![Photo of Richard Simmons](https://ew.com/thmb/1ntYRfvb2BdWBoHXQEEXlK9ecCo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-74285868-2000-24af2e115ad345d791cf450b064a6dbe.jpg)
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Richard Simmons on General Hospital on May 16, 1980
![GENERAL HOSPITAL, Richard Simmons, episode aired May 16, 1980, ©ABC/courtesy Everett Collection](https://ew.com/thmb/DMv8EylZxwx2pY-r7zMju-7cDwE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/tbdgeho_ec044_h-2000-3b97bc1e60f84f11bdf37a153d32bf67.jpg)
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Richard Simmons on General Hospital on Oct. 6, 1980
![SHELL KEPLER;UNKNOWN;BROOKE BUNDY;GAIL RAMSEY;RICHARD SIMMONS;JACKLYN ZEMAN](https://ew.com/thmb/Y97j4YmmcyEkFfRA16NYlAwg1Yk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-119454519-2000-5923610351d94dc88e1f9d84d35b7b22.jpg)
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Richard Simmons in Los Angeles on June 23, 1982
![Richard Simmons](https://ew.com/thmb/h9ml2QyOgsA2IIU92KnXYLGs2VQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ap_663878446926-2000-fd414cc091da48b69d3b600cd491ce1c.jpg)
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Richard Simmons on American Bandstand on Aug. 5, 1982
![AMERICAN BANDSTAND](https://ew.com/thmb/UpxWQNzqnzpP6niODCJTnunUSOs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-93407238-2000-d6e84b6fbc584072b8669b0dac0a8445.jpg)
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Richard Simmons in 1984
![Richard Simmons, 1984](https://ew.com/thmb/-vykky0rxFf1a7mR8VBfW6T9Ljg=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pbdrisi_ec005_h-2000-a59648bdd1a445a98c97bb785844b18b.jpg)
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Richard Simmons taping The Sally Jessy Raphael Show in Los Angeles on Sept. 9, 1991
![Taping of Sally Jesse Raphael Show - September 9, 1991](https://ew.com/thmb/93dlDby0AUSHQgmE2vc-NuQiXRI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-115349859-2000-b7c9bab6fb6142d09196fe2f2d23f51d.jpg)
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Richard Simmons in Los Angeles in 1992
![Richard Simmons Portrait Session](https://ew.com/thmb/X3fDdBvxHPo6wQloXXYMq0Jt3Y8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/000252616-2000-b7345831fc9248bfaf5af9e080130522.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with La Toya Jackson at the Video Software Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas on July 11, 1993
![Video Software Dealers Association Convention](https://ew.com/thmb/IQlv7-oDIZmHXGmiMLwFtzzGcIA=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-105278177-2000-322dc1c3a500415fa1fb519328e4aa71.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on July 12, 1993
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 2](https://ew.com/thmb/xvAWZeduPBABOSB2vXvF-dl4zJo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-166338963-2000-8a6d44de2344487ebe4e30dba551dc30.jpg)
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Richard Simmons on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on July 29, 1994
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 3](https://ew.com/thmb/gSmr2BcTBcziIb0JQNGGpUbo94Q=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-169732788-2000-4e2c384337534eea8430fb359e6f040d.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Tyra Banks and Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Jan. 12, 1995
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 3](https://ew.com/thmb/Y-azQU_NqYE_0Vx4zCtOmvlWG_g=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-167281158-2000-2f11a87ba96b4b8a81f98247ffa96dcf.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Cynthia Stevenson and Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Nov. 22, 1995
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 4](https://ew.com/thmb/8jhVYJaFyw0dxDeGqw2FVP3vopY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-455494182-2000-2ea085972bdb402093f1ba53bc16bc50.jpg)
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Richard Simmons on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Dec. 17, 1997
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 6](https://ew.com/thmb/O1TldFEEuv6k6lHLLN-2Z5GyK04=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-470127228-2000-8c50f0c44faf4ae19438a754be3f9b99.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Feb. 22, 2000
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 8](https://ew.com/thmb/BEI2umZqTWNqEo5g0zOefK_25ZE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-141387195-2000-ac4c7857dbfa40a282bae65b9b2153bb.jpg)
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Richard Simmons on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on April 28, 2000
![The Tonight Show with Jay Leno - Season 8](https://ew.com/thmb/EH-WExR8mwHfYyOUKq8fr1u3n-o=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-142410034-2000-272e162fdec540c5a8bbf0bca547bb30.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at Zeeland East High School in Michigan on Jan. 25, 2003
![SIMMONS](https://ew.com/thmb/iPe3aK2P5kkJHDEVJjgSClWoITQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ap_03012504272-2000-caff4dc6e99b4503b3c25c8523aaaf01.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at LIFEfest at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on March 14, 2004
![Richard Simmons](https://ew.com/thmb/V7WCWC71MGr1m_kJyXN2i3Em7uE=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-515697314-6b4e06f264bb4b9ca11802aff7f1ef14.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at the Summer Salad Fashion Show in New York on June 2, 2006
![Richard Simmons Hosts the First-Ever Summer Salad Fashion Show](https://ew.com/thmb/bpTOJPRmhkoXCvd7KQYtO6N6KdI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-76382354-2000-3d30de1c8ea14ae6ab15713c08694568.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at Late Show With David Letterman in New York City on Oct. 16, 2007
![Celebrities Arrive At The Late Show With David Letterman](https://ew.com/thmb/Gy6p5wBBUH2HM9ujueZu24uA500=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-77360215-2000-f908bd8b52ae4778ba67dc88bee70daf.jpg)
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Richard Simmons leading Capitol Hill staff and visitors in an exercise routine in Washington, D.C. on July 24, 2008
![Fitness advocate Richard Simmons, wearin](https://ew.com/thmb/eVRfJUEpJXYtZ-wktfYaCwTvB38=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-82055755-2000-f00b1eae61d14219a3997acc230151b8.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with William Shatner on The Today Show on Jan. 12, 2010
![TODAY](https://ew.com/thmb/ju8V3eACX0FtD7JJIkZotmpuPlI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-138238972-2000-ad0da42a3f124745867ab45bc76df95c.jpg)
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Richard Simmons in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 2010
![Richard Simmons Celebrates The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act](https://ew.com/thmb/ocO6RbriJgX9Nn7fJzKEdXxs_Lo=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-98616806-2000-fc51d87785b64478b80643511ad3cdee.jpg)
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Richard Simmons in Beverly Hills on May 24, 2011
![BuzzFoto Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - May 24, 2011](https://ew.com/thmb/AxVhL_wmZpbcjPKrFNYCgy78apQ=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-120830268-2000-bcb050bb9cc844abadea35fefe8d1f86.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Miss Florida Lissette Garcia in Las Vegas on June 10, 2011
![Chinese Laundry Presents The Miss USA Hula Hoop Competition With Richard Simmons](https://ew.com/thmb/p49yNchJpxDcSYU0FmH_UTcIde8=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-115860224-2000-1789f4c5e4154b3d85dda4a1aa6a67a8.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at The Wendy Williams Show in New York City on Nov. 15, 2011
![Celebrity Sightings In New York City - November 15, 2011](https://ew.com/thmb/TCwomudy1LBax67VABQPaHUx09Q=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-133000154-2000-8d58af3dca5046cc9a7b81e08bb09689.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at the Sunset Strip Market in West Hollywood on Oct. 25, 2012
![Legendary Musician Peter Asher Autographs The Painted Guitar Titled "British Invasion" At Gibson GuitarTown Sunset Strip](https://ew.com/thmb/Xsx9xFpcAfgmEgqxdZyePYE-uEw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-154785243-2000-409d73d529534b0abd219e8d0c123f7a.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Cathy Sondheim and Bill Sondheim at Variety's Home Entertainment Hall of Fame gala dinner in Beverly Hills on Dec. 3, 2012
![Variety's Home Entertainment Hall Of Fame Gala Dinner & Awards](https://ew.com/thmb/U9r5wtHzFUxAVEaWnSB1MzGm37k=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-157474447-2000-cc69e0522ae4451ca044e2f900cbfa05.jpg)
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Richard Simmons attends the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 24th annual A Time for Heroes in Los Angeles on June 2, 2013
![Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 24th Annual "A Time For Heroes" - Red Carpet](https://ew.com/thmb/dfgmWNlwC6LTpI_DxFc7qjstRq4=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-169820427-2000-91449d5e35bf4c66921f0b1516be93a5.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at the 2013 L.A. Gay Pride Festival on June 9, 2013
![2013 LA Gay Pride Festival - Day 3](https://ew.com/thmb/c_iuAqGnU4jyv8COt5W3L3dd9TI=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-170289896-2000-e941c3a317984cacbb46c3ebd28cbbec.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at Project Angel Food's annual Angel Awards in Los Angeles on Aug. 10, 2013
![Project Angel Food's Annual Angel Awards 2013 Honoring Jane Lynch](https://ew.com/thmb/ztFYsEM5cWmW51cdlCBVgm1k4cY=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-176040855-2000-a1a442a284164220b9839211247d340b.jpg)
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Richard Simmons with Katy Perry at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on Aug. 25, 2013
![2013 MTV Video Music Awards - Red Carpet](https://ew.com/thmb/QVD7dezhitMhZwzE7Gaz_uYSGcs=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-177652909-2000-fc2aa98015464ec8b0d820c31269bf46.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at the Swim for Relief Benefiting Hurricane Sandy Recovery in New York City on Oct. 9, 2013
!["Swim for Relief" Benefiting Hurricane Sandy Recovery - Day 2](https://ew.com/thmb/yhKHEnhriToW-dD89mmLkfPtVlM=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-183701174-2000-ee280eca254f4aeeb95823dd87b704f4.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at the 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Nov. 27, 2013
![87th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - Inflation Eve](https://ew.com/thmb/9bY7k8MskTIKTeqxb2zFKmogUkw=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-452315525-2000-6d714c4978a04113afa451a63303bc51.jpg)
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Richard Simmons at SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2013
![Sparkle: An All-Star Holiday Concert](https://ew.com/thmb/m81XVEia6epfdvnUqXE-FQ98nfk=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/gettyimages-456558957-2000-af27a9808a5142a2bd4fd1d15613b854.jpg)