Richard Simmons (12 July 1948) is a fitness expert who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through a line of aerobics videos and television programs. He is known for his humor and flamboyant personality. Richard Simmons on the cover of one of his exercise videos, Sweatin to the Oldies 3. ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ... Beverly Hills is a city in the western part of Los Angeles County, California. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up expert in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A number of notable people are named Richard Simmons: Richard Simmons (fitness) (1948–) Richard Simmons (actor) (1913–2003) Richard Simmons (cricketer) (1737–1802) Category: ... July 12 is the 193rd day (194th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 172 days remaining. ... 1948 (MCMXLVIII) was a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1948 calendar). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up expert in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ...

Early life

Richard Simmons was born Milton Teagle Simmons on July 12, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Simmons was raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana and attended Cor Jesu High School(now Brother Martin High School). He was a chubby child, weighing 268 pounds at the time of his high school graduation. French Quarter: upper Chartres street looking down towards Jackson Square and the spires of St. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ... Brother Martin High School was formed in 1969 by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. ... Brother Martin High School is an all-male, Roman Catholic, secondary school located in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States operated by the Brothers of the Sacred Heart. ...

His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines. After starting college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he transferred to Florida State University. While enrolled there, he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. He graduated with a BA in Art. With his Art degree, Simmons worked in advertising in New York City and also for Coty Cosmetics and Revlon. During his time in New York he also worked as a waiter. Praline is a sweet food made from a mixture of nuts and boiled sugar, eaten as a confection or more commonly, as an ingredient in other confections. ... The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, or UL Lafayette,[1] is a coeducational public research university located in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the heart of Acadiana. ... Florida State University (commonly referred to as Florida State or FSU)[6] is a public research university located in Tallahassee, the capital city of Florida. ... Florence (Italian, Firenze) is a city in the center of Tuscany, in central Italy, on the Arno River, with a population of around 400,000, plus a suburban population in excess of 200,000. ... Nickname: Location in the state of New York Coordinates: Country United States State New York Boroughs The Bronx Brooklyn Manhattan Queens Staten Island Settled 1625 Government  - Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) Area  - City  468. ...

Fitness career

Simmons was overweight in his younger days. Simmons lost 123 lb (56 kg). The pound (abbreviations: lb or, sometimes in the United States, #) is a unit of mass in a number of different systems, including various systems of units of mass that formed part of English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... The U.S. National Prototype Kilogram, which currently serves as the primary standard for measuring mass in the U.S. It was assigned to the United States in 1889 and is periodically recertified and traceable to the primary international standard, The Kilogram, held at the Bureau International des Poids et...

Upon moving to Los Angeles in the 1970s, Simmons worked as the Maître d' at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. He became interested in fitness, but was dissatisfied with the unhealthy fad diet methods and established gyms and exercise studios of the day which favored the already fit customer. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... The maître d (short for maître dhôtel, literally master of the hall) in a suitably staffed restaurant is the person in charge of assigning customers to tables in the establishment, and dividing the dining area into areas of responsibility for the various servers on duty. ... Food faddism and fad diet are terms which refer to the tendency for idiosyncratic diets and eating patterns. ... Modern indoor gymnasium with pull-down basketball hoops. ...

He later opened his own exercise studio, originally called The Anatomy Asylum, where the emphasis was placed on providing encouragement on healthy eating in proper portions and enjoyable exercise. The business originally included a salad bar restaurant called "Ruffage," that he eventually removed in favor of focusing on exercise. The establishment, now called Slimmons, continues to operate in Beverly Hills, California and Simmons teaches motivational classes and aerobics throughout the week. Modern indoor gymnasium with pull-down basketball hoops Gym is a shortened form of gymnasium referring to facilities intended for indoor sports or exercise. ... A salad bar is a buffet-style table on which the components of a salad are placed. ... Beverly Hills is a city in the western part of Los Angeles County, California. ... Look up Aerobic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Media attention

With his business proving highly successful, Simmons began to draw media attention, beginning with an appearance on the television show Real People where he was shown at work and introduced customers who he had helped to lose weight. The positive reaction to this spot led to a recurring role, playing himself, on the American soap opera General Hospital. [1] This exposure of himself led to further media focus, as well as personal appearances in shopping malls, where he taught exercise classes. For a time in the early 1980s, Simmons had an Emmy Award winning talk show, The Richard Simmons Show, where he focused on personal health, fitness, exercise, and healthy cooking. A television program is the content of television broadcasting. ... Real People was an NBC reality television series that aired from 1979 to 1984, generally on Sunday nights. ... For Philippine soap opera, see Teleserye. ... General Hospital is the longest-running daytime soap opera on the American ABC television network, and is also the longest-running soap opera produced in Hollywood (having been taped at the Prospect Avenue ABC Television Center West since its inception). ... McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Swindon, England, a shopping mall built within a disused railway engine works. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ...

Simmons has appeared as himself on numerous TV shows, including Whose Line Is It Anyway?, CHiPs and Saturday Night Live. He has also appeared on an episode of Arrested Development called "Bringing Up Buster". He hosted a short lived TV show called DreamMaker in 1999. Simmons has been featured in commercials for Sprint Cellular Phones, and Herbal Essence Shampoos. In Canada, Simmons has appeared on television advertisements promoting Simmon's mattresses in Canada (the company is a division of the US-based Simmons Bedding Company,) although, Simmons has no business connection with the company, other than through advertisement (strictly based on his name). The company has stated that they hired him purely on name and that he appeals to their target audience of women over 35. Whose Line Is It Anyway? (sometimes abbreviated to Whose Line?) is a short form improvisational comedy show. ... CHiPs is an American television series through Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios running on NBC from September 15, 1977 to July 17, 1983. ... Saturday Night Live (SNL) is a weekly late night 90-minute American comedy-variety show based in New York City which has been broadcast live by NBC on Saturday nights since October 11, 1975. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Bringing Up Buster was the third episode of the Arrested Development series. ... Herbal Essences is a brand of shampoo, conditioner and hair coloring products targeted at women, created by Clairol. ...

He currently has a show on Sirius Stars, Sirius Satellite Radio channel 102, called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons, Sundays 3pm - 6pm ET live, with replays of the previous week before the live show, and the current week replays airing after the live show . Sirius Satellite Radio NASDAQ: SIRI is one of two satellite radio (SDARS) services operating in the United States and Canada, along with XM Satellite Radio. ...

Fitness plans and marketing

• Simmons first marketed weight loss plan was called the Live It; the plan was explained in his first book Never Say Diet.
• He has since written several more books and produced the Deal A Meal and FoodMover weight loss plans.
• He hosts the Cruise to Lose program on Carnival Cruise Lines and has made cameo appearances in films.
• He also has produced fitness videos such as the Sweatin' to the Oldies series and infomercials for his videos, and food plans, such as The Deal-A-Meal program and FoodMover.
• Simmons made an exercise album for Elektra Records, titled Reach, in 1983.
• Simmons had a show in the 1980s called Slim Cookin'.
• Simmons teaches other instructors to teach The Simmons Method. Training is periodically provided at Hoot Camp, which allows AFAA-certified instructors to earn continuing education. Held in Beverly Hills, Hoot Camp is approved by the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). Hoot Camp has also been held in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
• Simmons travels the United States, teaching classes, and spends time phoning people who ask for his help.
• He has a dedicated website -- www.richardsimmons.com.
• He currently hosts a three-hour weekly radio show called Lighten Up with Richard Simmons every Sunday afternoon on Sirius radio.
• Simmons has worked with Salton to develop a new and unique food steamer, called "Steam Heat" which made its debut on QVC in October 2006.
• Simmons recently filmed a pledge drive special for PBS, called Love Yourself And Win, set to begin airing in the spring of 2007.
• November 16, 2006, Simmons appeared on the Today Show to announce his "Ask America" crusade to get PE back into US public schools as a required course. Simmons asked the viewers go to his website at www.richardsimmons.com and fill out his Ask America survey to help him gather information to take to Washington DC.

A chained book in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of paper, parchment, or other material, usually fastened together to hinge at one side, and within protective covers. ... Carnival Cruise Lines is a cruise line operating a large number of cruise ships. ... Martin Scorsese appears briefly in an uncredited role in this scene from his feature film Taxi Driver. ... Bottom view of VHS videotape cassette with magnetic tape exposed Videotape is a means of recording images and sound onto magnetic tape as opposed to movie film. ... Infomercials are television commercials that run as long as a typical television program (roughly thirty minutes or an hour). ... Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, and today operates under Atlantic Records Group. ... This article cites very few or no references or sources. ... The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) is a fitness education that was established in 1983, and operates out of Sherman Oaks, California. ... Continuing education may refer to one of two types of education. ... The Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) is a fitness education that was established in 1983, and operates out of Sherman Oaks, California. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Sirius Satellite Radio NASDAQ: SIRI is one of two satellite radio (SDARS) services operating in the United States and Canada, along with XM Satellite Radio. ... November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Personal life

Personality

Simmons is notable for his high-energy and motivational demeanor, an attribute he often uses to help encourage people to lose weight. His trademark attire is candy-striped Dolfin shorts and tank tops decorated with Swarovski crystals. He is also well known for his naturally curly hair, which has led to physical comparisons between him and 70's pop singer Leo Sayer.^{[citation needed]} Swarovski is the luxury brand name for the range of precision-cut crystal glass products produced by companies owned by Swarovski AG of Feldmeilen, near Zürich, Switzerland. ... Leo Sayer (born Gerard Hugh Sayer, 21 May 1948, in Shoreham-by-Sea, Sussex) is a performing artist whose singing career has spanned four decades. ...

Simmons has always been known for his "personal touch," interacting at a personal level with the people using his products. This began when he started personally answering fan mail he received while a cast member of General Hospital. Simmons still personally answers emails and letters, and makes hundreds of phone calls each week to those who seek his help. He also talks to people on the air during his radio show, and holds weekly live chats in the "clubhouse" area of his website. His appearances also include a "meet and greet" time, so that people can speak to him one on one. General Hospital (GH) is the longest-running daytime American soap opera broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company television network. ...

Controversy

On March 24, 2004, Simmons was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly slapping Chris Farney, a motorcycle salesman, at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. The salesman spotted Simmons in the crowd and said, "Look, Richard Simmons! Drop your bags, let's rock to the '50s." Simmons allegedly replied, "It's not nice to make fun of people with issues," then lightly slapped Farney's face. The motorcycle salesman, who did not suffer any injuries, called the police. All charges against Simmons were dropped.^[1] March 24 is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Sky Harbor International Airport (IATA: PHX, ICAO: KPHX) in Phoenix is Arizonas main international airport, one of the largest aviation facilities in the American Southwest and one of the top ten busiest airports in the country. ... Nickname: Location in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Coordinates: Country United States State Arizona Counties Maricopa Incorporated February 25, 1881 Government  - Type Council-Manager  - Mayor Phil Gordon (D) Area  - City  515. ...

Speculation about personal life

Based on his exuberance, as well as his apparel and appearance, Simmons has often been the subject of speculation about his personal life, particularly about his sexual orientation. Simmons has never spoken publicly about his personal life, though he has criticized those who "assume" he is gay just because he "doesn't act like a typical man." Sexual orientation refers to the direction of an individuals sexuality, normally conceived of as falling into several significant categories based around the sex or gender that the individual finds attractive. ...

Hurricane Katrina response

In September 2005 Simmons appeared on Entertainment Tonight to discuss the effects of Hurricane Katrina on his family in his hometown of New Orleans and his involvement in aiding those affected by the hurricane. On August 29, 2006 Simmons appeared on "Your World with Neil Cavuto" while making a return visit to New Orleans one year after the flooding, a visit he repeated on March 2, 2007, now talking about his recent trip to Washington DC to promote and raise awareness about The Strengthening Physical Education Act of 2007 (bill HR 1224). 2005 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December- → Deaths in September September 28 : Constance Baker Motley September 25 : M. Scott Peck September 25 : Don Adams September 20 : Simon Wiesenthal September 14 : Robert Wise September 10 : Hermann Bondi September 8 : Donald Horne September 7 : Moussa Arafat... Entertainment Tonight is a daily television entertainment news show that is syndicated by CBS Paramount Domestic Television throughout the United States, Canada, on the Nine Network in Australia and on UBC Inside in Thailand. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa; 26. ... Nickname: Location in the State of Louisiana and the United States Coordinates: Country United States State Louisiana Parish Orleans Founded 1718 Government  - Mayor Ray Nagin (D) Area  - City  350. ... August 29 is the 241st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (242nd in leap years), with 124 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Trivia

• Simmons briefly studied to become a priest.^[2]
• In a deleted scene from The Simpsons episode "Burns' Heir", Mr. Burns forces Homer to leave his property by unleashing a robotic Richard Simmons. This scene later aired as an outtake in the 138th Episode Spectacular.[2]
• In Family Guy episode "Death Is a Bitch", a drunken Peter Griffin proves his immortality by taunting scary looking bikers with the questions "Hey, aren't you Richard Simmons?" and "Aren't you Richard Simmons' best friend, Richard Simmons?".
• Simmons was a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show in the 1990s. He refused to appear after Stern insulted Simmons one too many times. Simmons finally reappeared on Stern's show on November 16, 2006.^[3]
• Simmons was also a frequent guest on Late Night with David Letterman (NBC) and The Late Show with David Letterman (CBS). ^[4] On November 22, 2000, they had a falling out after an incident that occurred on that night's show. Simmons (while dressed as a turkey) was sprayed in the face by Letterman with a fire extinguisher after Simmons grabbed Letterman as if to hug or kiss him, causing Simmons to have a severe asthma attack.^[5] Simmons did not appear on the Letterman show for six years, finally returning on November 29, 2006. During that appearance, Letterman once again set Simmons up for a prank. While Richard Simmons was demonstrating a steamer branded with his name, Letterman insisted on placing a tray under the steamer which Simmons did not believe belonged there. When Simmons turned the steamer on, something in the tray under it exploded and started burning. Though initially scared, Simmons took the incident in fairly good nature, even joking that he "felt like Michael Jackson" (referring to a mishap where Jackson's hair was set on fire by a malfunctioning light.)^[6]
• An animated version of Simmons appeared in a Johnny Bravo episode as a man who used to bully Johnny when they were kids.^[7]
• In an episode of Rocko's Modern Life Rocko and Heffer went to a gym where a workout assistant resembled Richard Simmons. In fact, Richard Simmons voiced this character, evident in the credits. And that character returned in a TV commercial in the show in a commercial that said, "Sweatin in your undies." This second appearance did not feature a voice with the character.

. ... Simpsons redirects here. ... Burns Heir is the eighteenth episode of The Simpsons fifth season, first aired on April 14, 1994. ... Charles Montgomery Burns, normally referred to as Mr. ... Homer Jay Simpson is a fictional character in the animated television series The Simpsons, voiced by Dan Castellaneta. ... The Simpsons 138th Episode Spectacular is the tenth episode of The Simpsons seventh season, and is, as the title suggests, the 138th episode. ... Family Guy is an American animated television series about a nuclear family in the suburb of Quahog (IPA or ), Rhode Island. ... Death is a Bitch is an episode from the FOX animated television series Family Guy. ... Peter Löwenbräu Griffin is the lead character in the American animated television series Family Guy. ... This article is about the radio show hosted by Howard Stern, for a biography of his personal life see Howard Stern. ... November 16 is the 320th day of the year (321st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 45 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Late Night with David Letterman was a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC hosted by David Letterman. ... Late Show with David Letterman is an hour-long weeknight comedy and talk show broadcast by CBS from the Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway in New York City. ... November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 29 is the 333rd day of the year (334th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Johnny Bravo is an American animated television series created by Van Partible. ... Rockos Modern Life is an American animated television series whose four seasons aired from 1993 to 1996. ...

Print and media

Books

• Never Say Diet ISBN 0-517-40284-X
• Never Say Diet Cookbook
• The Better Body Book
• Reach for Fitness: A Special Book of Exercises for the Physically Challenged Warner Books 1986 ISBN 0-446-51302-4
• Richard Simmons' Never Give Up: Inspirations, Reflections, Stories of Hope Warner Books, 1984 ISBN 0-446-60085-7
• Farewell to Fat Atlantic Books 2002 ISBN 1-57719-102-1
• Sweetie Pie
• Still Hungry After All These Years: My Story Gt Pub Corp 1999 ISBN 1-57719-356-3
• The FoodMover Cookbook
• Cookin' on Broadway
• Steam Away the Pounds

Audio

Audio cassette

• Project Me (six tape set)
• Sweatin' and Sharin'
• Colors of Your Life (single tape)
• Colors of Your Life (six tape set)
• Take a Walk
• Take a Hike
• Take a Classical Walk
• Walkin' on Broadway
• Walk Around the World
• Never Give Up (book on tape, read by Simmons)

Compact discs

• Richard Picks the Hits, Volume 1
• Richard Picks the Hits, Volume 2
• Country Cardio
• Oh Happy Day
• Fitness Fiesta
• Wicked Workout
• Big Screen Burn
• Shimmy Into Shape
• In the Mood to Lose
• Classical Chillout

Vinyl record

• Reach (Elektra Records) (vinyl)

Visual media

DVDs

• Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes
• Disco Sweat
• SuperSweatin': Party Off the Pounds
• SuperTonin': Totally Tonin
• SuperTonin': Totally Tonin' with Toning Rings

Video cassette

• Everyday with Richard Simmons
• The Stomach Formula
• Get Started
• Reach for Fitness
• Richard Simmons and the Silver Foxes
• Sweatin' to the Oldies
• Sweatin' to the Oldies 2
• Sweatin' to the Oldies 3
• Sweat and Shout (also sold as Sweatin to the Oldies 4)
• Day By Day (Volumes 1-12)
• Pump and Sweat
• Step and Sweat
• Tone and Sweat
• Disco Sweat
• Stretchin' to the Classics
• Dance Your Pants Off!
• Tonin' Uptown
• Tonin' Downtown
• Groovin' In The House
• The Ab Formula
• No Ifs Ands or Butts
• Love to Stretch
• Blast Off
• Broadway Sweat
• Tone Up On Broadway
• Broadway Blast Off
• Platinum Sweat
• Sit Tight
• Latin Blast Off (also marketed as Sudar Mucho)
• Mega Mix Blast Off
• Mega Mix 2 Blast Off
• Disco Blast Off
• 60's Blast Off
• 80's Blast Off
• Blast and Tone

References

May 26 is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 10 is the 41st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 26 is the 360th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar, 361st in leap years. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... February 9 is the 40th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• The official Richard Simmons website
• Richard Simmons at the Internet Movie Database
• Richard Simmons at NNDB
• Richard Simmons 2006 Interview on Sidewalks Entertainment
• Interview with Richard Simmons