Diane Sawyer special to explore Richard Simmons' death, disappearance from public life
A new Diane Sawyer special will take a closer look at the mysterious life and death of Richard Simmons.
The special, "The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special," will air this month on ABC and explore the fitness guru's rise to fame, his decade-long disappearance, a planned comeback and his sudden death on July 11, 2024. He was 76.
A trailer for the upcoming special was released Friday, May 1, which included clips of Sawyer's interviews with some of his close friends and family and his longtime house manager, Teresa Reveles, who was the last one to see Simmons alive.
"This is the first time I'm talking about this," Reveles tells Sawyer in one clip.
Simmons was known for his popular line of fitness videos in the 1980s, which inspired a nationwide fitness trend.
His videos, including famed "Sweatin' to the Oldies" series, became some of the most popular workout videos of the era.
He also hosted "The Richard Simmons Show" from 1980 to 1984, which won four Daytime Emmy Awards.
In 2014, Simmons abruptly vanished from the public eye, sparking years of speculation about his whereabouts and well-being.
According to a press release for the upcoming special, Simmons quietly began planning a return after a decade of silence and reached out directly to Sawyer to share his story. He sent her flowers with a note that said, "I trust you."
He died as preparations were being made for the interview. His death was ruled "accidental" and a spokesperson for the Simmons' family said that complications from prior falls and heart disease were contributing factors.
The press release adds that after his death, Simmons' older brother extended an invitation to Sawyer to "enter Simmons' home and explore the world he had kept hidden for so long."
"The special seeks to unravel the truth behind his disappearance and shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death, offering a poignant look at the life, legacy and enduring intrigue of this American icon," the press release adds.
"The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special" will air on Tuesday, May 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET on ABC and will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.
