Richard Simmons' housekeeper breaks silence on final moments before fitness guru's fatal fall

Richard Simmons’ longtime live-in housekeeper Teresa Reveles is speaking out for the first time since his death in the upcoming special The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special.

The reclusive fitness guru was found dead at his Los Angeles home on July 13, 2024, just one day after celebrating his 76th birthday.

Weeks later, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner ruled the death accidental, linked to complications from recent falls, with heart disease listed as a contributing factor.

'It was reported Mr. Simmons experienced a fall on July 11 and spent the following day in bed,’ read the medical examiner’s statement in part. 'He was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor on the morning of July 13, and 9-1-1 was called.'

Reveles, who had worked for him for 35 years and was among the last people to see him alive, discovered Simmons' body. 

In a teaser for the documentary released on Thursday, she says: 'This is the first time I’ve spoken about it.'

In another clip, she recalls the chilling moment she discovered his body, saying: ‘When I came here, then I saw him on the floor.'

The ABC special, set to premiere May 12, is billed as taking viewers 'inside a mystery” while tracing what it calls the 'inspiring and explosive ride' of Simmons’ career and cultural impact.

Archive footage featured in the trailer shows the 1980s fitness star leading energetic workout sessions and motivating followers, illustrating what is described as 'a joyful revolution' and a 'record-breaking fitness empire.'

Elsewhere, Diane Sawyer sits down with Rosie O’Donnell and asks, 'What was the definition of what he did that was different?' 

O’Donnell responds, 'I think he loved people back to health.'

The trailer also touches on Simmons’ upbringing, posing the question: 'How did a little boy who had to run from bullies defy the odds and become a megastar? There was only one Richard Simmons.'

It then shifts in tone to his later years, noting his abrupt withdrawal from public life: 'Then, all of a sudden, one day, he disappeared for a decade.' 

Simmons largely withdrew from public life around 2014, gradually stepping away from appearances, interviews, and his Beverly Hills fitness studio before disappearing from the spotlight for nearly a decade leading up to his death in 2024.

The trailer reflects on that silence, with Sawyer and Simmons' manager Michael Catalano discussing the length of his absence, as she asks, ‘First year, I understand. Second year, okay you’re really tired, I understand. By the third year, I’d be worried.’ 

Catalano says, 'He felt the love,' to which Sawyer responds, 'Until he didn’t,' and Catalano adds, 'Then it just got real quiet.'

The trailer then highlights a turning point after years of silence, with the narrator noting, 'For the first time after 10 years of silence -  a phone call,' alongside imagery of flowers Simmons sent to Sawyer and a handwritten note reading 'I trust you,' before adding, 'What was he finally ready to reveal?'

Later scenes show Sawyer visiting Simmons’ Hollywood home, where she embraces his brother Lenny Simmons and his wife Cathy Simmons. 

The narrator explains, 'Now, after almost two years seeking out his closest family and friends, they speak,' adding, 'We pull back the curtain on the mystery.'

The trailer ends on a reflective note, with Catalano remembering Simmons’ trademark humour, saying: 'Richard always said, "I don’t care if they’re laughing with me or at me. I just want them to be laughing."' 

Simmons first rose to prominence in the late 1970s after opening his Beverly Hills fitness studio, Slimmons, which became known for its inclusive approach to weight loss and exercise. 

Unlike many fitness instructors of the time, he focused on group classes designed for people of all sizes and fitness levels, particularly those who felt excluded from traditional gyms.

In the 1980s, he expanded his reach through television appearances and a series of bestselling workout videos, most notably Sweatin’ to the Oldies, which sold millions of copies on VHS. 

His energetic teaching style and use of music helped the videos become a mainstay of home fitness culture during the decade.

Simmons also made frequent appearances on talk shows and television programs, often in characteristically flamboyant attire, and became a regular fixture in American pop culture. 

His public profile began to diminish in the 2000s as he reduced television appearances and gradually stepped back from running daily classes at Slimmons, which eventually closed.

By around 2014, Simmons had stopped teaching altogether and ceased most public engagements, marking the beginning of his long withdrawal from public life that continued until his death in 2024.