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Richard Simmons, fitness guru, dies at age 76
Richard Simmons, the fitness guru who devoted his life to making people sweat with his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workout videos, has died early Saturday morning, his representative confirmed to CBS News. He was 76.
Simmons died a day after his birthday. He had posted a message on his social media accounts on Friday writing “Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails.” On Saturday fans posted message after message saying they will miss him and thanking him for his positivity and encouragement.
At 9:57 a.m. Saturday, the Los Angeles Police Department responded to a radio call of a death investigation in the Hollywood Hills West neighborhood, the LAPD told CBS News. Authorities said the fire department joined police on the 1300 block of Belfast Drive, where Simmons’ house is located.
In his shimmering tank tops and short shorts, Simmons was always full of energy and smiling. His aerobic videos in the 1980s and ’90s transformed the home into a gym, teaching the world to get in shape.
But his enthusiasm for fitness came from a less-than-healthy beginning.
“You know, I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana, we eat everything fried there, we even take leaves from outside and dip them in breadcrumbs and fry them,” he told CBS’ “Sunday Morning” in 2010.
Born in 1948 in Louisiana, Simmons struggled with his weight as a child, weighing 268 pounds when he graduated from high school.
Bobby Bank/WireImage
“Once upon a time, there was a little fat kid in New Orleans who sold pralines on the street corners to make a living for his family,” Simmons said.
It was a health scare that changed his life.
“This little guy took it seriously, and he got himself together and then he decided to be the pied piper of health,” Simmons said.
And the people followed — for 40 years. Simmons was still teaching aerobics in his 60s from his gym in Beverly Hills, complete with a disco ball, record player and shiny shirt.
“I have to stay at 135 pounds to be in these 1980 Dolfin shorts,” Simmons said.
His fitness videos sold more than 20 million copies. He played himself on TV shows, commercials, even cartoons.
He became a political activist for children, campaigning for physical education in schools, fighting for healthy eating and against fad dieting.
“Never say diet, say live it, you want your body to live, not die,” Simmons said.
TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images
Simmons made hundreds of appearances on TV talk shows, but in 2014, he went from seemingly being everywhere to being nowhere, disappearing from the public eye for years. In April 2017, he posted a message on Facebook: “I’m not ‘missing,’ just a little under the weather.”
For his followers, his message remained.
“I hope that one day we can all be a little bit more intelligent on how to take care of the only thing that God gave us – that’s our body,” Simmons said.
Richard Simmons helped start a movement, on moving.
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In the third quarter of 2023, U.S. mortgage holders collectively held $17.2 trillion in home equity, according to the November 2024 ICE Mortgage Monitor report. This includes $11.2 million in “tappable” equity, or equity homeowners can borrow against without dropping below an 80% loan-to-value ratio.
For homeowners, this translates to an average of $319,000 in total equity and $207,000 in tappable equity. Rising home prices provided this big pot of accessible cash and, for some, using it to upgrade their space could increase home values further — especially now that home equity loan and home equity line of credit (HELOC) rates have dropped steadily since their post-pandemic peak and are expected to fall further in the coming months.
Taking out a home equity loan or a HELOC to fund improvements allows you to borrow at an affordable rate, and both HELOC interest and home equity loan interest may be tax-deductible if funds are used to improve a qualifying primary or second home. If you’re thinking about using some of your equity to improve your living quarters, though, there are some home improvement projects in particular that experts say could boost your home’s value.
Compare today’s top home equity borrowing options online now.
3 strategic home projects that can boost your home’s value in 2025
The following home projects could pay off by boosting the value of your home in the new year:
1. Build an accessory dwelling unit
If you’re hoping your home could bring in some extra cash, or if you want to make room for extended family and household help, adding an accessory dwelling unit could be the ideal upgrade for you.
Andrea Saturno-Sanajna, a broker with Coldwell Banker Warburg, says that many localities are enacting legislation or creating programs to encourage the building of ADUs to create more affordable housing. In some cases, these programs even come with government funding to help cover the costs. However, even without this bonus, Saturno-Sanajna believes this is a project worth thinking about if it’s allowed in your area.
“The ADU could be rented out for additional income or used for aging parents or college students to be near family while maintaining some autonomy, for au pairs, exchange students or carers, or even for income-generating, short-term holiday accommodation where permitted,” Saturno-Sanajna says.
MyHome by Freddie Mac reports that ADUs increase your home’s value by as much as 35%, but they must fulfill certain requirements including having a kitchen, bathroom, and separate entrance. If you have the space and the equity available to create this type of dwelling, the payoff could be substantial.
Learn what your best home equity borrowing rates could be today.
2. Increase your energy efficiency
With the growing threat of climate change and the rising cost of electricity, projects that improve your home’s energy efficiency should be top on your list in 2025, says Michael C. Weiner, an agent at Coldwell Banker Warburg.
“Infrastructure changes that improve energy efficiency aren’t just helpful in boosting value but also can start paying for themselves from day one,” Weiner says.
His suggestions included upgrading your windows, adding insulation or installing a smart thermostat.
Weiner also recommends switching out older appliances with newer, more energy-efficient ones that can both give your home an updated look and reduce your utility bills for a double payoff. With the Department of Energy reporting that a new Energy-Star-certified fridge could save you more than $220 during its 12-year lifetime, this upgrade alone could be worth making.
3. Invest in wellness
The COVID-19 pandemic brought a renewed focus on maintaining good health, so incorporating wellness features in your home could be an upgrade worth considering in 2025.
Broker Sean Adu-Gymafi of Coldwell Banker Warburg advises installing upgrades like whole-house water filtration systems and air purification systems throughout the home.
“Water filtration systems will provide better water quality and are better for the environment as they can reduce the amount of bottled water used,” Adu-Gymafi says. “Similarly, installing air purification systems throughout the home can also add value. As more people prioritize health and their well-being, these features are becoming very desirable.”
The bottom line
These upgrades could help you to improve your financial situation immediately as you bring in rental income, improve your health and lower your monthly bills. They may also make your property more desirable to future buyers. Tapping into equity to complete them could be a smart financial choice in the new year, especially if you shop around for loans at competitive rates and take advantage of new, more affordable borrowing opportunities.
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