Richard Simmons‘ final photo was unveiled by his staff that he had planned to share with his fans before his shock passing at the age of 76 one week earlier on July 13.
The fitness guru was found dead inside his L.A. home after he fell in his bathroom the night before. A police investigation has since been launched into his final hours, and his cause of death has yet to be disclosed to the public.
This week, he was laid to rest and his grave was heaped with pink roses in exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com.
His staff took to X on Saturday to share Simmons’ last photo – which showed the star with gray hair and wearing an orange, Nasa uniform.
‘From Richard’s staff: Hello everyone, Richard worked very hard on his posts for you,’ they began.
‘He had many ideas and would work ahead… going back to each one making changes until he had it just like he wanted before posting.’
Richard Simmons’ final photo was unveiled by his staff that he had planned to share with his fans before his shock passing at the age of 76 one week earlier on July 13; seen in 1980
His staff took to X on Saturday to share Simmons’ last photo – which showed the star with gray hair and holding a small smile on his face
His staff continued, ‘As you know, on the weekends, he would just share a photo with a caption. He always chose his photos and wrote his captions for the upcoming weekend by Friday.’
‘So we have the post Richard planned to share with you last Sunday. We thought you’d want to see it.’
In the final section of the post on X, the fitness guru’s staff added, ‘Here is the post Richard had planned for you for Sunday July 14, 2024.’
Richard could be seen striking a pose with graying hair while wearing a vibrant, orange Nasa uniform and stood in front of a colorful wall.
The caption that he had planned to accompany the photo was, ‘Let me fly you to the moon so we can gaze among the stars. Love, Richard.’
In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com on Friday, the late star’s grave could be seen covered with pink roses after he was laid to rest.
Simmons was interred at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, where stars including Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried.
His tombstone was completely obscured by a large mound of roses that were laid over the gravesite in loving memory of him.
‘He had many ideas and would work ahead… going back to each one making changes until he had it just like he wanted before posting,’ the staff added
His staff continued, ‘As you know, on the weekends, he would just share a photo with a caption. He always chose his photos and wrote his captions for the upcoming weekend by Friday’
In the final section of the post on X, the fitness guru’s staff added, ‘Here is the post Richard had planned for you for Sunday July 14, 2024’; seen in 2010 in Atlanta
Simmons, who is referred to as a ‘health motivator’ on his death certificate, joins an exalted echelon of showbiz figures buried at Pierce Brothers.
Splendor In The Grass star Natalie Wood, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and Rat Pack singer Dean Martin are among the celebrities at the cemetery.
The Odd Couple leads Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are also there, as are pop act Roy Orbison and Breakfast At Tiffany’s author Truman Capote.
Sitcom icons Don Knotts, Doris Roberts, Eva Gabor and Florence Henderson are interred at Pierce Brothers, as are movie stars Burt Lancaster and George C. Scott.
Beloved stand-up comic Rodney Dangerfield, Charlie’s Angels pinup Farrah Fawcett and jazz greats Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé were laid to rest there as well.
The graveyard, which houses the remains of many private citizens as well as public figures, has been operating under various names since the late 19th century.
Simmons’ death certificate obtained by TMZ does not have his manner of death listed – noting the manner of death is still pending an investigation.
The TV star – who dropped out of the spotlight in the final years of his year – was a bachelor at the time of his death.
He never commented publicly on his sexuality but was a revered gay icon.
Simmons was interred at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, where stars including Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried; seen in 2013 in L.A.
Simmons’ death certificate obtained by TMZ does not have his manner of death listed – noting the manner of death is still pending an investigation; seen in 2013 in Beverly Hills
‘The LAPD are not pursuing the investigation as if foul play was involved at this point,’ a law enforcement source told People on Thursday.
Simmons’ preliminary cause of death was revealed Monday by the Los Angeles Fire Department after it was confirmed police were investigating the matter.
It was announced via a statement that Simmons had died of ‘apparent natural causes.’
‘On July 13, 2024, at 9:55 AM, the LAFD responded to a Suspected Death Incident at the 1300 block of N Belfast Drive,’ LAFD Captain Erik Scott told Entertainment Tonight.
‘Upon arrival, one rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old male who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics due to apparent natural causes. As a result, no hospital transport was necessary,’ he concluded.
Police officers and firefighters were dispatched to Simmons’ home in Los Angeles after receiving a call from his housekeeper.
Simmons was found dead just one day after he celebrated his 76th birthday.
Police officials confirmed to People on Monday that Simmons’ death was under further examination, and that the case had been deferred by the Medical Examiner’s Office, which calls for a further probe and tests to be conducted, according to the outlet.
The examination can span as long as three months until an official ruling is issued, the outlet reported.
‘The LAPD are not pursuing the investigation as if foul play was involved at this point,’ a law enforcement source told People on Thursday; seen in 2013 in L.A.
Authorities pronounced Simmons dead at the scene, according to the outlet, and foul play was not suspected in connection with the death, which was going to be probed as under natural causes.
Members of the LAPD’s Robbery Homicide Division also responded to the call due to the high-profile person who had died, the outlet reported.
Police subsequently told the outlet that Simmons had fallen in the bathroom of his home on Friday – which marked his 76th birthday – and that his housekeeper had attempted to persuade him to seek immediate medical help.
Simmons declined because it was his birthday and he didn’t want to go anywhere, informing her that he might go on Saturday.
The housekeeper helped him safely get back to his bedroom, where she found him the following morning on the floor at around 10 a.m., according to the outlet.
One source told the outlet that Simmons had said he felt ‘dizzy’ prior to falling down, while a separate insider said Simmons ‘showed no obvious or external signs of injury’ after he fell down.
It was not immediately clear if the fall and feelings of dizziness were connected to his death.
Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave People just two days before he died.
One source told the outlet that Simmons had said he felt ‘dizzy’ prior to falling down, while a separate insider said Simmons ‘showed no obvious or external signs of injury’ after he fell down; seen in 2013 in West Hollywood
He also told People that he’d also had a skin cancer scare after undergoing a procedure to have it extracted earlier this year.
‘Basal cell carcinoma, it was scary,’ Simmons said of the ailment. ‘But it never came back.’ Simmons told the outlet that he strived to spread optimism and positivity to those dealing with similar health battles.
‘So many people have cancer,’ Simmons said. ‘I call them, I sing to them: “You’re gonna get through this. You just have to believe that.”‘
Simmons told the outlet he had been collaborating on a musical with composer Patrick Leonard in recent months.
The late star had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans.
He told People, ‘Today is a beautiful day. But nothing’s really different. I got up this morning. I said my prayers, I counted my blessings, and then I went to work.’
‘You know? And writing messages, answering emails – and when the email is real extreme, I ask for their numbers, and I call them. I’m feeling great, cause I’m helping people.’
Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans in a moving interview he gave People just two days before he died; seen in 1992 in L.A.
The late star had been gradually reemerging into his public persona, communicating on X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email with his fans; seen in 2006 in NYC
His final social media post came on Saturday, quoting a line from the 1968 musical comedy Funny Girl.
Simmons was asked about his low-profile interactions with his fans, telling the outlet that his measure of success was the number of people he had provided assistance and inspiration to.
‘Well, when I decided to retire, it was because my body told me I needed to retire,’ Simmons said. ‘I have spent time just reflecting on my life. All of the books I wrote, the videos.
‘I never was like, “Oh look what I’ve done.” My thing was, “Oh, look how many people I helped.”‘