ToughPigs is saddened to learn that fitness icon and television personality Richard Simmons has passed away at the age of 76.
Simmons was perhaps best known for Sweatin’ to the Oldies, his series of aerobics tapes. Prior to that, he hosted his own talk show (unsurprisingly centered around fitness), The Richard Simmons Show from 1980 to 1984. His fame also made him a popular guest on shows like General Hospital, Amazing Stories, The Late Show with David Letterman, and the American version of Whose Line is it Anyway?
Simmons’ energetic style and ability to laugh at himself would inevitably lead to work in the creative worlds of Jim Henson. In 1983, Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch appeared on his eponymous show, though sadly, no footage from the episode can currently be found online. He also provided the voice for a dinosaur parody of himself in the Dinosaurs episode “Nature Calls.” And in 2011, he “murdered” Rico, the mascot for Air New Zealand created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Simmons was also spoofed as Richard Slimens, a worm fitness instructor that Slimey works out to, in a 1988 episode of Sesame Street, and mentioned by name in a 1982 segment of the Muppets comic strip where Miss Piggy browses a bookstore’s section of workout books.
No matter whether he kept us in shape or kept us laughing, Simmons’ joyful presence will be missed.
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by Matthew Soberman – Matthew@ToughPigs.com
