Born on July 12, 1948, Richard Simmons—whose full name is Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons—struggled with obesity throughout his early life. He was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, to parents Leonard Douglas Simmons, Sr., and Shirley May, both of whom had backgrounds in show business. His father was of Methodist descent, while his mother was of Russian Jewish heritage. Simmons attended Brother Martin High School, formerly known as Cor Jesu High School. During his childhood and teenage years, he battled health issues related to his weight, which peaked at approximately 122 kilograms (270 pounds). He also suffered from asthma, in part exacerbated by his obesity.
After completing high school, Simmons moved to Los Angeles, California, where he took a job at a restaurant in Beverly Hills. It was there that his interest in personal fitness began. Dissatisfied with the existing fitness programs of the time, he decided to establish a gym that would emphasize joy and accessibility in exercise and nutrition.
Simmons opened his first fitness studio with the help of his friend and business partner Edwin Colon Jr. Initially called the Anatomy Asylum, the studio featured a salad bar named Ruffage and focused equally on healthy eating and enjoyable workouts. Eventually, the salad bar was phased out, and the facility was rebranded as Slimmons, placing greater focus on physical fitness and group exercise programs.
Slimmons became a welcoming space for individuals seeking a more engaging and less intimidating approach to health and wellness. According to Simmons, his programs have helped people collectively lose approximately 5.5 million kilograms (over 12 million pounds) over the past 35 years.
| Birth Date: | 12 Jul, 1948 |
| Age: | 71 yrs |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | New Orleans |
| residence: | Los Angeles |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American exercise instructor |
| Net Worth 2021: | 20 million |
