News The evolution of Richard Simmons By EW Staff Updated on September 20, 2022 10:15AM EDT Trending Videos Close this video player 01 of 37 Richard Simmons through the years Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Born Milton Teagle Simmons in New Orleans on July 12, 1948, the fitness guru better known as Richard Simmons kicked off his career in the '70s and rose to fame in the '80s. Pictured here around 1970, Simmons spent decades making small-screen appearances as an exercise expert and tried his hand at acting with roles on General Hospital, Hercules, and Fish Hooks. The star made headlines in 2017 with the release of the Missing Richard Simmons podcast, which explored Simmons' decision to step away from the spotlight. See photos of him through the years, ahead. 02 of 37 Richard Simmons in the early-1980s Everett Collection 03 of 37 Richard Simmons in the 1980s Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 04 of 37 Richard Simmons on General Hospital on May 16, 1980 Everett Collection 05 of 37 Richard Simmons on General Hospital on Oct. 6, 1980 ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images 06 of 37 Richard Simmons in Los Angeles on June 23, 1982 Richard Drew/AP 07 of 37 Richard Simmons on American Bandstand on Aug. 5, 1982 ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images 08 of 37 Richard Simmons in 1984 Everett Collection 09 of 37 Richard Simmons taping The Sally Jessy Raphael Show in Los Angeles on Sept. 9, 1991 Jim Smeal/WireImage 10 of 37 Richard Simmons in Los Angeles in 1992 Harry Langdon/Getty Images 11 of 37 Richard Simmons with La Toya Jackson at the Video Software Dealers Association Convention in Las Vegas on July 11, 1993 Ron Galella/WireImage 12 of 37 Richard Simmons with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on July 12, 1993 Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 13 of 37 Richard Simmons on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on July 29, 1994 Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 14 of 37 Richard Simmons with Tyra Banks and Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Jan. 12, 1995 Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 15 of 37 Richard Simmons with Cynthia Stevenson and Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Nov. 22, 1995 Margaret C. Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 16 of 37 Richard Simmons on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Dec. 17, 1997 Margaret Norton/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 17 of 37 Richard Simmons with Jay Leno on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Feb. 22, 2000 Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 18 of 37 Richard Simmons on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on April 28, 2000 Paul Drinkwater/Network/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 19 of 37 Richard Simmons at Zeeland East High School in Michigan on Jan. 25, 2003 Brian Forde/The Holland Sentinel/AP 20 of 37 Richard Simmons at LIFEfest at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on March 14, 2004 Tannis Toohey/Toronto Star via Getty Images 21 of 37 Richard Simmons at the Summer Salad Fashion Show in New York on June 2, 2006 Jemal Countess/WireImage 22 of 37 Richard Simmons at Late Show With David Letterman in New York City on Oct. 16, 2007 Ray Tamarra/Getty Images 23 of 37 Richard Simmons leading Capitol Hill staff and visitors in an exercise routine in Washington, D.C. on July 24, 2008 TIM SLOAN/AFP/Getty Images 24 of 37 Richard Simmons with William Shatner on The Today Show on Jan. 12, 2010 Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images 25 of 37 Richard Simmons in Washington, D.C. on April 22, 2010 Paul Morigi/WireImage 26 of 37 Richard Simmons in Beverly Hills on May 24, 2011 David Aguilera/Buzzfoto/Getty Images 27 of 37 Richard Simmons with Miss Florida Lissette Garcia in Las Vegas on June 10, 2011 Denise Truscello/WireImage 28 of 37 Richard Simmons at The Wendy Williams Show in New York City on Nov. 15, 2011 Ray Tamarra/Getty Images 29 of 37 Richard Simmons at the Sunset Strip Market in West Hollywood on Oct. 25, 2012 Jonathan Leibson/WireImage 30 of 37 Richard Simmons with Cathy Sondheim and Bill Sondheim at Variety's Home Entertainment Hall of Fame gala dinner in Beverly Hills on Dec. 3, 2012 Alberto E. Rodriguez/WireImage 31 of 37 Richard Simmons attends the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's 24th annual A Time for Heroes in Los Angeles on June 2, 2013 Jason Kempin/Getty Images 32 of 37 Richard Simmons at the 2013 L.A. Gay Pride Festival on June 9, 2013 Rodrigo Vaz/Getty Images 33 of 37 Richard Simmons at Project Angel Food's annual Angel Awards in Los Angeles on Aug. 10, 2013 Rodrigo Vaz/FilmMagic 34 of 37 Richard Simmons with Katy Perry at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York City on Aug. 25, 2013 Larry Busacca/Getty Images 35 of 37 Richard Simmons at the Swim for Relief Benefiting Hurricane Sandy Recovery in New York City on Oct. 9, 2013 Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images 36 of 37 Richard Simmons at the 87th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Nov. 27, 2013 Charles Norfleet/FilmMagic 37 of 37 Richard Simmons at SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert in Los Angeles on Dec. 13, 2013 David A. Walega/WireImage