Richard Simmons’ death ruled accidental due to recent falls, his family said

The cause of fitness guru Richard Simmons’s death has been deemed to be accidental, primarily due to “recent falls,” his family announced today.

Simmons was found dead July 13 in his Hollywood Hills home, one day after celebrating his 76th birthday.

His official cause of death still has not been publicly released by the Los Angeles Office of Medical Examiner, but a spokesman for the family issued a statement Wednesday saying the office provided details to Simmons’ brother.

“This morning, Richard Simmons’ brother Lenny, received a call from the LA Coroner’s office,” spokesman Tom Estey said in the statement, initially provided to People magazine. “The coroner informed Lenny that Richard’s death was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor. The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed. The family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.”

Shortly after Simmons’ death, TMZ reported that the well-known fitness icon had fallen in his bathroom the night of his birthday but refused to go to a hospital. His housekeeper found him dead the next morning.

After spending years as a ubiquitous figure on television, Simmons had retreated from public appearances in recent years amid rampant speculation about his health. He was hospitalized at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in 2017 for what was reported to be a gastrointestinal problem.

But he told People shortly before his death he felt good as he prepared for his birthday.

“I feel good! I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day. I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people,” he said.

Simmons revealed in March that he was diagnosed with and treated for skin cancer “so many years ago.”