Gay icon, Richard Simmons, turns 75 today!

Those legs are so photoshopped.

Is he still being held captive by the hispanic maid?

Happy Birthday Richard! I've always liked him and I hope he's happy and doing well.🎉🥳🎈🎁❤️

Before Ozempic there was Richard!

^^ yes, I had his Deal a Meal weight loss system and I always watched his talk show. I really do hope he's happy and doing well.

He has Alzheimers/Dementia and will no longer be seen in public.

Oh, does that mean we have to wish him a Happy Birthday again tomorrow, r6?

Richard, sending blessings to you wherever you are. Hope you are still living your life in your fabulous short shorts.

All that exercise really fucked up his knees. Let that be a lesson to you...

Not sure what the lesson is though. Maybe aerobic dancing on hard floors is a bad idea? I tore my calf muscle doing that years ago and it still looks funky (and cramps up when I try to run)

Now it's recumbent bike only.

He didn't transition yet? I thought all the recent pictures of him he was wearing dresses?

Gay icon? Gay embarrassment!

Happy birthday, Richard! You’re a bright, sparkling light on the planet! I hope you are well and enjoying your day!

I sat next to him on a flight once. He was fun to visit with and seemed like a genuinely good person.

Howard Stern makes Richard Simmons cry after mercilessly teasing him. Howard had a mad crush on Richard and Richard even named Howards youngest daughter. Howie really needs to come out of the closet.

R13..were his balls hanging out of is short shorts?

I was wondering what happened to that old queen.

So sad about his dementia, horrible disease.

I’d hate to see what he looks like now,poor guy.

Did he ever actually come out...as anything?

Come oUt ? EVERYONE KNEW

Fat as a pig and lying in your own filth, Birthday Boy?

Ohhhhhh. That's too bad.

He actually comes across quite well here

Why is he 75?

I’m 39 and gorgeous!

I think he goes by Renee Richards now

Thank God we don't have to worry about his 76th.

[quote]So sad about his dementia, horrible disease.

Dementia? How can you tell?

Sweatin' with the oldie.

R19 He is deeply closeted. Stern had an escort on his show that spanked him. Richard made him say 'Daddies girl is a bad girl' while spanking.

Wait! He’s a fag?

You never know.

He doesn’t look a day over Total Gayface.

That’s exactly what I wish for you R21.

In response to his departure from public life, Simmons (or someone working for him) apparently released a public statement saying he was "living the life he wants to live," which makes me wonder if he's in a relationship with somebody and has chosen to disappear so as not to "out himself"—the sad part is that he outed himself to the world from basically the day he was born. He is one of those gays who has always been incapable of fooling anyone with a pulse. It's honestly kind of sad. He does seem like a nice person.

[quote]I’d hate to see what he looks like now,poor guy.

Probably wearing the same shorty-shorts and athletic shirt, which became really hard to look at when he hit 60 or so.

I saw Richard on an episode of "Super Password" on Buzzr a couple of nights ago. He still wore clothes in those days. He was given the Password but kept shaking his head and commenting that it was "such a depressing word." The word was Hearst, as in William Randolph, and Richard obviously thought it was "hearse." Show host Bert Convy tried his best to make Richard realize that he misunderstood the word, but Richard never realized the difference, Maybe he never had a lot of book learnin'.

I don't think he's dumb. He got a B.A. from Florida State University, and according to Buzz Feed:

He was in seminary school for a year and nine months but left because he felt his "pulpit could be bigger."

Richard studied in Florence, Italy and spent time in Palermo, Sicily, as a fashion illustrator.

He stopped working that job because he felt "there was something missing," saying, "I was alone in the room with a dress, and it wasn’t for me — I needed to be around people!"

And he made quite a success of himself in Los Angeles - pretty good for a fat boy from New Orleans.

Sure, Richard has never officially come out, but he’s never pretended to be straight either. I think he loves being the elephant in the room (not literally, of course.)

I hope he's happy and ok. I wish his goodbye to us wasn't him calling into the Today Show to tell us he wasn't being coercively controlled by his maid. He doesn't owe us anything, but I feel bad for him that his disappearance is such a pronounced part of his legacy.

One of those rare public figures who seems to be a genuinely good and nice person, really invested himself into helping others. He deserves some sort of Kennedy Center-type honor as a farewell. I hope he’s comfortable and pain-free, wherever he is.

I can't say I was ever a fan of his, but I certainly hope he isn't being kept locked up in an attic.

I imagine he has paranormal stalkers by now - obese spirits who cheated all the time judging on him every time he reaches under the sink for the marshmallow fluff…..

I've told this on DL before but wanted to repeat I briefly worked with Richard decades ago. He was very nice and professional but I was instructed to drive him to his next event. He was totally silent in the car. When he got out, he suddenly turned the switch on and became the Richard Simmons the public wanted. I couldn't even imagine how exhausting it must have been for him. He doesn't strike me as an introvert but rather someone who plays the part. I think he's probably happy being who he is rather than putting on a show. I also agree that he might have injured himself or has nagging injuries and is out of shape and doesn't want the public to see him like that.