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Cause of death of Richard Simmons is under investigation

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Louise Thomas

The death of Richard Simmons is reportedly under investigation.

The fitness guru was found dead at home by his housekeeper on July 13. Simmons died one day after celebrating his 76th birthday.

The cause of death was initially unclear, but no foul play was suspected.

However, the Los Angeles Medical Examiner’s Office has since stated that the cause of death is not yet known. This means that further tests and investigations will be required to determine the exact cause of death. It could take up to three months for a decision to be made.

Simmons reportedly fell in his bathroom the night before his death. TMZHowever, he refused his housekeeper’s suggestion to seek medical attention.

In an interview with Entertainment tonightSimmons’ brother Lenny Simmons described the fitness trainer’s death as a “shock” and said Simmons initially believed he had suffered from food poisoning.

“He wasn’t feeling too well that day because he thought he had food poisoning, but he got better and went to bed a little early,” he said. “So we really didn’t think anything of it. We all have bad days sometimes, you know, we don’t feel very good and when (Richard’s housekeeper Teresa) called me, I was shocked. I called my wife Kathy and said, ‘You need to come here. You need to hear what (Teresa) is saying.’ And it was really… my soul just felt sucked (out of my body).”

Richard Simmons died one day after his 76th birthday

Richard Simmons died one day after his 76th birthday (Getty Images for EGPAF)

One day before his death, Simmons thanked his fans on social media for the “many messages on my birthday.”

“I’m sitting here writing emails. Have a wonderful rest of your Friday,” he wrote.

Simmons rose to fame in Los Angeles in the 1980s as a weight loss coach and motivational speaker. He became known through frequent appearances on television and radio talk shows, including the Late Show with David Letterman And The Howard Stern Show, and for his popular series of aerobics videos Sweating to the oldies.

In his last interview with PeopleIn the article published two days before his death, he talked about how much he missed his fans and how he continued to stay in touch with them.

“I know people miss me. And you know what? I miss them too. But I can reach them by phone and email. And sometimes I leave the house. But I’m in disguise,” said Simmons, who retired from public life in 2014.

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“Today we probably answer over 100 emails. And they say, ‘I’m your biggest fan.’ And I just write back and say, ‘Don’t say that, because I’m a human being like you. And I know you do good things too.'”