Shocked at learning about the sudden passing of New Orleans-native Richard Simmons on Saturday, July 13—the day after his 76th birthday—Where Y'at decided to release his last interview with Where Y'at writer Emily Hingle, with an exclusive phone interview and subsequent email exchange, conducted May 8, 2024 between 2:30-3:04 p.m. (CT), related to his life and Facebook posts. In true fashion, Simmons closed his interview with his signature cheerfulness: "It's been so nice to talk with you. I knew that when I got your email, I had to call. Have a beautiful day, and a beignet for me."
While this is scheduled for our August 2024 print issue, Where Y'at is releasing Ms. Hingle's interview with Richard Simmons in advance of the print issue's Saturday, July 27 on-street date with respect to Mr. Simmons and his adoring fans, as well as his impact to New Orleans and his status as the face of health and wellness in America spanning several decades.
Richard Simmons' Early Life in New Orleans
A beacon of joy, positivity, and health, fitness guru Richard Simmons has inspired people to get up and exercise with his illustrious style.
Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons was born in New Orleans July 12, 1948. He was raised in the colorful, lively French Quarter, which he remembers fondly, but founded his legendary lifestyle brand in Los Angeles and conquered his dreams from there.
Simmons' big personality may have been passed to him by his parents. Discussing his father Leonard, Simmons reiterated his belief that "all he wanted in life was to be in show business. He could sing, dance, act, and could whistle any song. After high school, he went to New York to be on Broadway. He never got a leading role. When he couldn't make it in this business we call show, he came to Los Angeles to find a part in a movie. Again it just wasn't in the cards. This was crushing to my father."
Simmons' beloved mother Shirley was a dancer. "Once upon a time in a small town near Kiev, a man and woman got married. They wanted a better life so they moved to Philadelphia. When they were settled in this new city, they decided to start a family. One of their daughters was named Shirley," he shared.
Leonard and Shirley found each other and married, then they moved to New Orleans for work and to start a family. The work, however, didn't last long. "My mom and my dad had an arrangement," Simmons confirmed. "He would stay at home with us, and my mother would go to work. I did not know what to think of this. I did not know any other families that did this."
Shirley found a hostess job at the fancy 500 Club. Simmons continued, "People came from all over the country to see Lily Christine the Cat Girl. She was dressed as a little cat and danced on the limbs of a tree."
"I also drove them a little crazy," Simmons said. " My father was very conservative. And my mother had a very big personality—so I inherited a little of both."
French Quarter Class
"My parents treated me to an art class a couple blocks from my house on St. Louis Street. The lady would set up a table with a vase of flowers and a plate of fruit. Oh, did I adore these art classes. In the middle of the French Quarter was Jackson Square." Beyond fostering his creativity, Simmons' parents rewarded their sons with movie theater outings, including City Park trips and other cultural experiences throughout the Crescent City.
"There were artists who did caricatures and portraits for a little bit of money. There was one lady that was so talented," he remembered. "My mother paid her to do separate charcoal portraits of [my brother] Lenny and me."
Simmons took up work selling pralines for Leah's Southern Confection two blocks from the family's household. He recounted a day when something extraordinary happened, "I took a break from the store and with two of my friends from school. Behind us was a man with a camera. 'Do you mind if I took a picture of you all with the pralines? I am doing [a] story for National Geographic, and your picture will be in the magazine.'' This was to be his one of his many forays into celebrity, noting, "A few months later, my father went and bought a copy of the magazine and there we were."
Another celebrity brush was when Simmons found his way into the filming of Elvis Presley's King Creole by chance as well.
"There were very few kids in the French Quarter. Very few. And remember, back then my school was all white children." Simmons remembered. "They bussed the African Americans to a different school which I had a very hard time with. I didn't understand that."
He was fascinated by the rich Catholic culture around him and explained, "Four blocks away from my house was a Catholic school. I saw these women, and they were called nuns. Right there, I decided I was going to love nuns." He went home to announce to his parents that he wanted to become Catholic. "They told me when I was 15, I could make that decision for myself."
"JoAnn my best friend is Italian," Simmons said. "I went to school with a lot of Italian people. Some of them still write me."
Baptized and confirmed at 15, Simmons and his brother Lenny were able to attend an "elite" Catholic high school outside of the French Quarter called Cor Jesu. "The school was expensive, and my parents really could not afford it. They made a deal with the school that Lenny and I could attend if we did a few jobs. They gave me a large stick with a nail at the end. I would have to pick up the trash and empty all the trash cans. The other kids snickered, but I did not care. I was getting a good education."
Another job he had was helping "Brother Roland correct tests in his office." Simmons admitted, "When Brother Roland took a break, I would change some of the scores. No one ever knew."
Ragin' Cajun Becomes a Seminole
Simmons hoped to attend Rhode Island School of Design to pursue an education in art, but his father said, "Absolutely not." He instead enrolled closer to home at USL (renamed UL) in Lafayette. Simmons wrote, "I had a very rich uncle, my father's brother, my Uncle Milton. I was named after him. He lived in Sarasota, Florida. I liked USL. But I wanted more."
"I called Uncle Milton and asked him to send me to a better college. We chose Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Before you knew it, he sent me the money." He never regretted his defection, "I got to do that—I graduated from FSU."
He graduated in 1973, then returned to New Orleans to talk to his parents about his post-college plan.
"I let my parents know that I was going to Los Angeles to find fame and fortune. They both rolled their eyes," he admited. "My father said, 'Be careful. That city will eat you up and spit you out.'
"I told them one day that I was going to give them something really special [when I made it]." Simmons said, "And when that happened, I gave them everything in the world, not that they ever asked."
"Oh, I did have [a very supportive family]," said Simmons, who cherishes his family. "I have a conservative brother who I love very much. And he's married to a conservative woman who I love very much."
After a stint working at Derek's Restaurant in Beverly Hills, Simmons opened Slimmons in 1974, which he operated for more than 40 years.
Flamboyantly fun, his larger-than-life personality represented his home town like no other. Richard Simmons' positivity-focused health regimens—most famous for his Sweatin' to the Oldies exercise video series, frequent appearances on Oprah, and syndicated exercise television show—garnered him massive media attention and cemented his status as the health and wellness icon over several decades.
"Have a beautiful day, and a beignet for me."
His lifestyle is much quieter now as Simmons embraces his home in New Orleans. "Besides my family, [my life is] is sitting here and writing emails."
But his life work goes on, as does his impact on people and their health concerns.
"If you were sitting next to me, and you read the emails, I think you would start crying and have to excuse yourself," he said. "Most of these letters I get are from people that are overweight, obese, morbidly obese, dying of different kinds of diseases. And they just want some inspiration from me. So I that's why I do what I do."
"I rarely, rarely ever call anyone," he said. But, apparently with some exceptions: "But when I read your message about being from New Orleans, I said, 'I gotta call Emily.' I had to call. It's really my honor."
"My parents taught me to love unconditionally," Simmons shared. "Make everyone feel special. Make everyone feel happy. That's how I still live my life."
