Richard Simmons knew how much people loved and missed him. And he eerily acknowledged it just two days before his death.
As fans continue to come to grips with the death of the late fitness icon, a haunting final interview has emerged which took place just two days before he tragically passed. During a phone call with People last week, the late 76-year-old opened up about everything from leaving the spotlight, to remaining in contact with fans, his scary run in with Basal cell carcinoma, his 76th birthday, and more. He revealed that when he decided to retire, it was because his “body told [him he] needed to.”
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But while he may have retreated from the spotlight, he still enjoyed chatting with fans via email and over the phone. And yet he certainly didn’t think of himself as the “legend” the world celebrates him as:
“I don’t hear it at all. I don’t hear the word legend. I don’t hear the word icon. I never lived a celebrity life. I never thought of myself as a celebrity. People don’t know this, I’m really a shy person and a little bit of an introvert. But when that curtain goes up that’s a different story. I’m there to make people happy. But the accolades I get from emails. I mean, today most probably, we’ll answer over 100 emails. And they’ll say, “I’m your No. 1 fan.” And I just write back, and I say, you know, “Don’t say that because I’m a human being just like you. And I know that you do good things, too.”
Awww. Humble until the very end. For his birthday, the late fitness guru noted:
“Today is a beautiful day. But nothing’s really different. I got up this morning. I said my prayers, I counted my blessings, and then I went to work. You know?”
And part of his day, of course, included chatting with fans:
“And writing messages, answering emails — and when the email is real extreme, I ask for their numbers, and I call them. I’m feeling great ’cause I’m helping people.”
What an amazing person he truly was.
The outlet reported that he was planning on making a comeback, which his brother Lenny also talked about — and fans were eagerly anticipating it. And on that front, Richard left off with an eerie sentiment that’s become all the more haunting knowing he passed just two days after giving it. He told the outlet:
“I know people miss me. And you know what? I miss them, too. But I’m able to reach them through phone calls… and through emails. And I do leave the house sometimes. But I’m in disguise.”
Wow. We’re just glad he lived what seemed like a very enjoyable life and stayed connected with fans right until the very end. Rest in peace, Richard.
[Images via Katie Couric & TheEllenShow/YouTube]
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