Richard Simmons’ house manager shares new details on his public retirement, death
Richard Simmons’ longtime house manager is sharing new details concerning the health icon’s decade-long retreat from the public eye and his sudden death following a fall.
Teresa Reveles labored for Simmons for 3 a long time and spoke with Diane Sawyer in a new ABC particular about what it was like working for Simmons. She says Simmons would disguise himself if he ever left his residence within the years he spent hidden from the public eye.
“He’d do all the very different costumes,” Reveles mentioned in a new clip forward of the particular, which is out Tuesday. “Sometimes he’d be a clown. Sometimes he’d be a woman.”
Diane Sawyer special to explore Richard Simmons’ death, disappearance from public life
ABC News – PHOTO: Teresa Reveles speaks with ABC News in “The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special” airing on May 12, 2026.
She added, “Nobody knows [it] was him. And then later he go — we go in the car and — I take him all the city so we can see the new buildings, the new store.”
Reveles was the final one to see Simmons alive earlier than his death on July 11, 2024. He was 76.
Sawyer mentioned on “Good Morning America” ​​on Monday that Reveles has been “very protective” of Simmons and hasn’t spoken about what occurred in his residence within the days main as much as his death.
Simmons reportedly reached out on to Sawyer to make his return after a decade of silence and share his story. He additionally despatched Sawyer flowers with a word that mentioned, “I trust you.”
He died as preparations had been being made for the interview.
Details of Richard Simmons’ death confirmed by Los Angeles medical examiner
Jason Kempin/Getty Images for EGPAF – PHOTO: Richard Simmons attends the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation’s twenty fourth Annual “A Time For Heroes” at Century Park on June 2, 2013 in Los Angeles, California.
His death was dominated “accidental” and a spokesperson for the Simmons’ household on the time mentioned that issues from prior falls and coronary heart illness had been contributing elements.
The upcoming particular will “unravel the truth behind his disappearance and shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death,” the present’s producers mentioned.
In addition to a dialog with Reveles, the particular can even have interviews with Simmons’ shut family and friends, together with his brother Lenny Simmons and sister-in-law Cathy Simmons.
Tune in to “The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special” on Tuesday, May 12, at 9 pm ET on ABC, and streaming the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
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