Richard Simmons' apparent cause of death revealed - but the fitness star's official results are still waiting on a police probe

The specifications down Richard Simmons' passing are starting to travel into attraction pinch nan announcement of a preliminary origin of death.

On Monday, nan Los Angeles Fire Department announced via a connection that Simmons had died of 'apparent earthy causes.'

'On July 13, 2024, astatine 9:55 AM, nan LAFD responded to a Suspected Death Incident astatine nan 1300 artifact of N Belfast Drive,' LAFD Captain Erik Scott told ET.

'Upon arrival, 1 rescue ambulance discovered a 76-year-old antheral who was pronounced deceased on-scene by firefighter/paramedics owed to evident earthy causes. As a result, nary infirmary carrier was necessary,' he concluded.

Police officers and firefighters were dispatched to Simmons' location successful Los Angeles aft receiving a telephone from his housekeeper.

Simmons was recovered dormant conscionable 1 time aft he celebrated his 76th birthday.

Although a preliminary origin of decease is now available, it's not nan last connection connected really Simmons died, arsenic nan matter is presently being probed by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police officials confirmed to People on Monday that nan fittingness expert's decease astatine his location successful Los Angeles was nether further examination, and that the case had been deferred by nan Medical Examiner's Office, which calls for a further probe and tests to beryllium conducted, according to nan outlet.

The introspection tin span arsenic agelong arsenic 3 months until an charismatic ruling is issued, nan outlet reported.

Authorities pronounced Simmons dormant astatine nan scene, according to nan outlet, and foul play was not suspected successful relationship pinch nan death, which was going to beryllium probed arsenic nether earthy causes.

Members of nan LAPD's Robbery Homicide Division besides responded to nan telephone owed to nan high-profile personification who had died, nan outlet reported.

Police subsequently told nan outlet that Simmons had fallen successful nan bath of his location connected Friday - which marked his 76th day - and that his housekeeper had attempted to seduce him to activity contiguous aesculapian help.

Simmons declined because it was his day and he didn't want to spell anywhere, informing her that he mightiness spell connected Saturday. The housekeeper helped him safely get backmost to his bedroom, wherever she recovered him nan pursuing greeting connected nan level astatine astir 10 a.m., according to nan outlet.

One root told nan outlet that Simmons had said he felt 'dizzy' anterior to falling down, while a abstracted insider said Simmons 'showed nary evident aliases outer signs of injury' aft he fell down.

It was not instantly clear if nan autumn and feelings of dizziness were connected to his death.  

Simmons acknowledged his legion of adoring fans successful a moving question and reply he gave People Thursday, conscionable 2 days earlier he died.   

At nan conclusion of nan interview, nan fittingness impresario was told by nan outlet that he had been 'missed' aft keeping a debased floor plan complete nan past decade, and asked if he understood nan fondness fans had for him.

'I cognize group miss me,' Simmons told nan outlet. 'And you cognize what? I miss them, too. But I'm capable to scope them done telephone calls… and done emails.'

Simmons besides revealed successful his last question and reply that he had emerged into nan nationalist while concealing his appearance.

'I do time off nan location sometimes,' Simmons said. 'But I'm successful disguise.'

The outlet reported that nan question and reply pinch Simmons conscionable anterior to his passing was his first since 2014, nan twelvemonth he stopped making nationalist appearances.

The New Orleans-born star, who had been a staple connected tv promoting his fittingness manufacture endeavors - including studios, books, weight nonaccomplishment programs and videos - had been astatine nan halfway of speculation complete nan past decade aft he ceased making nationalist appearances, spurring speculation astir his information and well-being.

Sources adjacent to nan precocious personage told nan outlet that nan logic he bowed retired of nan nationalist oculus was a knee room he had undergone, and a 2nd room connected nan knee that he had refused to undergo.

Simmons told People connected Thursday that he'd besides had a skin crab scare aft undergoing a process to person it extracted earlier this year.

'Basal compartment carcinoma, it was scary,' Simmons said of nan ailment. 'But it ne'er came back.'

Simmons told nan outlet that he strived to dispersed optimism and positivity to those dealing pinch akin wellness battles.

'So galore group person cancer,' Simmons said. 'I telephone them, I singing to them: "You're gonna get done this. You conscionable person to judge that."'

Simmons told nan outlet he had been collaborating connected a philharmonic pinch composer Patrick Leonard successful caller months.

'I've written 14 songs for a Broadway show,' he said. 'And I'm moving pinch an astonishing man - Patrick Leonard. I don't cognize if you cognize his name, but he wrote euphony for Madonna, Elton John. He's for illustration 1 of nan biggest.

'And we talk a mates of times a week. I constitute nan lyrics, and he writes nan music. The full show is astir my life - from trading pralines successful New Orleans astatine a candy shop erstwhile I was a kid, to erstwhile I decided to retire.'

Simmons had been gradually reemerging into his nationalist persona, communicating connected X/Twitter, Facebook and YouTube earlier this year, and via email pinch his fans.

He told People Thursday, 'Today is simply a beautiful day. But nothing's really different. I sewage up this morning. I said my prayers, I counted my blessings, and past I went to work.

'You know? And penning messages, answering emails - and erstwhile nan email is existent extreme, I inquire for their numbers, and I telephone them. I'm emotion great, origin I'm helping people.'

His final societal media station came connected Saturday, quoting a statement from nan 1968 philharmonic drama Funny Girl.

Simmons was asked astir his low-profile interactions pinch his fans, telling nan outlet that his measurement of occurrence was nan number of group he had provided assistance and inspiration to.

'Well, erstwhile I decided to retire, it was because my assemblage told maine I needed to retire,' Simmons said. 'I person spent clip conscionable reflecting connected my life. All of nan books I wrote, nan videos.

'I ne'er was like, "Oh look what I've done." My point was, "Oh, look really galore group I helped."'