Richard Simmons died from sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries, with arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease listed as a contributing condition. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner ruled his death an accident. His brother Lenny learned the finding before it was formally announced by the county.
What Lenny Simmons was told
On August 21, 2024, family spokesperson Tom Estey told PEOPLE that the coroner’s office had called Lenny Simmons. Estey said the coroner told him Richard’s death was accidental, due to complications from recent falls, with heart disease as a contributing factor.
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That was the family’s account of the call. The following day, the county medical examiner issued the formal cause and manner of death, using the specific cause “sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries” and identifying arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease as a contributing condition.
The official timeline
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner’s August 22 statement records this sequence:
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- July 11, 2024: Simmons experienced a fall.
- July 12: He spent the following day in bed. It was also his 76th birthday.
- July 13: He was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor, and 911 was called. The county records the time of death as 0945 hours.
- July 14: A deputy medical examiner completed an examination.
- August 22: The county certified the cause and manner of death.
The county’s release says: “It was reported Mr. Simmons experienced a fall on July 11 and spent the following day in bed. He was found unresponsive on his bedroom floor on the morning of July 13, and 9-1-1 was called.”
What the medical terms mean—and what they do not establish
“Sequelae” means consequences or effects that follow an earlier injury. In this case, the county’s certified wording links the death to consequences of blunt traumatic injuries. The county separately listed arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease as a contributing condition, not as the primary cause.
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The public statement does not describe how the fall happened, the precise injuries, treatment decisions, or a detailed medical chain connecting the injuries to death. It would therefore be inaccurate to reduce the official finding to “heart disease” or to claim more about the fall than the county reported. The manner of death was ruled accidental.
Why early reports described the cause as pending
Earlier coverage reported that the cause had been deferred while the investigation and additional testing were pending. That was a preliminary status, later superseded by the county’s August 22 determination. ABC News reported on the county’s confirmed findings on August 22.
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PEOPLE’s August 21 report attributed to family spokesperson Tom Estey that toxicology was negative other than prescribed medication. This is the spokesperson’s account of what the family was told; the cited report does not provide a complete toxicology report for independent review.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Remembering Simmons’ fitness career
The death findings are separate from Simmons’ work as a fitness personality. PEOPLE reported that he made more than 50 workout videos and that the Sweatin’ to the Oldies franchise sold more than 22 million copies. Those figures describe his career, not his medical history or the circumstances of his death.
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