Richard Simmons’ official cause of death revealed as autopsy details prescription drugs found in his body

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Richard Simmons, the beloved fitness icon, was found to have prescription drugs for insomnia in his system at the time of his death.

The report reveals that Simmons, who died on July 13, just a day after his 76th birthday, suffered fatal injuries from a fall and had a history of cardiovascular disease.

Despite these somber findings, Simmons had been in high spirits, celebrating his birthday with heartfelt messages to fans and planning a simple celebration.

What did Richard Simmons' autopsy report say of his death?

Fitness guru Richard Simmons had traces of prescription medications used for treating insomnia in his system at the time of his death, according to an autopsy report released by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office on Thursday, August 29th.

The report revealed that Simmons, 76, had diphenhydramine, trazodone, and zolpidem in his system. No evidence of recreational drugs was found, and similar medications were discovered in his bathroom, as per DailyMail.

The cause of death was determined to be "sequelae of blunt force traumatic injuries" from a fall at ground level, with the manner of death classified as an accident. The report also noted that Simmons had arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Richard Simmons was found dead by his longtime housekeeper

Simmons was found by his longtime housekeeper at his home on August 13, the day after his 76th birthday. The autopsy report detailed a palpable fracture on his left femur, along with contusions and abrasions on his right forehead, posterior scalp, arms, and other parts of his body.

Simmons' brother, Lenny, stated last week that the death was ruled accidental, with "complications from recent falls and heart disease as contributing factors."

Family spokesperson Tom Estey confirmed that "the toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed. The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss."

The report mentioned that Simmons had a fall on the evening of August 12 but chose not to seek medical attention immediately to enjoy his birthday the following day at home.

His caretaker assisted him back to bed, and Simmons later experienced dizziness and collapsed on the floor. It is unclear whether he struck his head during the fall.

According to officials, Richard Simmons' speech appeared slurred during a visit from his secretary, and he had taken medication before sleeping. The following morning, his caretaker found him unresponsive on his bedroom floor.

In March, Richard Simmons revealed that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer. He celebrated his birthday on Facebook, thanking fans for their messages and sharing his plans to mark the occasion with a birthday candle stuck in a zucchini, reflecting his vegetarian diet. He expressed gratitude for reaching 76 and planned to spend his birthday helping others.

Fans reflect on Richard Simmons' legacy and share condolences

Following the release of the exclusive report on Richard Simmons' death in July, many fans quickly extended their condolences to his family and friends, with some reflecting on his positive contributions and good deeds.

One user said, "Hope Richard is resting in peace wherever he is." The second user wrote, "The toxicology report wasn't negative. He was on kind altering drugs, whether they were prescribed or not."

A user added, "he was always so lively and good natured that you got happy just watching him. what a gift he was." [sic]

One more person added, "This poor man never took illegal drugs and he did not drink alcohol. He had trouble sleeping because of pain. Let this poor man rest in peace."

The last user shared, "Let this sweet man rest in peace. He's gone. Love to his family and friends."

This article contains remarks made on the internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online