 The flamboyant fitness guru Richard Simmons has died. Richard Simmons weighed 268 pounds when he graduated from high school. By his mid-20s, he'd lost almost half that weight through exercise and dieting. Let's sweat! Wanting to help others, Simmons set up a gym. His energetic and flamboyant personality earned him video and book deals, frequent radio and TV appearances, and his own syndicated TV shows. Decided to be the Pied Piper of health.