Fitness guru and comedian Richard Simmons has lived a long and impressive life, but you may not know about everything he’s accomplished. In addition to inspiring people for decades to lose weight, he’s done these things as well.

• Simmons was born as Milton Teagle Simmons in 1948 with a disfigured upper leg, asthma and without a full set of bones in his feet.

• By high school, Simmons weighed 300 pounds.

• However, he dropped 100 pounds and has kept it off for 40 years through diet and exercise. In 1974, he started a gym to help overweight people.

• He claims to have helped people lose more than 3 million pound since starting his weight loss programs.

• He appeared as himself in a recurring role on “General Hospital” after fans showed a positive response to his guest spot.

• Simmons has authored multiple books and produced more than 30 videos, including the well-known “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.”

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Ceudy Gutierrez reads a book to her 2-year-old son, Matias, at their home in Buford, GA, on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025. Ceudy Gutierrez is struggling to make ends meet for herself and her three young kids following her husband’s ICE arrest earlier this fall. (Miguel Martinez/ AJC)

Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez