Richard Simmons’ caregiver, Teresa Rebeles, discovered the fitness icon in his bedroom on the day he died.
Reveles, who worked for Simmons for nearly 40 years, said he remains deeply saddened by his friend’s death.
“I can’t stop crying. I still can’t believe what happened,” she said. People magazine.
Richard Simmons’ death under investigation, LAPD says ‘foul play not suspected’
Richard Simmons’ longtime caretaker believes he died of a “heart attack.” (Getty Images)
“When I saw him, he seemed calm,” Rebes said, then noticed he had his fists clenched, “so I knew it was a heart attack.”
She added: “I had a heart attack a few years ago and then my hand did too.”
Reveles denied the suggestion that she was ever his housekeeper, instead overseeing his Beverly Hills home and cooking responsibilities. “His housekeeper is someone else, and she’s been working here for 40 years,” she said.
“I can’t stop crying. I still can’t believe what happened.”
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She began working with Simmons through an agency in 1986 and remembers Richard asking, “Where’s the big suitcase?”
Reveles began working with Simmons in 1986, just before the rise of Simmons’ “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” popularity. (Getty Images)
Teresa was hesitant to pack her belongings, fearing Simmons wouldn’t like her cooking. She recalled Simmons telling her, “Come on in, Teresa. Don’t ever leave. Let’s stay together until I die.”
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Reveles added: “And guess what? His dream came true. And somehow he knew it.”
Though she will miss her friend, Rebeles will always treasure his memory. “I want to congratulate Richard. He died happy,” she said. Rebeles was his “companion,” living with him, traveling with him and dining with him often.
“I was in the kitchen and then I came into the living room and he came out of hiding and scared me to death with a really loud voice,” she recalled. “I started screaming, ‘Richard, you almost killed me!’ He just laughed and said, ‘Teresa, almost killed doesn’t count.'”
Richard Simmons died on July 13. The Los Angeles Police Department is still investigating his death, telling Fox News Digital that “foul play is not suspected.” (Getty Images)
Simmons said he knew fans felt he “disappeared” in his later years, and one of the reasons he disappeared from the public eye was because he “couldn’t exercise” due to knee problems.
“He couldn’t teach the class,” she said, recalling Richard saying, “Teresa, my knee hurts.”
Plus, the Emmy Award-winning star wasn’t happy with the way she looked.
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“He thought he looked old,” she says, “and he didn’t want anyone to look at him. But Richard looked the same. Well, maybe a little older, like me, but we have to grow older. His hair was a little thinner, but he was about the same weight. He wasn’t that skinny.”
Richards-Simmons’ team have made their final social media posts following the death of the famed fitness coach. (Richard Simmons/Facebook)
The day before Richard died, on his 76th birthday, Theresa said Richard’s leg was hurting after a fall the day before.
She told him, “Let’s go to the hospital. You might have broken your leg.” Simmons protested, “No, Teresa. Not on my birthday. Let’s do it in the morning, don’t wait.”
“But by morning it was too late,” Reveles said.
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Simmons died at home. Los Angeles He passed away on Saturday, July 13, one day after his birthday. He was 76 years old. The cause of death is under investigation by the coroner’s office.
Symonds’ cause of death was listed as “deferred” by the coroner, with “other significant conditions” listed as contributing factors. (Rodrigo Vaz/Getty Images)
“Officers responded to a fatality investigation.” Los Angeles Police Department Authorities confirmed to Fox News Digital that “no wrongdoing was found.”
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An official statement on his cause of death has been postponed, pending investigation and further testing before a definitive explanation can be given as to the cause of death.
The cause of death was listed as “other significant symptoms” and the status of Simmons’ case was still “open.” The place of death was listed as “place of residence.”
