Richard Simmons‘ final photo was unveiled by his staff that he had planned to share with his fans before his shock passing at the age of 76 one week earlier on July 13.
The fitness guru was found dead inside his L.A. home after he fell in his bathroom the night before. A police investigation has since been launched into his final hours, and his cause of death has yet to be disclosed to the public.
This week, he was laid to rest and his grave was heaped with pink roses in exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com.
His staff took to X on Saturday to share Simmons’ last photo – which showed the star with gray hair and wearing an orange, Nasa uniform.
‘From Richard’s staff: Hello everyone, Richard worked very hard on his posts for you,’ they began.
‘He had many ideas and would work ahead… going back to each one making changes until he had it just like he wanted before posting.’
Richard Simmons’ final photo was unveiled by his staff that he had planned to share with his fans before his shock passing at the age of 76 one week earlier on July 13; seen in 1980
His staff took to X on Saturday to share Simmons’ last photo – which showed the star with gray hair and holding a small smile on his face
His staff continued, ‘As you know, on the weekends, he would just share a photo with a caption. He always chose his photos and wrote his captions for the upcoming weekend by Friday.’
‘So we have the post Richard planned to share with you last Sunday. We thought you’d want to see it.’
In the final section of the post on X, the fitness guru’s staff added, ‘Here is the post Richard had planned for you for Sunday July 14, 2024.’
Richard could be seen striking a pose with graying hair while wearing a vibrant, orange Nasa uniform and stood in front of a colorful wall.
The caption that he had planned to accompany the photo was, ‘Let me fly you to the moon so we can gaze among the stars. Love, Richard.’
In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com on Friday, the late star’s grave could be seen covered with pink roses after he was laid to rest.
Simmons was interred at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, where stars including Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried.
His tombstone was completely obscured by a large mound of roses that were laid over the gravesite in loving memory of him.
‘He had many ideas and would work ahead… going back to each one making changes until he had it just like he wanted before posting,’ the staff added
His staff continued, ‘As you know, on the weekends, he would just share a photo with a caption. He always chose his photos and wrote his captions for the upcoming weekend by Friday’
In the final section of the post on X, the fitness guru’s staff added, ‘Here is the post Richard had planned for you for Sunday July 14, 2024’; seen in 2010 in Atlanta
Simmons, who is referred to as a ‘health motivator’ on his death certificate, joins an exalted echelon of showbiz figures buried at Pierce Brothers.
Splendor In The Grass star Natalie Wood, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and Rat Pack singer Dean Martin are among the celebrities at the cemetery.
The Odd Couple leads Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau are also there, as are pop act Roy Orbison and Breakfast At Tiffany’s author Truman Capote.
Sitcom icons Don Knotts, Doris Roberts, Eva Gabor and Florence Henderson are interred at Pierce Brothers, as are movie stars Burt Lancaster and George C. Scott.
Beloved stand-up comic Rodney Dangerfield, Charlie’s Angels pinup Farrah Fawcett and jazz greats Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé were laid to rest there as well.
The graveyard, which houses the remains of many private citizens as well as public figures, has been operating under various names since the late 19th century.
Simmons’ death certificate obtained by TMZ does not have his manner of death listed – noting the manner of death is still pending an investigation.
The TV star – who dropped out of the spotlight in the final years of his year – was a bachelor at the time of his death.
He never commented publicly on his sexuality but was a revered gay icon.
Simmons was interred at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, where stars including Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried; seen in 2013 in L.A.
‘The LAPD are not pursuing the investigation as if foul play was involved at this point,’ a law enforcement source told PEOPLE on Thursday.
Simmons’ preliminary cause of death was revealed Monday by the Los Angeles Fire Department after it was confirmed police were investigating the matter.
It was announced via a statement that Simmons had died of ‘apparent natural causes.’
‘On July 13, 2024, at 9:55 AM, the LAFD responded to a Suspected Death Incident at the 1300 block of N Belfast Drive,’ LAFD Captain Erik Scott told Entertainment Tonight.
