Richard Simmons turned 76 on Friday and revealed in a rare interview what his fun plans are to celebrate the milestone.
Simmons, who stepped back from the spotlight in 2014, said he will blow out a candle for the special day, but he wants to put a quirky spin on his lifestyle.
He told People: ‘But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.’
Reflecting on his 76th birthday, he added: “I feel good! I’m grateful to be here, to be alive another day. I’m going to spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is helping people.”
It comes after Richard revealed in an emotional Facebook post that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer after discovering a “strange-looking lump” under his right eye.
Richard Simmons turned 76 on Friday and revealed his fun plans to celebrate the milestone in a very rare interview – pictured in 1992
The announcement in March came just days after the reclusive star sparked fears of his death with a disturbing social media post in which he wrote: “The truth is we are all dying.”
After calling a dermatologist, the fitness pioneer recalled feeling “a little nervous” as the doctor looked at his mysterious bump “through a magnifying mirror.”
“He told me he had to scrape it off and put it under a microscope,” the New Orleans native told fans. “He comes back about 20 minutes later and says the C-word.”
He continued, “I asked him what kind of cancer it was and he said, Basel Cell Carcinoma. I told him to stop calling me dirty names. He laughed.”
Simmons was then told to go “to a cancer doctor immediately.”
To treat the cancer, he said his doctor explained that he had to “burn his skin” to remove the cancer cells.
“There was no anesthesia, it was just a little instrument,” the actor explained. “When he started burning my skin, a tear fell down my cheek. You can’t cry during this, and he wiped my tear away. The burning really hurt my skin. It lasted about 30 minutes.”
Simmons, who stepped out of the spotlight in 2014, said he will blow out a candle for his special day — but it will have a quirky twist that fits his lifestyle. He told People: “But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian”; pictured in 2013
After the procedure he was told to come back in an hour and a half to see if they had ‘got it all out’.
“After driving through town, I came back to some sad news,” he noted. “I didn’t get it all out. He burned my face again. This time it was worse than the last time… It was deeper. I didn’t cry this time, but I did grit my teeth.”
Simmons revealed in a second post that the “third time was the charm” and that they had “removed all the cancer cells.”
“Before I left, he checked my arms, my back, my chest, my legs. I had a little Frankenstein under my right eye for a while,” he continued. “He gave me some cream to put on it, which I faithfully did. Thanks to his good work, I have no scar.”
Despite the pain, he continued to insist that his “cancer was nothing compared to some people” he knew, including his friend’s granddaughter, who had undergone a double mastectomy.
He concluded, “I know some of you reading this have had cancer or know someone in your life who has had cancer. Promise me that you will go to your doctor and get a complete checkup.”
In a follow-up message, he clarified that the health crisis happened “so many years ago.”
Earlier in the week, his spokesperson assured fans that the star was “healthy and not dying,” after the star sparked concerns with a cryptic post about his mortality.
In another Facebook post, Simmons reflected on his existence, saying, “I’m dying… we’re all dying,” before giving his fans some fitness tips.
He wrote: ‘I have news for you. Please don’t be sad. I am… dying. Oh, I can see your faces now. The truth is, we are all dying. Every day we live, we are getting closer to our death.
“Why am I telling you this? Because I want you to live your life to the fullest every day. Get up in the morning and look at the sky… count your blessings and enjoy.
‘Start with a healthy breakfast. Do you like oatmeal… Whole wheat bread… eggs once or twice a week Fresh fruit or half an English muffin?
Simmons photographed teaching a fitness class in 2013
The media figure, who was known for his previously outgoing personality, abruptly stopped his public appearances in 2014 and many of his fans expressed concerns for his well-being in the following years; seen in 2013
In March, Simmons’ rep assured fans that the reclusive fitness guru is “healthy and not dying” after the star sparked concerns with a cryptic post about mortality (pictured in 2013)
“Then there’s lunch. How about a nice salad? Don’t eat dinner too late. Combine your protein with a starchy one and some vegetables. And of course, have dessert every now and then. One healthy eating day leads to another… and another.
“Every day that you are alive you need to move. Whether you are standing or sitting, you need to move your body every day. Start with stretching, then do cardio and strength training.
“I have a bunch of workout videos on YouTube that you can use. Or maybe you have some at home. And before you go to bed, do a little stretching. Stretch your neck. Your shoulders… and your arms… and don’t forget your legs. Do some circles with your ankles. Point and flex your feet and I promise you’ll have a better night’s sleep.
“There is one more very important thing you need to do. Tell the ones you love that you love them. Hug the people and children you really care about. A big hug really does mean a lot.
“If you have time, I want you to listen to a great song. It’s by Tim McGraw and it’s called Live Like You Were Dying. Live for today and don’t forget to pray.
‘Love, Richard.’
Simmons spokesman Tom Estey told DailyMail.com at the time: ‘I can confirm with 100 percent certainty that Richard is not dying.
“He is actually very healthy and happy. The only purpose of the post was to inspire.”
Simmons also took to X to make a rare statement: “I’m sorry that many of you were upset by my post today… I’m not dying.
“It was a message about how we should embrace every day we have. Sorry for the confusion. Love, Richard.”
The media figure, previously known for his outgoing personality, abruptly stopped making public appearances in 2014, and many of his fans expressed concern for his well-being in the years that followed.
However, Estey released a statement to the New York Post in 2022 indicating that he was “happy, healthy and living the life he chose.”