Legendary fitness guru Richard Simmons’ cause of death remains unknown after he died earlier this month at age 76.
The American star – real name Milton Teagle Simmons – was best known for his flamboyant personality and energetic workouts.
Sadly, Simmons died on July 12 after suffering a fall in his bathroom the night before.
It was reported that police and fire responded to a call from his housekeeper just before 10am and pronounced him dead at the scene.
Insiders added to TMZ at the time: ‘No foul play is suspected at this time, and cops are looking into it as a natural death.’
Now, as per the outlet, an investigation into Simmons’ final hours is ongoing after his death certificate was obtained but does not have a cause listed.
The examination can take as long as three months until an official ruling is reached.
It comes after simmons – who is referred to as a ‘health motivator’ on the certificate – was laid torest.
He was buried at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary, which is also where where stars such as Kirk Douglas and Marilyn Monroe are buried.
The TV star – who never publicly commented on his sexuality, but was revered as a gay icon – was a bachelor when he died.
Simmons celebrated his 76th birthday just one day before he died and took to social media to thank fans for their well wishes.
He wrote on Facebook: ‘Thank you…I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday. Love, Richard’.
The post received thousands of comments, a testament to the love felt around the world for the fitness personality, who rose to fame in the 1970s and 80s when he opened several gyms and created exercise videos.
Expressing their sadness following the shock of his death, fans of Simmons penned heartfelt tributes.
‘Richard Simmons preached exercise, diet and most of all kindness. He positively impacted thousands and thousands of lives. I’m one of the hundreds and hundreds of TV people who basked in his energy and readily accepted those crazy hugs. Rest well’, wrote RichardERoeper on X.
‘I feel like the world losing Richard Simmons means that we have officially entered the darkest timeline’, penned thekylestevens.
User deathjitsu wrote: ‘I’m not sure it’s possible for later generations to understand how BIG Richard Simmons was in the 80s. An icon of pop culture and a good-hearted human by all accounts. RIP.’
Others hailed him as a ‘legend’ and said they hoped he ‘had peace in his final years out of the public eye.’
Simmons’s death comes after he announced in March that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.
He took to Facebook to detail the moment he found out he had the disease and told in a lengthy post how he underwent an attempt to remove the cancer cells.
Through his health struggles, he remained positive.
In a rare interview, New Orleans-born Simmons – who stepped away from the spotlight 10 years ago – told People he was planning to blow out a candle to mark his milestone birthday this year.
The health fanatic joked in the chat: ‘But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I’m a vegetarian.’
When asked how he felt about turning 76, he added: ‘I feel good!
‘I am grateful that I’m here, that I am alive for another day.
‘I’ll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people’
Simmons ascended to prominence when he opened The Anatomy Asylum in Los Angeles.
He also released dozens of fitness tapes and DVDs including Sweatin’ to the Oldies, Party off the Pounds, and more, with fans loving him for his positive energy.
Simmons retreated from the limelight in his latter years due to the demands of maintaining an energy-filled persona in public but kept his fans updated on his life on social media.
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