Jane Fonda Pays Tribute to Richard Simmons: ‘He Gave of Himself, of His Time, to Make People Happy’

“I hope he felt the love so many were sending him these last years. I hope it made him happy,” actress writes of her fellow fitness guru

Jane Fonda paid tribute to her fellow fitness guru Richard Simmons Sunday following the death of the beloved TV icon.

“Richard Simmons always wanted people to feel good and be happy. He would go out of his way to make people happy. I often wondered if maybe nobody had made him happy when he was a little boy,” Fonda wrote on social media in the caption accompanying a photo of the pair.

“He was generous. He gave of himself, of his time, to make people happy. He once popped out of a huge cake at the launch of some Jane Fonda WORKOUT event. That was generous.”

Fonda repeatedly praised Simmons’ generosity in her tribute, including one instance where Simmons “found out I was in a store where he was so he quickly bought some small trinket and ran across the store, shouting at the top of his lungs in that unmistakable voice, to let me know he was coming. That was generous.”

The actress added that she — liked many who knew Simmons — lost touch with him as he receded from public life over the past decade. “Like many thousands of others, I’ve mourned his absence from my life,” Fonda added.

“I hope he felt the love so many were sending him these last years. I hope it made him happy. I read he died peacefully in his sleep in his very white home. Rest in Peace, Dear Richard.”

Simmons, who had just celebrated his 76th birthday the day before his death Saturday, died at his Los Angeles home. No cause of death has been announced. 

Lenny Simmons, his brother, wrote on Richard’s social media accounts Sunday, “I don’t want people to be sad about my brother.  I want them to remember him for the genuine joy and love he brought to people’s lives.  He truly cared about people.  He called, wrote, and emailed thousands of people throughout his career to offer help. So don’t be sad.  Celebrate his life! He was very excited about all of the upcoming ventures he was working on. We are in shock.  Please respect the family at this difficult time.”