Diane Sawyer is taking a closer look at the life and disappearance of fitness icon Richard Simmons in a new television documentary special. The award-winning journalist investigates the beloved entertainer’s sudden retreat from public life and the emotional final chapter of his story.
The special also reveals Sawyer’s unexpected personal connection to Simmons before his death. After years away from the spotlight, the fitness star reportedly reached out directly to the veteran journalist and told her he was finally ready to share his story publicly.
Richard Simmons Reached Out Before His Death
According to ABC7 Chicago, Simmons contacted the journalist roughly 10 years after withdrawing from public life. Sawyer explained that he sent her numerous flower arrangements, each carrying a card with the same simple message: “I trust you.”
Diane Sawyer recalled that speaking with Simmons on the phone felt like reconnecting with the energetic and humorous personality audiences remembered from decades earlier. She described him as someone who could instantly light up a room and surprise everyone around him with his warmth and humor. The journalist also reflected on Simmons’ lifelong mission to help people improve their health without shame or judgment. She explained that his approach centered on encouraging people of all body types and supporting them emotionally as well as physically.
New Documentary Pieces Together His Final Years
Shortly after Simmons died, his brother reportedly contacted Sawyer and encouraged her to continue telling the story. The documentary includes conversations with people closest to the fitness star as they attempt to better understand his decision to step away from public attention.
Diane Sawyer described the process of making the documentary as assembling a mosaic from many different pieces. Through interviews and personal stories, the special explores who Simmons was before disappearing from public life and what may have happened during his years away from the spotlight. Richard Simmons rose to fame during the late 1970s and 1980s through his fitness classes, television appearances, and hugely popular workout videos such as Sweatin’ to the Oldies. The new special premieres on ABC before later streaming on Disney+ and Hulu.