Richard Simmons’ official cause of death revealed
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has released Richard Simmons’ official cause of death.
The fitness legend’s death was ruled an “accident” and that he died “from sequelae of blunt traumatic injuries.” The report also noted that “Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” a form of heart disease, was a contributing factor.
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The report comes a week after Simmons’ brother, Lenny, revealed the cause of death to People magazine. Through an attorney, he told the outlet that his brother’s death was “accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor.”
According to the American Heart Association, “Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) involves plaque buildup in artery walls, which includes conditions such as acute coronary syndrome and peripheral artery disease, and can cause a heart attack, stable or unstable angina, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or aortic aneurysm.”
“Per reports, he experienced an episode of dizziness and collapsed on the floor on the evening of July 11, 2024. He was found the next morning on July 12 and spent the day in bed,” the report stated. “On the morning of July 13, he was found unresponsive on the bedroom floor. His death was pronounced at the scene.”
The autopsy showed “a fracture of the left femur and arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease,” the report continued. “There were incidental bilateral renal cortical cysts and a gallstone.”
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A toxicology report showed “the presence of diphenhydramine, trazodone, and zolpidem,” but they “do not appear to have contributed to the cause of death.”
Diphenhydramine is a known antihistamine and trazodone is used to treat depression. Zolpidem “is primarily used in the FDA-approved short-term treatment of insomnia aimed at patients with difficulty falling asleep,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
Last week Lenny clarified that the “toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed.”
Deputy Medical Examiner Dr. Grant Ho signed off on the report.
Simmons passed away at his home in Los Angeles at 76 years old.
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