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LOS ANGELES – JUL 1: Simmons arrives at the Friend Movement Anti-Bullying Benefit Concert at the El Rey Theatre on July 1, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA, kathclick /Bigstock.com
Birth Name: Milton Teagle Simmons
Date of Birth: July 12, 1948
Place of Birth: New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Date of Death: July 13, 2024
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: * father – English, small amounts of Welsh and Scottish * mother – Ashkenazi Jewish
Richard Simmons was an American fitness instructor and television personality. He created and starred in the The Richard Simmons Show / Sweatin’ to the Oldies line of aerobics videos, and other weight-loss programs and consumer products. He had a gym, Slimmons, in Beverly Hills, California. He was also known as Milton Simmons and Richard Teagle Simmons.
Richard was the son of Shirley May “Sadie” (Satin), a traveling fan dancer and store cosmetics salesperson, from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Leonard Douglas Simmons, a master of ceremonies and thrift store worker, from Norfolk, Virginia. He was raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans. His mother was Jewish. Richard was Catholic by religion.
Richard’s paternal grandfather was Leonard Kennard/Kenneth Simmons (the son of James Simmons and Susan/Susannah Elizabeth Howard). Leonard was born in City of Norfolk, Virginia. James was the son of Williamson Simmons and Elizabeth Anderson, whose father was born in Prestonkirk, Haddingtonshire, Scotland. Richard’s great-grandmother Susan was born in Delaware, the daughter of Howard Howard and Elizabeth Meekins.
Richard’s paternal grandmother was Lola Salina/Sabinga Teagle (the daughter of William Edward Cary Teagle and Catherine Hall West). Lola was born in Gloucester County, Virginia. William was born in Gloucester, the son of Thomas C. Teagle and Catharine Elizabeth Evans. Richard’s great-grandmother Catherine was the daughter of William West and Catherine.
Richard’s maternal grandfather was Abraham/Avram “Abe” Satin/Satinsky/Wachatinsky (the son of Joel/Elik Satinsky/Wachatinsky and Cherry Teplitsky/Taplitz). Abraham was brn in Korsun’-Shevchenkivs’kyi, Cherkas’ka oblast, Ukraine.
Richard’s maternal grandmother was named Jennie/Celia/Cecelia “Tzina” Edelman (the daughter of Jacob Adleman/Edelman and Rosie/Rose). Jennie was born in Korsun’-Shevchenkivs’kyi, Korsun’-Shevchenkivs’kyi.
Sources: Genealogies of Richard Simmons – https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com