Richard Simmons

About Richard Simmons

Richard Simmons (born July 12, 1948), born Milton Teagle Simmons, is a fitness personality who promotes weight-loss programs, most famously through a line of aerobics videos and television programs. He is known for his humor, flamboyant personality and heightened energy.

Richard Simmons was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Simmons was raised in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended Cor Jesu High School (now Brother Martin High School). He was an obese child, weighing 268 pounds at the time of his high school graduation.

His first job, in New Orleans, was selling pralines. Simmons also briefly considered becoming a priest. After starting college at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he transferred to Florida State University. While enrolled there, he studied as an exchange student in Florence, Italy. He graduated with a BA in Art. With his Art degree, Simmons worked in advertising in New York City and also for Coty Cosmetics and Revlon. During his time in New York he also worked as a waiter.