Richard Simmons Richard Simmons was born and raised in New Orleans. he moved to Los Angeles in 1973 after overcoming his own weight problem. In 1974, after consulting with doctors and nutritionists to ensure the safety of a program he tailored to the needs of the overweight, Simmons established a place where overweight people could go to slim down. The unrivaled success of his program continues today at SLIMMONS in Beverly Hills. Simmons' success as a fitness expert and advocate led to numerous local and national television and radio appearances, and in the mid- 70's, Simmons began a four-year run on "General Hospital". Following that, Simmons hosted "The Richard Simmons Show", a nationally… syndicated, Emmy Award-winning series that ran for four years. Following his own network television show, Simmons created two of the most successful weight-loss programs ever: Deal-A-Meal and FoodMover. Simmons has continued to find success with the marketing of his products in infomercials and on QVC, where he has sold over 27 million units of his products over the past 15 years, beginning with his "Sweatin' to the Oldies" infomercial which debuted in 1986. Over the past 25 years, Simmons has released more than 30 videos. including "Platinum Sweat", a low-impact workout featuring participants 53-86 years old, and "Sit Tight", a workout done entirely from a chair aimed at people with chronic back pain, MS, Muscular Dystrophy, and other afflictions. Simmons is also the author of nine books, including the New York Times Best Seller, "Never Say Diet." Richard released his autobiography, "Still Hungry- After All These Years" in 1998. He is also the author of three best-selling cookbooks. Simmons also began the Cruise to Lose program aboard Carnival Cruise Lines. The seven-night excursion, the only one of its kind on the high seas, treats guests to a daily regimen of exercise, motivation, and nutrition. Simmons averages some 300 days on tour each year, from a women's expo, a nursing home, a high school, children's hospital, or a shopping mall, to a corporate seminar, or sales meeting, and he also has his own website.