American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Nearly a year after Richard Simmons' death at age 76, those closest to the fitness guru reflect on his roughly decade-long public absence "He just went cold turkey on everyone," says his former manager Michael Catalano But in the months before his death, Simmons was energized by a new project - a potential Broadway musical about his life After years in the spotlight, Richard Simmons, the once-ubiquitous fitness and health guru who became a household name in the '80s, suddenly retreated from public view in the early months of 2014, shortly before he turned 66. The move came as a shock, even to those among the legend's inner circle. "I was concerned about the abruptness of it," Michael Catalano, Simmons's longtime manager dating back to the peak of his fitness days, tells PEOPLE, adding later, "He just went cold turkey on everyone." MOVI Inc For almost a decade, Simmons insulated himself from most contact with friends and his professional network. Speculation about his disappearance abounded, but Catalano says years of intense workouts had taken a toll on the megastar's body, a fact Simmons himself confirmed in an interview withPEOPLEdays before his death. Still, the distance was difficult for those closest to him. "It was very abrupt for me too. I mean Richard was a huge part of my life and career and my business," he says, adding, "We traveled all over the world together and it was a real loss. It was like he died, honestly." Simmons's longtime publicist Tom Estey said the decision to avoid venturing from his home in the Hollywood Hills ultimately came of Simmons' own volition. "He did know that people missed him and he missed them, but he never took his eye nor his heart off them," Estey said. Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. But Simmons made a sudden return to the public discourse around January 2024, after discovering plans for a film about his life that was set to move forward without his permission. He quickly turned to social media to distance himself from the production and explain that he wanted "to live a quiet life and be peaceful." In the months before he died in July 2024, Simmons was also energized by a new project – writing lyrics for a Broadway musical about his life alongside famed musician Patrick Leonard. "He found some peace in coming back and reconnecting with all people he had not spoken to in years," Catalano said. "I think he always hoped that he was helping people on a very difficult journey, one that he knew very well." Read the original article onPeople
