    milton teagle simmons (born july 12, 1948), better known as richard simmons, is an american fitness personality and actor. simmons promotes weight-loss programs, prominently through his sweatin' to the oldies line of aerobics videos and is known for his eccentric, flamboyant, and energetic personality. simmons began his weight-loss career by opening a gym called slimmons in beverly hills, california, catering to the overweight, and he became widely known through exposure on television and through the popularity of his consumer products. he is often parodied and is a frequent guest of late night television talk shows, such as the late show with david letterman. simmons continues to promote health and has broadened his activities to include political activism, notably in support of a bill mandating non-competitive physical education in public schools as a part of the "no child left behind" act. ==early life== simmons was born milton teagle simmons in new orleans, louisiana on july 12, 1948, the son of shirley may (nÃ©e satin) and leonard douglas simmons, sr. simmons was born to show business parents and raised in the french quarter of new orleans.si
1948_births 20th-century_American_male_actors 21st-century_American_male_actors American_cookbook_writers American_exercise_instructors American_film_producers American_health_and_wellness_writers American_male_film_actors American_male_television_actors American_motivational_writers American_people_of_Jewish_descent American_radio_personalities American_restaurateurs American_television_personalities Florida_State_University_alumni Living_people Male_actors_from_New_Orleans,_Louisiana University_of_Louisiana_at_Lafayette_alumni