Fitness guru Richard Simmons’ cause of death revealed
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images, FILE
Fitness guru Richard Simmons‘ cause of death has been revealed.
A spokesperson for Simmons’ family, Tom Estey, provided a statement to ABC News on Wednesday confirming the death was accidental.
“This morning, Richard Simmons’ brother Lenny, received a call from the LA Coroner’s office,” began the statement. “The Coroner informed Lenny that Richard’s death was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor.”
The statement also said, “The toxicology report was negative,” besides the medication that was prescribed to Richard.
Richard died on July 13 at 76 years old.
“The Family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss,” the statement concluded.
ABC News has reached out to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Michael B. Jordan has once again teamed up with director Ryan Coogler, with whom he worked on Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther and Wakanda Forever, for a new supernatural horror film called Sinners.
The very creepy trailer to the Prohibition-era Warner Bros. film has just dropped and shows Jordan in a dual role as twin brothers facing an unseen evil force.
The plot details are being kept under wraps, but the studio teases, “Trying to leave their troubled lives behind, twin brothers return to their hometown to start again, only to discover that an even greater evil is waiting to welcome them back.”
The trailer starts with Jordan so shaken he can’t even roll a cigarette, sitting atop a crate. He’s wearing World War I dog tags and is seen opening the box, which contains an automatic rifle and other gear he would have carried overseas.
Using a Southern accent, Jordan says, “I’ve been all over this world. I’ve seen men die in ways I ain’t even know was possible. Of all the things that I’ve seen, I ain’t ever seen no demons, no ghosts, no magic — till now.”
A title card teases “A new vision of fear” from Coogler, as we see Jordan’s character take shelter in a building surrounded by slowly shambling zombie-like people. One civilian is caught outside and begs to be let in.
Meanwhile, Jordan and the townsfolk inside arm up and get ready.
A preacher’s voice is heard saying, “You keep dancing with the devil, one day he’s gonna follow you home.”
Coogler’s Oscar-winning Black Panther composer Ludwig Göransson returns to score Sinners, which hits theaters March 7.
As soon as news broke that legendary actor and voice over artist James Earl Jones died Monday at 93, Hollywood took to social media to mourn.
Jones, who famously voiced Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and Mufasa in the 1994 and 2019 Lion King films, died on Monday morning at his home in Dutchess County, New York, surrounded by his family, his rep confirmed to ABC News.
Here are just some of those tributes from his famous friends/fans:
His Star Wars co-star Mark Hamillposted in part “#RIP dad 💔.” In the films, Hamill played Luke Skywalker, son of Darth Vader.
Kevin Costner, who starred with Jones in Field of Dreams, took to Instagram to share, “If you’ve seen it, you know that this movie wouldn’t be the same with anyone else in his role. Only he could bring that kind of magic to a movie about baseball and a corn field in Iowa.”
“Rest in peace, friend,” Costner concluded.
Rob Minkoff: Minkoff, the director of the 1994 Lion King film, shared, “His portrayal of Mufasa was perfection. What a powerful man and actor. Gone but will never be forgotten. Rest in power.”
Octavia Spencer: The Oscar winner Instagrammed she is “incredibly saddened” by the news, adding, “Legendary doesn’t even begin to describe his iconic roles and impact on cinema forever.” She added, “His voice and talent will be remembered always. Sending love to his family, friends and countless fans in all galaxies, far, far away. 🤍🕊️”
LeVar Burton: Burton, who starred in the 1980 film, Guyana Tragedy: The Story of Jim Jones with Jones, posted, “There will never be another of his particular combination of graces.”
Colman Domingo: “Rest. Thank you for everything. Everything. Everything,” the Rustin Oscar nominee wrote on Instagram. “We all looked to you. Thank you King James Earl Jones. Rest well.”
Yvette Nicole Brown: “Besides #StarWars, the first film I remember ever seeing was #Claudine,” Brown said in an Instagram post. “#JamesEarlJones is a part of my cinematic DNA. Heartbroken doesn’t begin to cover it.”
Bob Iger: The CEO of ABC News’ parent company Disney highlighted Jones’ career in a moving tribute shared on Disney’s Instagram page, saying in part, “From the gentle wisdom of Mufasa to the menacing threat of Darth Vader, James Earl Jones gave voice to some of the greatest characters in cinema history.”
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She’s working late, cause she’s a singer (and an actress).
Amanda Seyfried is rooting for Sabrina Carpenter to join a potential third Mamma Mia! film.
“Mamma Mia 3, let’s go baby,” Seyfried told ABC News Live. “Everybody says it’s gonna happen. But I mean, I haven’t seen a script.”
As part of Sabrina’s Short n’ Sweet tour, the pop star sings a different cover song at each concert. She performed the musical’s title ABBA track during her recent Madison Square Garden show in New York City, which prompted Seyfried to agree that Sabrina could play her character Sophie’s daughter in a third Mamma Mia! film.
Never mind the fact that Seyfried is just 13 years older than Sabrina — that’s on par with the franchise, which saw Cher, who is three years older than Meryl Streep, play the latter’s mother in the second film, the interviewer said.
“You’re right, actually, [it] doesn’t matter,” Seyfried said. “You know what? Old age makeup for me. That’s what it will be. … I’m an actor. I’ll do it. If Sabrina Carpenter wants to play my daughter, I’ll make it happen. It’s fine. I’m a big fan.”
