Richard Simmons Doesn't Have a Wife – His Housekeeper Allegedly Considered Herself His 'Wife'

Richard Simmons' housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, was always seen around him and was reportedly living in his house. Many of Simmons' close friends believed that the fitness guru's reclusive lifestyle was influenced by Reveles, who allegedly saw herself as his unofficial wife.

While fitness experts are known for their weight-loss tips and mind-blowing physiques, their careers are typically short-lived. It might take some time to scratch your memory and recall Susan Powter from the "Stop the Insanity" lady, Tamilee Webb and her "Buns of Steel," or even Tony Little from "America's Personal Trainer."

However, the same wasn't true for Richard Simmons, who shot to fame in the 1980s, becoming a massive, inexorable force in pop culture. He could be seen everywhere, from his performance on General Hospital to his teaser trailers on the "Late Night" show by David Letterman.

In his best-selling aerobics fitness tape "Sweatin' to the Oldies," he introduced people to the fun side of a workout. Simmons turned to Beverly Hills and opened a gym called "Slimmons," authored nine books, including a New York Times Bestseller, and tried his hands at hosting an Emmy-winning show.

Despite his popularity and lively demeanor, he seemed to have no intentions of following in fitness icon Jack LaLanne's footsteps. But thirty years after his skyrocketing fame, Simmons, who was then in his 60s, seemed reluctant to fade or become a thing of the past.

During that time, he reportedly kissed an astounded passenger on a New Zealand flight, trained Chaz Bono on "Dancing With the Stars," and stunned the audience at Wendy Williams' Show in a rainbow top. Also, he took classes at his gym and starred in workout videos with mind-boggling titles, such as "Tonin' Downtown" and "Pump and Sweat."

Richard Simmons' Relationship with His Housekeeper

In 2014, photos of Simmons, then 67, with his Mexico-born housekeeper, Teresa Reveles, 64, surfaced online. Around the same time, many of the fitness guru's friends, including Mauro Oliviera, accused Reveles of controlling Simmons' life to the point that he became a recluse.

Oliviera pointed out that despite having an apartment and an enormous home with her sister, Bertha, Reveles was always seen at Simmons' house. He said someone told him earlier that they went to her sister's place, and there was no sign of Reveles.

According to Daily Mail, a neighbor confirmed they saw Reveles leave Bertha's house a week ago. Simmons' former personal assistant, Oliviera, dished that Reveles didn't want any competition and believed she would inherit everything Simmons owned, including his home and fortune. He added:

"Because his brother [Leonard Jr] is older than him and Richard is not a big fan of his sister-in-law. And so Teresa believes she's his unofficial wife and because she's tolerated him for 30 years, she believes that she deserves to inherit everything."

Per Oliviera, his longtime peer's seclusion seemed odd, and he didn't sound quite like himself during his interview with Entertainment Tonight. He claimed that Simmons was influenced by his housekeeper or manager while sharing his answers.

To end the speculations and offer peace of mind to his well-wishers, Oliviera suggested Simmons record a video of himself to confirm that he was under no duress from anyone. He also alleged that Simmons' seclusion was beyond his comprehension because he had always been a "people person."

Per Oliviera, his dear friend loved his fans and considered them an essential part of his life—something he had always been vocal about. He said it didn't make sense how Simmons had isolated himself from everyone, including his friends and the people who loved him wholeheartedly.

One of them included a 95-year-old woman, who Oliviera said was extremely close to Simmons and like a second mom to him. "He's totally cut his relationship with her. And please, I'm begging Richard to reach out to her, at least. I don't want her to die without being able to say goodbye to Richard," added Oliviera.

Where Is Richard Simmons Now after Shunning the Spotlight?

After being missing in action, a documentary hinting at his whereabouts, called "TMZ Investigates: What Really Happened to Richard Simmons," premiered on FOX in August 2022. Simmons, who had kept his lips sealed for almost ten years, thanked everyone for their love and appreciation after the documentary's release.

Before his gratitude post surfaced, the rumor mill ran fast with all sorts of speculations, with some claiming that his housekeeper had a role to play behind his seclusion. But his brother, Lenny, stated in 2017 that his brother was in good spirits and just needed some rest.

This was followed by Simmons' representative, Tommy Estey, who shared that Simmons deserved to help himself feel better after serving people for 40 years. While Simmons confirmed that he wished to stay alone for some time in a statement in 2016, he did release workout videos from his archives during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Richard Was Once Asked: "Do You Want to Live or Do You Want to Die?"

In an interview with Men's Health in 2012, Simmons discussed how he hit his absolute low when he was barely 19 or 20. While recovering, a nurse asked him if he wanted to live or die, and as an overweight person at the time, the question hit a nerve.

After that eye-opening conversation, Simmons said he took drastic measures to lose weight, such as taking diet pills. Some of the ways he resorted to nearly took a toll, and he struggled to embark on his fitness journey.

When asked if he remembered being 19, Simmons replied that he somewhat skipped his childhood phase and went from 8 to 42. He said he kept himself busy sticking to his goals and plans and became so focused that all he worried about was the present day and how to make the best of it.