Richard Simmons 'refused medical attention after falling in his bathroom' the day before fitness guru's death aged 76

Richard Simmons reportedly refused medical treatment after he fell over in his bathroom the day before he was found dead.

According to TMZ, the fitness guru and TV star fell in the bathroom of his West Hollywood home on Friday night after he felt dizzy. 

But, when his housekeeper came to help him, she told Simmons to go and see a doctor. 

It's claimed he didn't want to go and see a doctor because it was his birthday and told her he would consider going to see a doctor on Saturday. 

But, at 10am on Saturday morning, the housekeeper found Simmons dead on the floor next to his bed. 

Police responded to the housekeeper's call but he was pronounced dead at the scene with no obvious or external signs of injury. 

On the same day as his bathroom fall, Simmons posted a message to fans on Facebook to celebrate his birthday.

His message read: 'Thank you...I never got so many messages about my birthday in my life! I am sitting here writing emails. Have a most beautiful rest of your Friday. Love, Richard'. 

On Friday, Simmons also revealed his fun plans to celebrate his birthday in a very rare interview. He told People: 'But the candle will probably be on a zucchini. You know, I'm a vegetarian.'

Reflecting on turning 76, he added: 'I feel good! I am grateful that I'm here, that I am alive for another day. I'll spend my birthday doing what I do every day, which is to help people.' 

Simmons, who grew up in the French quarter of New Orleans before settling in California, weighed 268 pounds when he graduated from high school, his website said.

His own story of struggling with weight loss, where he tried everything from fad diets to laxatives before settling on exercise and better lifestyle choices, inspired millions to do the same.

Simmons became a master of many media forms, sharing his hard-won weight-loss tips as host of the Emmy-winning daytime 'Richard Simmons Show' and author of best-selling books and the diet plan Deal-A-Meal.

He also opened exercise studios and starred in exercise videos, including the wildly successful 'Sweatin' to the Oldies' line, which became a cultural phenomenon. 

Simmons' daytime show was seen on 200 stations in America, as well as in Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South America. His first book, 'Never Say Diet', was a smash best-seller.

He was known to counsel the severely obese, including Rosalie Bradford, who held records for being the world's heaviest woman, and Michael Hebranko, who credited Simmons for helping him lose 700 pounds. 

After winning a legion of fans with his infectious enthusiasm and positivity, Simmons stepped away from the limelight in 2014. 

Simmons revealed he was diagnosed with skin cancer in an emotional Facebook post in March after discovering a 'strange looking bump' under his right eye.