Richard Simmons suffered a secret 'heartbreak' before his death at age 76 that left him feeling like a 'failure' - amid fears upcoming biopic would leave him 'humiliated'

Richard Simmons died believing he was a 'failure' and spent months fearing he would be left 'humiliated' by the upcoming biopic about his life, insiders claim. 

The hyperactive fitness guru, who built a mini-empire in his trademark tank tops and short shorts by urging the overweight to exercise and overhaul their diets, died of natural causes at his southern California home on Saturday. He was 76.

Despite his success, Simmons never felt that he had 'made it' and was left heartbroken at not receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his decades-long career.

'Richard died thinking that he had spent his entire life focused on his career and that he never truly made it,' an insider told DailyMail.com.

'He didn't think of himself as the legendary icon everyone else knew him as in his heyday. He saw himself as a failure and for his entire life he never got the one thing he wanted - a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This broke his heart.'

Simmons was a former 268-pound teen who 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.

His 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 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 with 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.

In 2017, he was ordered to pay the National Enquirer's legal bill following his failed bid to sue the magazine for defamation after it published a front page story in 2016 saying he was transitioning into a woman.

At the time, the court ruled that identifying an individual as transgender may not necessarily expose them to 'hatred, contempt or ridicule' and would not be considered defamatory in nature.'

'While, as a practical matter, the characteristic may be held in contempt by a portion of the population, the court will not validate those prejudices by legally recognizing them,' the judge added.

Simmons previously confirmed that he was not transgender and even created a pointed list of reasons why in an ongoing explosive lawsuit with the publishing company.

Simmons' humiliation over the lawsuit prompted his initial reluctance to give his blessing to the upcoming biopic about his life, starring Pauly Shore, as he feared opening himself up to further hurt and public ridicule. 

'He felt humiliation for some of the things that happened in recent years and feels like he let his real fans down,' the insider said. 'This is why he just wanted to be left alone.

'He was always searching for an identity and tried hard to please everyone. The sad part about his death was that after years of internal torture, he had finally come to a place where he was beginning to move on and accept himself.'

'Richard didn't approve initially because he didn't like seeing himself in the mirror,' the insider said.

'He never watched any of his old videos or any of his appearances because he was highly critical of himself. He felt backed into a corner.

'He cared deeply for his fans but was just so worried about being the brunt of the joke. He was trying to stand his ground on this one in fear that he would be further humiliated, but Pauly assured him that this will not happen.

'Pauly wanted to involve him in the process, and he told Richard he did not want to hurt him. In the end he was humbled by the fact that a film was being made about him.

'But he was not ready to look at his life because he had so much pain and regret. He died not knowing what an icon he was.'

Shore previously portrayed Simmons in short film, The Court Jester, which was written and directed by Jake Lewis. 

The 10-minute project received a standing ovation when it premiered in Park City, Utah back in January.

At the time, Simmons disavowed the biopic, telling fans he had not given his permission.

'You may have heard they may be doing a movie about me with Pauly Shore,' he wrote on Facebook.

'I have never given my permission for this movie. I no longer have a manager, and I no longer have a publicist. I just try to live a quiet life and be peaceful. Thank you for all your love and support.'

It came a day after he refused to participate in interviews, writing: 'I wanted you all to know that I am fine and I am happy. I have had a lot of people ask me for interviews.

'But right now I don't want to do them. It is a gray and rainy day here in Los Angeles, but my heart is filled with your kindness towards me.'

Simmons' publicist confirmed his death in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday. He gave no further details.

Los Angeles police and fire departments responded to a house - whose address the AP matched with Simmons' through public records - where a man was declared dead from natural causes.

Simmons had revealed a skin cancer diagnosis in March 2024, a day after panicking fans with 'some news' that he was dying.