'THE MYSTERY OF RICHARD SIMMONS: A DIANE SAWYER SPECIAL' TO PREMIERE TUESDAY, MAY 12, ON ABC AND STREAMS NEXT DAY ON DISNEY+ AND HULU

A Poignant Look at a Beloved Pop-Culture Figure Who Rose to Fame as a Fitness Guru and Television Personality, His Decade-Long Disappearance From Public Life, Planned Comeback and Sudden Death

"The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special" traces the beloved personality's remarkable rise to fame and examines the cultural impact that made him a household name, airing Tuesday, May 12 (9:00-9:59 p.m. EDT), on ABC and streams next day on Disney+ and Hulu. The new hourlong special is a joyful and revealing portrait of an American superstar. With his boundless energy and signature warmth, Simmons built one of the most enduring fitness empires in American culture, becoming a popular fixture on television and in the daily lives of millions for over three decades.

In 2014, Simmons abruptly vanished from the public eye, retreating into seclusion and sparking years of speculation about his whereabouts and well-being. After a decade of silence, Simmons began quietly planning a return. Reaching out directly to Diane Sawyer to share his story, he sent her dozens of flowers accompanied by a simple note: "I Trust You." As preparations were underway for a long-awaited interview, the story took a bizarre turn with news of Simmons' sudden and mysterious death.

Shortly after his death, his older brother extended an invitation to Sawyer and her team to enter Richard's home and explore the world he had kept hidden for so long. Through intimate interviews with those closest to him, the special seeks to unravel the truth behind his disappearance and shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death, offering a poignant look at the life, legacy and enduring intrigue of this American icon.

"The Mystery of Richard Simmons: A Diane Sawyer Special" is produced by ABC News Studios. Mark Robertson and David Sloan are senior executive producers, and Tess Scott Davidson is executive producer.

About ABC News Studios

ABC News Studios is inspired by ABC News' trusted reporting and is an award-winning, premium news and documentary original production house and commissioning partner of series and specials. ABC News Studios champions untold and authentic stories driving the cultural zeitgeist, spanning true crime, investigations, pop culture and news-adjacent stories. ABC News Studios' original titles include critically acclaimed documentaries "Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields," "BRATS," "The Lady Bird Diaries," Emmy(R)-winning "Patrice: The Movie," "Barbara Walters Tell Me Everything," "Lilith Fair: Building a Mystery - The Untold Story" and most recently "#SKYKING." Other popular docuseries, documentaries and specials include "Scamanda," "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer," "Betrayal: Under His Eye," "Death in Apartment 603: What Happened to Ellen Greenberg?," "Mr. and Mrs. Murder" and "Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari" and "Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey - A Diane Sawyer Special."