My friends Jessica and Dianna alerted me to the death of fitness superstar and 80s icon Richard Simmons, who died at the age of 76. Here’s a commercial for Sweatin’ to the Oldies 2 with his signature madcap camp:
I read in The NY Times about the death of video artist Bill Viola, who died at the age of 73. My husband Richard and I saw his piece “Martyrs” at St Paul’s Cathedral in London years ago. It was haunting and unsettling. Here’s another piece by Viola, not as unsettling:
And I read in The NY Times about the death of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who died at the age of 96. She was priceless, hilarious, adorable. Richard had a phone interaction with her in 2013. He worked in the hospitality business and she must have gotten his number as someone who might sell tickets to an off Broadway show about her life, Becoming Dr Ruth starring Debra Jo Rupp. Dr. Ruth told Richard, “If you sell a lot of tickets to my show, I guarantee you’ll have great sex for the rest of your life!”
Here she is on Letterman back in the day:
I saw Martyrs in London at St. Paul’s too. Unforgettable.