Richard Simmons made a memorable mark on the cast of General Hospital, and actress Lynn Herring still treasures one of his gifts. Herring, who plays Lucy Coe on the long-running soap, spoke about Simmons in a May 20 interview with Michael Fairman TV. Simmons, who passed away in July 2024 at age 76, appeared on the show beginning in 1979. He played a fictionalized version of himself in over 100 episodes.
Herring first joined General Hospital from 1986 to 2004. When she returned in 2012, she became the regular host of the Nurses’ Ball, an annual event on the show designed to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. Simmons made a special return in 2013 to celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary. That year, he choreographed dancers for the Nurses’ Ball and shared scenes with Herring’s character, Lucy.
Herring described Simmons as having intense energy. “Lucy has an energy that sometimes can be too much,” she said. “Richard was like Lucy’s energy on steroids—ten times stronger. But he came to work with joy and a desire to entertain. Richard wanted everyone to feel his love, acceptance, and warmth. That was the first thing you noticed.”
Despite his energetic nature, Simmons was a professional who put aside any personal struggles to connect with his co-stars. “I really admired Richard because, no matter what he was going through, he wanted to be a true performer and engage with us,” Herring said.
She also recalled a special gift Simmons gave her. “We spent several days together filming, and on the last day, he gave me a beautiful jeweled dress he had bought at an auction or art house,” she said. “I told him, ‘Richard, I don’t need a gift, but I will keep this and treasure it.’ It represents everything he gave to everyone.”
Herring fondly remembered the fun they had filming their scenes together. “He would try to act mad at Lucy, and we’d do our nemesis scenes, but then we’d laugh and sometimes had to redo the takes several times.”
In July 2024, after Simmons’ passing, Herring shared her thoughts with People magazine. She said, “Richard meant a lot to many people, including me. When he walked onto the General Hospital stage, it sizzled with his energy, humor, joy, and love for all of us.”
Simmons’ early appearances on General Hospital helped him rise from a quirky Los Angeles fitness instructor to a well-known celebrity. After the show, he recorded his first fitness video and became a frequent TV personality throughout the 1980s. His 2013 General Hospital role was one of his final projects before retirement.
