The extensive and somewhat eerie doll collection amassed by the late fitness icon Richard Simmons is to be sold at auction, just over a year after his passing. More than 250 unique figurines, which the reclusive star cherished for decades, will go under the hammer in a special event next year.
The Auction Details and Prized Pieces
The live auction, officially titled Marquis: The Art Doll Collection of Richard Simmons Cataloged Auction, is scheduled for 6 December 2025. It will be conducted by Theriault's in Annapolis, Maryland, with absentee, telephone, and internet bidding available for international collectors. The collection is described as a showcase of 'contemporary doll art,' featuring one-of-a-kind or extremely limited pieces spanning categories from beautiful women and expressive children to fantasy and mythological figures.
Among the standout lots is a 28-inch custom doll of Barbra Streisand, commissioned by Simmons over 30 years ago and crafted by renowned NIADA artist Lisa Lichtenfels. This piece, unveiled in 1995, carries a high-end estimate of $3,500. Many other dolls are valued in the thousands, including a striking bridal figurine estimated at $1,500 and a set of three 18th-century style ladies with a starting bid of $1,500.
A Glimpse into a Whimsical and Eerie World
The collection reveals Simmons's penchant for the whimsical and the fantastical. A particularly haunting piece is a 6-inch figurine titled Elf-Like Child Holding Little Doll by artist Gail Lackey, with piercing blue eyes and elf ears, estimated to fetch between $300 and $400. Simmons owned several of Lackey's elf creations, including a larger 12-inch version expected to sell for up to $1,200.
Other notable items include:
- A hand-sculpted Alice in Wonderland doll with blonde human hair (Estimate: $900).
- A 19-inch teapot-woman hybrid called Here is My Handle by Scott Gray (Estimate: $1,200).
- A 'one of a kind' 26-inch Ebony-Black Complexioned Girl by Gloria Tepper, created in 1996.
- A dual figurine of senior citizens called Sunday Church Goers.
For those not bidding, Theriault's is offering a keepsake catalogue for $69, featuring photographs and descriptions of the entire collection.
Simmons's Legacy and Estate Matters
According to the auction house, Simmons was an early patron of the National Institute of American Doll Artists (NIADA) and a familiar face at doll conventions. His family stated it was his wish that these cherished works of art be shared with others following his death. The news of the doll auction follows the recent price reduction of Simmons's Los Angeles mansion. The Hollywood Hills property, originally listed at $6,999,999 in June, has seen its asking price cut by $410,000 to $5,889,999.
Richard Simmons died at his home on 13 July 2024, one day after his 76th birthday. The Los Angeles Coroner's office ruled his death was 'accidental due to complications from recent falls, with heart disease as a contributing factor.' His housekeeper found him unresponsive after he had fallen on his birthday but declined immediate medical attention. The beloved fitness guru, who helped millions with his Sweatin' to the Oldies videos and infectious enthusiasm, had largely retreated from public life after 2014.
