Former fitness icon Susan Powter is subject of new documentary about her rise, fall from fame

HOLLYWOOD (KABC) -- There is a revealing new documentary about a superstar fitness icon of the 1990s.

You may remember Susan Powter, a very energetic woman who had a distinctive blonde buzz cut and a well-known catchphrase: "Stop the Insanity." She was everywhere. And then she seemingly disappeared. Until now.

In the documentary "Stop the Insanity! Finding Susan Powter," we learn other people seemed to reap the financial benefits much more than she did, partly by her own mistakes, leading to lawsuits, bankruptcy, poverty and a very different life in Las Vegas than the one we saw on television.

"I drive for Uber Eats. I did it three days ago. I still live in the same apartment. Everything you saw in the movie is real. Nothing has changed but every single thing has changed. Every single thing because I was given hope and possibility," said Powter. "All I want to do is work, George. That's all I want to do."

This is director Zeberiah Newman's first feature.

"There's so much more to her and to her story that it felt like we wanted to take people to who she is today," said Newman. "Susan is one of those people who can have you literally sobbing and then come out of the sobs with hysterical laughter. This entire movie was made with me and one other person. I'm holding cameras, sound equipment, taking notes in the back of the car."

The attention from this documentary and an upcoming book could turn Powter's life around.

"I understand now what I should have done. I understand how I should have managed things. And I understand that I have a chance. That is very rare," said Powter. "What is happening now is that by the grace of the angels from I don't even know, none of it was planned. It makes 'Stop the Insanity' look like a dress rehearsal that it was. That was a dress rehearsal, George, and it was a mighty powerful one."

"Stop The Insanity: Finding Susan Powter" is available now on several streaming services. In my opinion, it is a fascinating look at fame and misfortune. I found myself rooting for Susan the entire movie.