O.J. Simpson Dies: Former NFL Star Acquitted of Murder Was 76
O.J. Simpson has died at the age of 76. The infamous athlete at the center of one of America’s most famous televised court cases died on Wednesday, April 10 after a battle with cancer. His death was announced by his family on Thursday, April 11.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” his family’s statement, posted on his own X (formerly Twitter) account, reads. “He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace. -The Simpson Family.”
News of Simpson’s cancer diagnosis was first reported in February 2024. According to Local 10 News, Simpson was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy treatments in Las Vegas, Nevada. He formerly lived in South Florida.
In a video posted on X on February 9, Simpson said he heard rumors that he was in hospice care. He disputed this rumor, saying, “I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who put that out there. Whoever put that out there, I guess it’s like The Donald [Trump] say: Can’t trust the media!” He went on to say that he was “hosting a ton of friends” for the Super Bowl that weekend.
On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace.
-The Simpson Family
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024
Simpson was acquitted of the murder of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald L. Goldman, in 1994 after arguably the most high-profile criminal trial in modern American history.
His infamous car chase in a white Ford Bronco pre-dated the trial. The car chase, and the subsequent legal proceedings, were televised to millions of viewers. The trial spanned 11 months, starting on November 9, 1994 and ending with his acquittal on October 3, 1995. October 3 would go on to be a significant date for the former Heisman Trophy winner.
The O.J. Simpson Trial TV Guide Magazine Cover, 1994
(TV Guide Magazine / Everett Collection)
The trial itself also made the names of the legal teams, both on the defense and prosecution, infamous.
Simpson was represented by Johnnie Cochran, Alan Dershowitz, and F. Lee Bailey. Robert Kardashian Sr., the late patriarch of the Kardashian family, had his legal credentials reinstated in order to join what was called the “Dream Team” and help acquit Simpson, his close personal friend. The team successfully outmaneuvered the prosecutors, Deputy District Attorneys Marcia Clark, William Hodgman, and Christopher Darden, in the trial and Simpson was acquitted of the murder charges.
The infamous trial was later depicted in the Emmy-winning The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. as Simpson, Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, Courtney B. Vance, John Travolta, David Schwimmer, Nathan Lane, and more.
In 1997, the families of Brown and Goldman won a $33.5 million civil judgment against Simpson when a jury ruled that he was liable for their murders.
While Simpson avoided jail time in the 1990s, he was arrested for leading an armed robbery in Las Vegas in September 2007 and was tried for the crime later that year. He was found guilty of all 12 charges against him in 2008 and was sentenced to 33 years in prison with the opportunity for parole in nine years. Simpson was convicted on October 3, 2008, exactly 13 years after his murder acquittal.
Simpson was eligible for parole in October 2017. He was granted parole early on July 20, 2017. He was freed from prison three months later and was granted early discharge from parole in December 2021.
Prior to his legal infamy, Simpson was one of the NFL’s most celebrated football players. His playing statistics makes him one of the best running backs in NFL history. His athletic success led to a successful career onscreen, with Simpson appearing in films, scripted and unscripted TV programs, and TV ads.
Simpson is survived by his four children, Arnelle, Jason, Sydney, and Justin. Arnelle and Jason are his children from Simpson’s first marriage to Marguerite Whitley. Sydney and Justin are his children from his marriage with Brown.
