O.J. Simpson, Former NFL Star and Acquitted Murder Defendant, Dies at 76
Simpson's Athletic Achievements Overshadowed by Controversial Trial
Family Confirms Death from Cancer
O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star whose athletic achievements were eclipsed by his 1995 trial in the brutal killings of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, has died at age 76, his family confirmed on April 10th.
Simpson, who was acquitted of the murders in a televised trial that gripped the nation, succumbed to a battle with cancer, according to his family.
Born in San Francisco in 1947, Simpson became a football star at the University of Southern California and was drafted first overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1969 NFL Draft.
Simpson's football career was marked by success, as he rushed for over 11,000 yards and scored 61 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
After retiring from football, Simpson became a successful actor and television personality. However, his life took a shocking turn in June 1994, when Nicole Brown Simpson and Goldman were found murdered outside her Los Angeles home.
Simpson was charged with the murders and his trial became one of the most sensational in American history. After a lengthy and highly publicized trial, Simpson was acquitted of the charges in 1995.
Simpson's acquittal was met with widespread controversy and sparked a national debate about race, celebrity, and the criminal justice system.
In 1997, Simpson was found liable for the wrongful deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman in a civil trial and was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to their families.
Simpson's later years were marked by financial struggles and legal issues. He was imprisoned in Nevada in 2007 after being convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping.
Simpson was released from prison in 2017. He lived in Las Vegas until his death on April 10th, 2023.
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