Orenthal James ‘OJ’ Simpson, the former American football star, actor, and infamous suspect behind a double homicide, has passed away from cancer.
The 76-year-old died in Las Vegas on Wednesday, surrounded by family and friends, after losing his battle with cancer. Simpson’s family announced his death on X, formerly Twitter, in a simple message.
“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 statement said.
According to attorneys for Goldman’s family, Simpson “died without penance.”
Simpson had reportedly been battling prostate cancer in recent years, with news about his diagnosis making headlines in February of 2024. A local outlet reported that Simpson’s health had taken a turn for the worse, and he was in hospice care. While the details were hazy, Simpson responded to the news by saying he was not in hospice. However, he did not directly address the speculations about cancer.
Once known as the most successful and popular sports star of his generation, Simpson’s fame continued to grow after retiring from professional football, as he starred in several Hollywood movies. The 1994 slaying of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ronald Goldman, outside Brown’s home in Los Angeles on June 12, 1994, ultimately overshadowed his achievements.
In the “Trial of the Century” in 1995, Simpson was acquitted of two counts of homicide during a televised trial. The trial garnered high publicity, with high-powered figures emerging, such as one of Simpson’s defense attorneys, Johnnie Cochran. Cochran turned the bloody glove found at the scene of the crime into one of the most memorable moments of the trial by telling the jury, ‘If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit,’ after Simpson struggled to put his hand inside the glove.
In 1997, the jury in a civil trial found Simpson liable for the double murders and ordered him to pay nearly $33.5 million in damages. In 2007, authorities sentenced Simpson to 33 years in prison after convicting him of participating in a botched armed robbery. Simpson admitted to stealing some of his old sports memorabilia back from a dealer in Las Vegas. He was paroled in 2017 and remained relatively active on X until his passing on April 10, 2024.
Simpson, who once looked unstoppable in the NFL, fell from grace after his infamous trials. The once-celebrated running back who won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 while playing for the University of Southern California.
“O.J. Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards,” said Jim Porter, Pro Football Hall of Fame president, in a statement Thursday (via USA Today). “His on-field contributions will be preserved in the Hall’s archives in Canton, Ohio.”
His 1995 trial came shortly after the Rodney King riots spread rapidly through Los Angeles. Those who pointed to the historically unjust treatment of black people by the U.S. justice system celebrated Simpson’s 1995 acquittal.
