Controversial Figure O.J. Simpson Dies, Aged 76

Simpson, an athlete who spun sporting success into an entertainment career, became notorious after standing trial convicted of murdering his ex-wife.

O.J. Simpson in 'O.J.: Made in America'. Photo: ESPN Films.

Preview:

O.J. Simpson has died aged 76.
His family reports he died of cancer.
He was known for his football, acting career and legal issues.

Orenthal James Simpson, a sports star-turned-actor and broadcaster who was acquitted of a double murder, has died. He was 76.

O.J., or “The Juice” as per his nickname during his football days, became known for his charismatic persona and sporting accomplishments, but his reputation was forever tarnished by the murder trial from which his celebrity status never truly recovered and he did little to garland himself in glory in the years since, sparking other controversies and spending time in jail.

O.J. Simpson: Early Life and Sports Career

'O.J.: Made in America'. Photo: ESPN Films.

Born in San Francisco in 1947, Simpson was raised in the Bay Area and his family quickly gave him the nickname O.J. –– used so much to the point that he had no idea of his full given name until a teacher read it out in third grade.

A troubled teen and lackluster student, he ran with gangs in San Francisco and was briefly incarcerated at the San Francisco Youth Guidance Center. A chance meeting with baseball legend Willie Mays encouraged him to seek other outlets, and he ended up playing for his high school football team.

Though his bad grades led to him attracting little interest from college scouts, he played for City College of San Francisco, and began to find success as a running back and a defensive bag, and a big win for the institution saw him recruited to play for (and attend) the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Simpson eventually became known as one of the greatest running backs of all time, playing primarily for the Buffalo Bills and retiring after playing for the San Francisco 49ers.

O.J. Simpson: Acting Career

(L to R) O. J. Simpson, Leslie Nielsen and George Kennedy in 'Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult.' Photo: Paramount Pictures.

Simpson had acting aspirations in college and started performing while at USC. He was actually a professional actor before starting his football career, appearing in the likes of ‘Dragnet’, ‘Roots’, ‘The Towering Inferno’ and ‘Capricorn One’.

Though he was considered by James Cameron as a candidate to play the titular killer cyborg in ‘The Terminator’, he’s perhaps most known for his role as ill-fated lawman Detective Norberg in the three ‘Naked Gun’ movies.

And alongside his acting work, he was a commentator on ‘Monday Night Football’ and ‘The NFL on NBC’.

O.J. Simpson –– Murder Trial and More

'O.J.: Made in America'. Photo: ESPN Films.

Though he had become a pop cultural figure thanks to his accomplishments, Simpson’s life would forever be tarnished by one trial in particular. In June 1994, after fleeing the authorities in an infamous police chase, Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend, Ron Goldman. He was acquitted in a lengthy and internationally publicized trial but found liable for the deaths three years later in a civil suit from the victims’ families.

In 2007, Simpson was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, and charged with armed robbery and kidnapping. In 2008, he was convicted and sentenced to 33 years’ imprisonment, with a minimum of nine years without parole. He served his sentence at the Lovelock Correctional Center near Lovelock, Nevada, and was paroled in July 2017, seeing release that October.

O.J. Simpson –– His Family Pays Tribute

O.J. Simpson in 'O.J.: Made in America'. Photo: ESPN Films.

In May last year, Simpsons revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer, but seemed confident he would beat it. In February, it was reported that he was being treated for prostate cancer, and he died on the disease on Wednesday.

Simpson’s family marked his passing with a social media post.

“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.”