Former football star turned actor O.J. Simpson, famously acquitted in a highly publicized trial for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, has passed away at the age of 76 after battling cancer, as confirmed by his family on Thursday.
In a statement shared on his official X account, the Simpson family wrote, “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.”
While Simpson was acquitted of criminal charges in the deaths of Brown Simpson and Goldman, he was later found liable in a civil suit brought by the victims’ families. Born Orenthal James Simpson in San Francisco, he rose to fame as a football player, winning the Heisman Trophy at USC before setting records with the San Francisco 49ers and the Buffalo Bills.
Transitioning to acting, Simpson appeared in various films and TV shows, including “The Klansman,” “The Cassandra Crossing,” “The Towering Inferno,” and the miniseries “Roots.”
However, his life took a dramatic turn when Brown Simpson and Goldman were found murdered in 1994. Despite a highly publicized trial and media frenzy, Simpson was ultimately acquitted of the murders.
Nevertheless, he faced legal troubles in subsequent years, including a civil suit that found him liable for wrongful death and battery. Simpson also served time in prison for robbery, kidnapping, and other charges related to a Las Vegas sports memorabilia scheme, before being released in 2017.
