Death of Jim Brown: NFL champion and civil rights figure dies at 87

This Friday, May 19, Jim Brown’s wife announced the death of the American football champion and civil rights figure at the age of 87. Known for his talents in the field, but also on the small and big screen, the athlete leaves behind six children.

The world of sport is going through a new mourning. On Friday May 19, the whole world learned of the death of the Spanish runner Arturo Gravalos, at the age of 25, but also that of Sandra Badie. The 2022 ju-jitsu world vice-champion has died at the age of 31. A news announced by the French Judo Federation on its website and social networks. On the same day, in the United States, it is the sportsman Jim Brown who died at the age of 87.

Considered one of the greatest players in NFL history, the latter died at home, “peacefully, at his residence in Los Angeles”, learned his family, who shared the news through a statement on social networks. We learn that his wife, Monique, was by his side, at the time of his death. Jim Brown made American football history during his short NFL career from 1957 to 1965.

Jim Brown, a distinguished career

Jim Brown led the Cleveland Browns to their last NFL title in 1964. Very tough on the field, the runner was unstoppable. Throughout his life, Jim Brown was one of the black community leaders of the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He also created the program Amer-I-Can in 1988. The latter came to the aid of young gang members in disadvantaged neighborhoods in the United States. In 1966, the top athlete decided to put an end to his sports career at 30when he had just won his last MVP trophy, to devote himself to cinema.

Jim Brown has since shot in around fifty films and series, including The Dirty Dozen, by Robert Aldrich. He also shared the movie poster He Got Game with Denzel Washington and Ray Allen in 1998, but also cult Mars Attacks ! by Tim Burton, in 1996. Jim Brown leaves behind him his wife, but also his six children. The NFL paid tribute to “one of the best players in the world”on social networks.