His trial became legendary. Former American football superstar OJ Simpson, whose 1995 double murder trial captivated America before his acquittal, has died of cancer at the age of 76, his family announced Thursday.
“On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, died following his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren,” his family wrote on X.
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 Simpson Family
— O.J. Simpson (@TheRealOJ32) April 11, 2024
Orenthal James Simpson first became a star thanks to his performances on the American football field. Placed in the spotlight from his university years, he exploded in the 1970s in the NFL, the American professional league. At the end of his athletic career in 1979, his charisma allowed him to retrain as a television consultant. He also managed to find a place in the cinema, playing in films like “Capricorn One” or the “Is there a cop…” trilogy, as well as on television, whether in series or advertising spots.
Acquitted at trial
For OJ Simpson, everything changed on June 12, 1994. That day, his ex-wife Nicole Brown was discovered dead in Los Angeles in a pool of blood. Ronald Goldman, a friend of Nicole Brown, was also brutally murdered. Promising to go to the police, he finally chose to flee on June 17 in a white Ford Bronco. In front of their televisions, 95 million Americans are following the chase with the police live. NBC even decided to interrupt the broadcast of the NBA finals to cover the event, which ended with Simpson’s arrest.
For nine months, the OJ Simpson trial, during which twists and turns followed one another, captivated the United States. The verdict constitutes the ultimate turnaround: he is finally acquitted. Three years later, this criminal acquittal did not prevent him from being found responsible for the deaths of Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman during a civil trial. He is ordered to pay more than $33 million to their families, something he will never do.
