OJ Simpson dead at 76: Infamous ex-NFL star acquitted of killing ex-wife & her friend in 90s dies after cancer diagnosis

OJ Simpson, the infamous ex-NFL star who was acquitted of killing his ex-wife and her friend in 1994, has died at age 76.

Simpson died on Wednesday following a battle with cancer, his family announced.

Reuters

OJ Simpson, who was infamously acquitted of the double murders of his ex-wife and her friend in the internationally covered 1994 trial, has died[/caption]

BackGrid

News about OJ Simpson’s cancer diagnosis was reported in February[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Simpson served 11 years in prison after being convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping charges in Las Vegas in 2008[/caption]

The family said he was surrounded by his children and grandchildren in Las Vegas when he died.

OJ Simpson was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February.

At the time, the once-prominent NFL star brushed off rumors of being in hospice care in an X, formerly Twitter, post.

“Hospice?! Hospice?! You talking about Hospice?” Simpson said at the time, imitating NBA legend Allen Iverson’s iconic practice rant.

“No, I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who put that out there, but whoever put that out there, I guess, it’s like the Donald said, ‘You can’t trust the media.’

“All is well,” Simpson added.

In the months leading up to his death, Simpson’s health issues became apparent as he was pictured by the Daily Mail in November 2023 looking frail and limping.

Then, in January, Simpson was pictured using a cane during an outing.

• OJ Simpson dead at 76
• Died ‘surrounded by children and grandchildren’
• Claimed to be ‘in good health’ in video weeks before death
• Looked frail in final photos
• How trial ‘tore apart’ Kardashian family

1994 DOUBLE MURDER

Simpson’s accolades on the football field were tarnished after he was arrested for the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, waiter Ron Goldman.

On June 12, 1994, Nicole and Goldman were found stabbed to death outside of her condo in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Goldman and Brown were found with multiple stab wounds to the head, neck, and body.

Investigators believe Brown fought for her life as she suffered defensive wounds on her hands.

Among the trail of evidence found at the scene was a single bloodied black glove.

Detectives went to Simpson’s home to inform him about his ex-wife’s murder and found blood splatters on a white Ford Bronco parked in the driveway.

A second black glove was then found on the athlete’s property, which was later linked to the one authorities found at the murder scene.

After the jarring evidence was uncovered, police ordered Simpson to surrender, but instead of turning himself in, Simpson fled in another Bronco, which was driven by his friend, Al Cowlings.

Getty

OJ Simpson was named the prime suspect in his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman’s murders in June 1994[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Police found a trail of blood in the entryway of Nicole Brown Simpson’s home in Los Angeles[/caption]

BRONCO CHASE

In a 2 pm news conference, the Los Angeles Police Department declared that Simpson was a fugitive after failing to turn himself in.

The move sparked one of the most iconic television broadcasts in American history.

A massive pursuit ensued as over 20 police cruisers chased Simpson through city streets and highways spanning 60 miles in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

The moment was broadcast on every major news outlet in America and was watched by nearly 95 million viewers, making it the highest-rated basic cable event of that year.

Authorities completely stopped traffic from Disneyland to Los Angeles, as commuters stopped in their tracks to cheer Simpson on, with some even holding signs that read, “Go OJ!”

TV news choppers broadcast the entire two-hour chase, which stretched throughout Orange County and eventually ended at Simpson’s home in Brentwood.

When Simpson entered his home, police allowed him to call his mom before he was ultimately arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

‘TRIAL OF THE CENTURY’

Simpson’s double murder trial began on January 24, 1995, and was dominated by media coverage until the verdict’s end.

Dozens of news outlets and reporters descended into Los Angeles to cover the trial of the beloved star athlete turned accused criminal.

The trial, which was broadcast live around the world on major news channels, was eventually dubbed the “trial of the century.”

OJ Simpson assembled a legal powerhouse for his defense that consisted of lawyers Robert Blasier, Shawn Chapman Holley, Robert Shapiro, Alan Dershowitz, Robert Kardashian, and lead attorney Johnnie Cochran.

Getty

OJ Simpson was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder[/caption]

THE JUICE

A decorated athlete on the football field, Simpson became the University of Southern California’s second Heisman Trophy winner in 1968.

In his two seasons with USC, Simpson was twice a unanimous All-American.

Viewed as the most coveted player in college football, Simpson declared for the NFL Draft in 1969 and was selected first overall by the Buffalo Bills.

It didn’t take long for the star running back, born Orenthal James Simpson, to establish himself as a powerhouse in the pros, winning league MVP honors in 1973.

He earned the nickname The Juice and is often regarded as one of the all-time great running backs on the gridiron.

Despite his individual play and accolades, the Bills never reached a Super Bowl and only made the postseason once during Simpson’s time with the team.

The Bills traded their star running back to his hometown, San Francisco 49ers, before the start of the 1978 season.

Simpson played two seasons with the 49ers before retiring in December 1979.

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