Former NFL star and actor OJ Simpson dies at 76

Published: 11 April 2024 at 17:15

American Football

OJ Simpson, the former American football star and Hollywood actor, passed away at the age of 76 after battling cancer. Simpson was famously acquitted of the double murder of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman in a criminal trial but was later found responsible in a civil lawsuit. He served nine years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping. Simpson's career achievements include being inducted into the NFL's hall of fame and being the first running back to reach 2,000 yards in a season in 1973. His death elicited mixed reactions from the public.

DEEP DIVE

O. J. Simpson (Wikipedia)

Orenthal James Simpson (July 9, 1947 – April 10, 2024) was an American football player, actor, and broadcaster. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons, primarily with the Buffalo Bills, and is regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time. Once a popular figure with the American public, Simpson's professional success was later overshadowed by his trial and controversial acquittal for the murders of his former wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.Simpson played college football for the USC Trojans, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior, and was selected first overall by the Bills in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. During his nine seasons with the Bills, Simpson received five consecutive Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections from 1972 to 1976. He also led the league in rushing yards four times, in rushing touchdowns twice, and in points scored in 1975. In 1973, he became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season, earning him NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP), and is the only NFL player to do so in a 14-game regular season. Simpson holds the record for the single-season yards-per-game average at 143.1. After retiring with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979, Simpson pursued an acting and broadcasting career. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.In June 1994, Simpson was arrested and charged with the murders of Brown and 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. Prior to his death, Simpson had paid little of the $33.5 million judgment (equivalent to $64 million in 2023).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 in rural Nevada. He was granted parole in July 2017, released from prison in October, and granted early release from his parole in December 2021 by the Nevada Division of Parole and Probation. He died from prostate cancer on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76.

O.J. Simpson's Death and the Impact of His Infamous Murder Trial on Internet Culture

O.J. Simpson, infamous for the 1994 murder trial of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and friend Ron Goldman, died at 76. Simpson's trial in the mid-1990s captivated the world, leading to his acquittal but subsequent civil liability. The internet's early portrayal of the trial, notably on CNN's archival page, reflects its significance at the time, serving as an online database for trial information and key figures. This event influenced internet culture and inspired durable web pages, akin to the enduring appeal of the original Space Jam site.

The O.J. Simpson Case: A Detailed Look at the Trial of the Century

In the infamous 1994 double murder trial of O.J. Simpson for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, Simpson was found not guilty in a highly-watched trial that divided opinions in America. The trial, which attracted millions of viewers, introduced DNA evidence to the public and sparked discussions about race, privilege, and justice systems. Simpson's acquittal had a significant impact on media, celebrity culture, and legal practices, making it a defining moment in American history.

The Infamous O.J. Simpson Car Chase: A 90-Minute Police Pursuit that Gripped America in 1994

In 1994, O.J. Simpson, suspected of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman, led the LAPD on a 90-minute low-speed car chase in a white Ford Bronco driven by his friend Al Cowlings. The pursuit on the 405 freeway in Los Angeles was watched by Americans on TV, with crowds cheering O.J. as he huddled in the back seat with a gun to his head. Ultimately, O.J. surrendered, was arrested, and later acquitted in the criminal case, making headlines worldwide.

Recalling OJ Simpson's Notorious 1994 Car Chase

In June 1994, OJ Simpson sparked a nationally televised pursuit in a white Ford Bronco after being named the main suspect in his ex-wife's murder, leading to a dramatic standoff outside his home despite being later acquitted in 1995.

Ron Goldman (Wikipedia)

Ronald Lyle Goldman (July 2, 1968 – June 12, 1994) was an American restaurant waiter and a friend of Nicole Brown Simpson, the ex-wife of the American football player O. J. Simpson. He was murdered, along with Brown, at her home in Los Angeles, California, on June 12, 1994. Simpson was acquitted of their killings in 1995 but found liable for both deaths in a 1997 civil lawsuit.

Nicole Brown Simpson (Wikipedia)

Nicole Brown Simpson (née Brown; May 19, 1959 – June 12, 1994) was the ex-wife of the professional American football player O. J. Simpson, to whom she was married from 1985 to 1992.Two years after her divorce from Simpson, Brown was stabbed to death at her Los Angeles home, on June 12, 1994, along with her friend, waiter Ron Goldman. Following a controversial and highly publicized criminal trial Simpson was acquitted of all charges. He was later found liable for both deaths in a civil lawsuit in 1997.

Murder trial of O. J. Simpson (Wikipedia)

The People of the State of California v. Orenthal James Simpson was a criminal trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court starting in 1994, in which O. J. Simpson, a former National Football League (NFL) player, broadcaster and actor, was tried and acquitted for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman. The pair were stabbed to death outside Brown's condominium in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on the night of June 12, 1994. The trial spanned eleven months, from November 9, 1994, to October 3, 1995.Opening statements were made on January 24, 1995. Though prosecutors argued that Simpson was implicated by a significant amount of forensic evidence, Simpson was ultimately acquitted of both counts of murder on October 3 of the same year. Commentators agree that the defense capitalized on anger among the city's African-American community toward the LAPD, which had a history of racial bias, to convince the majority-Black jury to acquit Simpson. The trial is often characterized as the trial of the century because of its international publicity, and has been described as the "most publicized" criminal trial in human history.Following questioning by police detectives, Simpson was formally charged with the murders on June 17 after investigators found a blood-stained glove on his property. When he did not turn himself in at the agreed time, he became the subject of a low-speed police pursuit while riding in a white 1993 Ford Bronco SUV owned and driven by his friend Al Cowlings. TV stations interrupted coverage of the 1994 NBA Finals to broadcast live coverage of the pursuit, which was watched by an estimated 95 million people. The pursuit and Simpson's arrest later on the same day were among the most widely publicized events in American history.Simpson was represented by a high-profile defense team, referred to as the "Dream Team", which was initially led by Robert Shapiro and subsequently directed by Johnnie Cochran. The team also included F. Lee Bailey, Alan Dershowitz, Robert Kardashian, Shawn Holley, Carl E. Douglas, and Gerald Uelmen. Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld were two additional attorneys who specialized in DNA evidence. While Deputy District Attorneys Marcia Clark, William Hodgman, and Christopher Darden believed they had a strong case against Simpson, Cochran and the defense team persuaded the jury that there was reasonable doubt concerning the DNA evidence in this case. They contended that the blood sample had been mishandled by lab scientists and technicians and that the case against Simpson had been tainted by LAPD misconduct related to racism and incompetence, in particular noting actions and comments of Detective Mark Fuhrman. Using DNA evidence in trials was still new, and many people did not understand how to evaluate it.The trial was considered historically significant for the wide division in reaction to the verdict by the public. Observers' opinions of the verdict were largely related to their ethnicity; the media dubbed this the "racial gap". A poll of Los Angeles County residents showed that most African Americans thought that the "not guilty" verdict was justified, while the majority of whites thought it was a racially motivated jury nullification by the mostly African-American jury. More recent polling shows this "gap" has narrowed since the trial. In 2013, more than half of polled black respondents said that they believed Simpson was guilty. In 2017 on an episode of The Jury Speaks, three of the jurors who acquitted Simpson said that in retrospect they would still vote to acquit. One said he would vote to convict.After the trial, Goldman's father filed a civil suit against Simpson. On February 4, 1997, the jury unanimously found Simpson responsible for the deaths of both Goldman and Brown. The Goldman family was awarded compensatory and punitive damages totaling $33.5 million ($63.6 million in 2023 dollars), but have received only a small portion of that figure. In 2000, Simpson left California for Florida, one of the few states where personal assets such as homes and pensions cannot be seized to cover liabilities that were incurred in other states.

Caitlyn Jenner Reacts to OJ Simpson's Death with 'Good Riddance' Tweet

Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, expressed her feelings on OJ Simpson's passing at 76 by tweeting 'Good Riddance.' The history between Jenner, Simpson, and the Kardashians dates back to OJ's high-profile murder trial involving Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman in 1994. Despite being acquitted of the murders, Simpson was later found civilly liable for Nicole's death. Jenner had previously criticized Simpson in her autobiography, calling him narcissistic and egocentric. This incident adds another layer to the complex relationship between the individuals involved.

O. J. Simpson robbery case (Wikipedia)

State of Nevada v. Orenthal James Simpson, et al, Case Number: 07C237890-4. was a criminal case prosecuted in 2007–2008 in the U.S. state of Nevada, primarily involving the retired American football player O. J. Simpson.On the night of September 13, 2007, a group of men led by Simpson entered a room in the Palace Station hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bruce Fromong, a sports memorabilia dealer, testified that the group broke into his hotel room and stole memorabilia at gunpoint. Three days later, on September 16, 2007, Simpson was arrested and initially held without bail. He admitted taking the items, which he said had been stolen from him, but denied breaking into the room. Simpson also denied the allegation that he or the people with him carried weapons. Bail was later set at $125,000.On October 3, 2008—exactly 13 years after he was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman—Simpson was found guilty of all 12 charges. Right after the verdict was read, Simpson, who had been free on bail prior to this point, was handcuffed and remanded to the Clark County detention center without bail, pending sentencing. On December 5, 2008, Simpson was sentenced to 33 years in prison with eligibility for parole in nine years (in October 2017). On July 20, 2017, Simpson was granted parole, and was freed three months later. In December 2021, he was granted early discharge from parole.

"The View" Co-Hosts React to OJ Simpson's Death and Discuss Injustice of His Murder Trial Verdict

"The View" co-hosts discussed OJ Simpson's death, expressing a sense of injustice over his acquittal in the murder trial. They reminisced about the trial, mentioning key figures like Chris Darden, Marcia Clark, and Johnnie Cochran. Hostin highlighted becoming a prosecutor due to the trial's impact. Behar drew parallels between Simpson's case and Trump's civil liability. The conversation touched on Simpson's post-trial life and Behar's determination to seek justice. The discussion linked Simpson's case to broader themes of justice and accountability.

The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson (Wikipedia)

The Murder of Nicole Brown Simpson is a 2019 American crime thriller film directed by Daniel Farrands. The film is loosely based on the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson, presenting a version of events in which Brown Simpson is murdered by serial killer Glen Edward Rogers, and not by O. J. Simpson, her ex-husband and the primary suspect in the case. Though Mena Suvari's performance as Nicole Brown was praised, the film was panned by critics.

The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (Wikipedia)

The first season of American Crime Story, titled The People v. O. J. Simpson, revolves around the O. J. Simpson murder case, as well as the combination of prosecution confidence, defense witnesses, and the Los Angeles Police Department's history with African-American people. It is based on Jeffrey Toobin's book The Run of His Life: The People v. O. J. Simpson (1997).The ensemble cast includes Sterling K. Brown, Kenneth Choi, Christian Clemenson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Bruce Greenwood, Nathan Lane, Sarah Paulson, David Schwimmer, John Travolta, and Courtney B. Vance. O.J. Simpson, Nicole Brown Simpson, Bill Clinton, Barbara Walters, and Penny Daniels appear via archive footage.Cable channel FX announced American Crime Story in October 2014 and filming began in May 2015. Broadcast between February 2 and April 5, 2016, the first season was developed by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski. The two served as executive producer alongside Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Nina Jacobson, and Brad Simpson.The People v. O. J. Simpson received critical acclaim for its directing, writing, and casting (particularly Paulson, Vance and Brown). Among its awards, the season won eight Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, three TCA Awards, and four Critics' Choice Television Awards. Paulson won six awards for her portrayal of Marcia Clark.