O.J. Simpson, born Orenthal James Simpson on July 9, 1947, is a former NFL football star, actor, broadcaster and convicted armed robber and kidnapper.
He is best known for being acquitted of the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in a highly publicized criminal trial in 1995, often referred to as the Trial of the Century.
However, he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil trial in 1996 and ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to the victims’ families.
Simpson’s football career began as a two-time All-American halfback for the USC Trojans, where he set NCAA records and won the Heisman Trophy in 1968.
He then joined the professional Buffalo Bills in 1969 and became one of the greatest running backs of all time, earning the nickname The Juice.
Simpson topped 1,000 yards rushing over five consecutive years (1972-1976) and led the National Football League in rushing four times during that span.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Background
Simpson’s parents were Eunice Durden, a hospital administrator, and Jimmy Lee Simpson, a chef and bank custodian.
Simpson’s maternal grandparents were from Louisiana.
He has one brother, Melvin Leon Truman Simpson, and two sisters, Shirley Simpson-Baker and Carmelita Simpson-Durio.
Simpson’s childhood was marked by health issues and early involvement in gangs.
At the age of two, he contracted rickets, which left him pigeon-toed and bow-legged.
He had to wear a pair of shoes connected by an iron bar for a few hours almost every day until he was 5 years old.
Simpson joined a gang called the Persian Warriors at the age of 13, and one fight landed him at the San Francisco Youth Guidance Center for nearly a week in 1962.
Simpson’s football career began in high school, where he played for the Galileo Lions.
He later attended City College of San Francisco, where he played both offense (running back) and defense (defensive back) and was named to the Junior College All-American team as a running back.
Simpson then earned an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC), where he played in 1967 and 1968, setting NCAA records and winning the Heisman Trophy in 1968.
Simpson’s professional football career was spent primarily with the Buffalo Bills, though he finished his career with the San Francisco 49ers in 1979.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Cause of death
Simpson, died on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76 after a battle with prostate cancer.
He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
The family’s post on Simpson’s official X account read, “On April 10th, our beloved father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. We ask for privacy during this difficult time as we mourn the loss of our father”.
Prostate cancer is a type of cancer that originates in the prostate gland, which is a part of the male reproductive system.
It occurs when abnormal cells in the prostate begin to divide and grow uncontrollably.
The prostate gland is located below the bladder and in front of the rectum, about the size of a walnut, and surrounds the urethra.
This gland produces fluid that is part of s*men.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, excluding skin cancer, and is the second most common cancer among men worldwide.
Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, ethnicity (with Black men at higher risk), family history of prostate or breast cancer, and being overweight.
Symptoms of prostate cancer may not be present in the early stages, but can include trouble urinating, blood in urine or s*men, bone pain, weight loss and fevers.
Diagnosis involves physical exams like the digital rectal exam and blood tests for prostate-specific antigen (PSA).
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Prostate cancer is highly treatable, especially when detected early, and most men diagnosed with it live normal lives without needing treatment.
College career
Simpson attended the University of Southern California (USC) from 1967 to 1969.
He was a standout athlete from a young age, excelling in both football and track during his high school years.
In 1967, Simpson enrolled at USC, where he played football as a running back for the USC Trojans.
His exceptional talent and athleticism quickly made him a star player.
During his time at USC, Simpson achieved remarkable success as a college football player.
He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football, after rushing for 1,880 yards and 23 touchdowns that season.
His performances on the field earned him national recognition and solidified his status as one of the greatest college football players of his time.
Simpson’s college years at USC were instrumental in shaping his future as a football star.
His time at USC not only allowed him to showcase his exceptional athletic abilities but also set the stage for his subsequent professional football career.
After completing his college education, Simpson went on to have a highly successful professional football career in the NFL.
He was drafted by the Buffalo Bills as the first overall pick in the 1969 NFL Draft and went on to have a remarkable career in the league.
Despite his celebrated football career, Simpson later became embroiled in legal controversies, most notably the infamous murder trial in 1995, where he was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
The trial and its aftermath significantly overshadowed his earlier achievements in football and continue to be a significant part of his legacy.
NBA career
Simpson 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.
He was a two-time unanimous All-American from the University of Southern California and the 1968 Heisman Trophy winner.
Simpson was selected first overall by the Bills in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft and 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, he pursued an acting and broadcasting career.
Simpson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.
Acting career
Simpson was a renowned football player who had a significant acting career alongside his sports career.
He was not a trained method actor, and he did not take his acting career as seriously as his sports career.
However, Simpson had a noticeable presence in Hollywood, featuring in films like The Towering Inferno and The Cassandra Crossing.
He also played the lead role in the Naked Gun movie series and appeared in various commercials, showcasing his charismatic personality and versatility as an actor.
Simpson’s acting career was an essential aspect of his public persona, which included his athletic achievements, business ventures, and personal life.
Murder trial
Simpson murder trial was a highly publicized criminal trial in the United States that took place from January 24, 1995, to October 3, 1995.
The trial involved Simpson, who was accused of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, on June 12, 1994.
The trial was held in Los Angeles, California, and was presided over by Judge Lance Ito.
The trial was notable for its high-profile defense team, known as the Dream Team, which included attorneys such as Robert Shapiro, Alan Dershowitz and Robert Kardashian.
The defense team argued that evidence had been mishandled and that racism within the Los Angeles police department, particularly among detective Mark Fuhrman, had influenced the investigation.
The defense also argued that the bloody leather glove found at Simpson’s residence could not have been his due to its size.
The prosecution, led by Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden, focused on the domestic violence that had transpired before and after the Simpsons’ 1992 divorce as a potential motive for the murders.
The prosecution presented evidence such as Simpson’s history of domestic abuse and testimony from witnesses who had seen Simpson acting erratically on the day of the murders.
The trial captivated the nation, with cable television networks dedicating extensive coverage to the case and public opinion divided largely along racial lines.
The jury reached a verdict in less than four hours, and on October 3, 1995, Simpson was found not guilty of the murders of Nicole and Ronald
Despite his acquittal in the criminal trial, Simpson was later found liable for the deaths of Nicole and Ronald in a civil trial in 1996 and was ordered to pay $33.5 million in damages to the victims’ families.
Robbery and kidnapping conviction
Simpson was convicted of robbery and kidnapping on October 4, 2008, in Las Vegas.
The charges stemmed from an incident that took place at the Palace Station hotel and casino on September 13, 2007, where Simpson and five associates allegedly took possession of over 300 items of sports memorabilia from two sports memorabilia dealers, Bruce Fromong and Alfred Beardsley.
The confrontation occurred in a hotel room, where Simpson and his group had entered under the impression of meeting a potential buyer for the merchandise.
Instead, they took possession of the items, with at least one firearm being displayed according to witnesses.
Simpson and his co-defendant, Clarence Stewart, were charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy to commit a crime, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, first-degree kidnapping with use of a deadly weapon, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon and coercion with a deadly weapon.
The kidnapping charges were due to Simpson’s order to not allow anybody to leave the room during the confrontation.
Simpson was found guilty on all 12 counts, leading to a potential prison sentence of 15 years to life for the kidnapping charge.
He remained emotionless during the verdict and was taken into custody and led away in handcuffs. Sentencing was scheduled for December 5.
Despite the conviction, Simpson’s legal team, led by Yale Galanter, announced their intention to appeal the decision.