O.J. Simpson passed away at age 76 on April 10 from prostate cancer. From touchdowns to trials, he leaves behind an unforgettable legacy.
Orenthal James Simpson first made a name for himself as a football star in the ‘60s. He played for the University of Southern California in Los Angeles before moving on to an NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Off the field, Simpson rose to stardom in Hollywood, starring in box office hits like “The Naked Gun” series in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Behind the scenes, the celebrity fathered three children with his first wife Marguerite Whitley, and later remarried Nicole Brown in 1985, raising two more kids. The latter marriage was marked by allegations of spousal abuse and quickly ended in 1992.
On the evening of June 12, 1994, Simpson’s life took a turn when his ex-wife Nicole Brown was murdered alongside Ron Goldman, a 25-year-old restaurant waiter. Simpson was immediately considered a suspect in the killing, leading to an infamous highway police chase on June 17th, 1994, but was found innocent after a long trial that left the American public with many questions.
Later in life, Simpson was charged with several felonies. During his last trial, he was sentenced to 33 years in prison for a botched robbery but was released with parole after only serving 9 years. Though a free man, he often remained a prisoner of his past.
