O.J. Simpson: Football icon to actor dies at 76 after cancer battle
Before O.J. Simpson stood in court as a defendant accused of the murders of his wife and her friend, he was a respected athlete and actor. On April 10, news spread globally that the 76-year-old had died. The cause of death of the former American football star, whose trial captivated the whole of America, has been disclosed.
Before his court battle, Orenthal James Simpson shone in the National Football League (NFL), playing for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers. Despite a decade-long career in the league, he never clinched the Super Bowl title. After retiring from sports, he carved out a successful career as a commentator on the game.
Leveraging his fame, Simpson ventured into acting. Even during his football career, he appeared in "The Towering Inferno" alongside Steve McQueen. His most notable role was in the comedy series Naked Gun, where he played the somewhat oblivious detective Nordberg.
O.J. Simpson once again became the subject of nationwide conversation when he was accused of murdering his 35-year-old wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman in Los Angeles. The high-profile trial of Simpson, which lasted for 11 months, concluded with the actor's acquittal by the jury, sparking widespread controversy.
O.J. Simpson has died at age 76, cause of death revealed
On March 10, it was widely reported that the former American football star had passed away at the age of 76. His death followed reports of his supposed health issues. Simpson's family announced his passing in X.
"On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, passed away after a battle with cancer. His children and grandchildren surrounded him. During this tough time, we request privacy," they stated.
Michael Lavergne, Simpson's lawyer, confirmed to "E!" magazine that O.J. had died following a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. In a surprising twist, just months before his death, Simpson rebuffed speculations about his deteriorating health, including rumours he was in hospice care. - "Hospice? Hospice? Talking about me being in hospice? No, I'm not in any hospice. I don't know where that's coming from," he asserted in a video aired in February on X.
