OJ Simpson dies aged 76, his family has announced
Simpson's family confirmed his death in a post on X, saying he 'succumbed to his battle with cancer', ITV News US Correspondent Dan Rivers reports
Former NFL star OJ Simpson has died at the age of 76, his family has announced.
In a post via his official account on X, formerly known as Twitter, his family said: "On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer.
"He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
"During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace."
Simpson was a running back for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers, before being acquitted of murder in a trial in the mid-1990s and later he served jail time for an armed robbery.
He was acquitted of the murder of his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1995, during a trial which was televised around the United States.
But he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil lawsuit and was ordered to pay £26.7 million to the victims of the families.
The car chase that led to Simpson’s arrest and the subsequent trial were televised live and were media sensations.
During the trial he was represented by reality star Kim Kardashian's father, Robert Kardashian. His case sparked debates on race, gender, domestic abuse, celebrity justice and police misconduct.
The case was later turned into a television series named The People vs. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story, with Cuba Gooding Jr portraying Simpson.
"I don't think most of America believes I did it," Simpson told The New York Times in 1995, a week after he was acquitted.
"I've gotten thousands of letters and telegrams from people supporting me."
Reactions to his death
Well-known people have responded to Simpson's death, following the announcement on Thursday.
The father of Ron Goldman, who the former NFL player was acquitted of killing, said Simpson's death is “no great loss”.
“The only thing I have to say is it’s just further reminder of Ron being gone all these years. It’s no great loss to the world. It’s further reminder of Ron’s being gone,” Mr Goldman's father, Fred, said in an interview with NBC News.
Former Olympian and reality star Caitlyn Jenner was among the celebrities sharing their reaction to Simpson’s death, writing on X, formerly Twitter: “Good riddance #OJSimpson”.
Jenner was previously married to American entrepreneur Kris Jenner whose ex-husband was Robert Kardashian, a member of Simpson’s defence team.
More jail time and then Hollywood
Simpson was later jailed following an armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2007 and served a lengthy sentence before being released in 2017.
He had led five men, two of whom were carrying guns, into a confrontation with two sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room.
After serving nine years in a Nevada prison, Simpson was released an insisted that he was only going to retrieve the memorabilia.
After he retired from the NFL in 1979, an acting career beckoned, with Hollywood moguls beating a well-worn path to his door.
He became one of the TV glory boys as a commentator and then an actor in films.
In his younger years, Simpson was among the supporting cast of 1976 thriller The Cassandra Crossing, making his way from American football star to movie hero.
He got the part after it was turned down by James Coburn.
Simpson also featured in the 1989 comedy film The Naked Gun: From the Files Of Police Squad! – which also starred Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley and George Kennedy.
He revisited his role as a detective sidekick in the Naked Gun follow-ups The Smell Of Fear and The Final Insult.
Simpson also appeared in 1974 drama The Klansman, disaster film The Towering Inferno and starred in his own hidden-camera prank TV show Juiced With OJ Simpson.
He was born in San Francisco, in 1947, where he grew up in government-subsidised housing projects.
Simpson had two sons, Jason and Aaren, with his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, with whom he divorced in 1979 - the same year Aaren drowned as a toddler in a swimming pool accident.
He had two more children, Justin and Sydney, with Brown Simpson during their seven-year marriage.
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know...