O.J. Simpson Dead At 76: The Tragic Final Chapter Of 'The Juice' And His Complicated Legacy

The news that Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson has died, confirmed on April 11, 2024, marks the final, complex chapter of one of the most famous and polarizing figures in modern American history. The former NFL superstar, known as "The Juice," who captivated the world with his electrifying football career only to become the central figure in the infamous "Trial of the Century," succumbed to a battle with cancer at the age of 76. His death brings a definitive end to a life that was a dramatic, often tragic, study in the duality of celebrity, legacy, and justice. The family announced that Simpson passed away on April 10, 2024, in his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The cause of death was confirmed as metastatic prostate cancer, a diagnosis he had been quietly battling in his final years. As of today, December 10, 2025, the world continues to grapple with the legacy of a man whose name evokes both the glory of a Pro Football Hall of Fame career and the deep, unsettling divisions of a 1990s murder trial that remains a cultural touchstone.

Orenthal James Simpson: A Full Biographical Profile

O.J. Simpson’s life was a series of stratospheric highs and devastating lows, moving from athletic icon to Hollywood actor, and ultimately to a convicted felon. Here is a detailed look at the man behind the headlines.

• Full Name: Orenthal James Simpson
• Nickname: "The Juice"
• Born: July 9, 1947, in San Francisco, California
• Died: April 10, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada
• Age at Death: 76
• Cause of Death: Metastatic Prostate Cancer
• Education: University of Southern California (USC)
• Spouses: Margueritte L. Whitley (m. 1967; div. 1979), Nicole Brown (m. 1985; div. 1992)
• Children: Arnelle, Jason, Aaren (deceased), Sydney Brooke, Justin Ryan
• NFL Career: Buffalo Bills (1969–1977), San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979)
• Career Highlights: Heisman Trophy (1968), NFL MVP (1973), First player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a 14-game season (2,003 yards in 1973), 5-time First-team All-Pro, Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1985).
• Acting Career: Appeared in films such as The Towering Inferno and the Naked Gun series.
• Legal Events: Acquitted of murder (1995); Found liable in civil suit for wrongful death (1997); Convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping (2008).

The Two-Sided Legacy: From Gridiron Glory to Legal Infamy

The public reaction to O.J. Simpson's death has been as polarized as his life, underscoring the stark contrast between his athletic achievements and his criminal history. For many, the memory of "The Juice" as a transcendent athlete is completely overshadowed by the events of 1994 and beyond.

The Unmatched NFL Career

Before the legal troubles, Simpson was a genuine American hero. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 while at the University of Southern California (USC) and was the first overall pick in the 1969 NFL/AFL Common Draft. Playing primarily for the Buffalo Bills, he became the most dominant running back of his era. His 1973 season was historic, as he became the first player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards—a feat accomplished in a shorter, 14-game season. His induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985 cemented his status as a football legend.

The Trial of the Century and Its Cultural Impact

Simpson’s legacy was irrevocably altered on June 12, 1994, with the brutal murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The subsequent low-speed police chase involving a white Ford Bronco on June 17, 1994, was a television spectacle watched by nearly 95 million people, setting the stage for the "Trial of the Century." The trial, which lasted over nine months, became a cultural and racial flashpoint. Key figures like prosecuting attorneys Marcia Clark and Christopher Darden, alongside the defense's "Dream Team" featuring Johnnie Cochran and Robert Shapiro, became household names. The controversial evidence, including the bloody glove and the testimony of Detective Mark Fuhrman, led to a "Not Guilty" verdict in October 1995, a verdict that sharply divided the nation along racial lines regarding the state of American justice.

O.J. Simpson’s Final Decades: Prison, Parole, and Private Illness

Simpson’s life after the murder trial acquittal continued to be marked by legal and public scrutiny. Though acquitted in the criminal case, he was later found liable for the wrongful death of Ronald Goldman and battery of Nicole Brown Simpson in a 1997 civil lawsuit, ordered to pay $33.5 million to the victims’ families.

The Las Vegas Armed Robbery Conviction

More than a decade after the murder trial, Simpson again found himself on the wrong side of the law. In 2007, he was arrested in Las Vegas after leading a group of men to confront two sports memorabilia dealers in a hotel room. Simpson claimed he was merely trying to recover his own stolen personal items. However, he was convicted in 2008 on multiple felony charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping. He was sentenced to 33 years in prison. Simpson served nine years at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada before being granted parole in 2017. His release on October 1, 2017, again put him back in the national spotlight. He spent his final years living in relative obscurity in Las Vegas, often using social media to comment on sports and current events.

The Private Battle with Cancer

In the years leading up to his death, O.J. Simpson’s health deteriorated. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer, which eventually became metastatic. While he occasionally addressed rumors about his health on social media, he generally kept the severity of his condition private. His death from the illness on April 10, 2024, was a quiet end to a life that had been anything but. The immediate reaction from the public and media has been a reflection on the man’s entire, turbulent journey. Many commentators noted that despite his incredible athletic achievements, O.J. Simpson will ultimately be remembered not as a football star, but as the central, controversial figure in a case that exposed deep societal fault lines. His passing closes the book on one of the most compelling and tragic figures of the late 20th century.