The Final Score: What Really Caused O.J. Simpson's Death And His Lasting, Complicated Legacy

The death of Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson on April 10, 2024, at the age of 76, immediately reignited a national conversation about one of the most polarizing figures in American history. His passing, confirmed by his family and lawyer, officially closed the final chapter on a life defined by unparalleled athletic triumph, Hollywood fame, and a subsequent, globally televised criminal trial that forever changed the landscape of media and justice.

The former football star’s death came after a private battle with a serious illness, leading to intense speculation about his final days and the true cause of his passing. The official confirmation provided a definitive answer to the public’s curiosity, but it also underscored the complex, often contradictory nature of his legacy.

O.J. Simpson: A Life of Unprecedented Highs and Lows

The story of O.J. Simpson is a dramatic narrative arc unparalleled in modern American culture. Before his legal troubles, he was a cultural icon known simply as "The Juice."

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O.J. Simpson Biography and Profile

• Full Name: Orenthal James Simpson
• Nickname: The Juice
• Date of Birth: July 9, 1947
• Date of Death: April 10, 2024
• Age at Death: 76
• Place of Birth: San Francisco, California
• Place of Death: Las Vegas, Nevada
• Cause of Death: Metastatic Prostate Cancer
• Education: University of Southern California (USC)
• NFL Career: Running Back for the Buffalo Bills (1969–1977) and San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979)
• Awards/Honors: Heisman Trophy Winner (1968), NFL MVP (1973), Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee (1985)
• Post-Football Career: Actor, sports commentator, and pitchman (Hertz Rent-a-Car)
• Major Legal Events: Acquitted in the 1995 murder trial of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman; Convicted in 2008 for armed robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas.

Simpson’s early career was marked by phenomenal success at the University of Southern California, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1968. He went on to a record-setting NFL career with the Buffalo Bills, becoming the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a 14-game season in 1973. His celebrity transcended sports, leading to roles in movies like The Naked Gun series and lucrative endorsement deals.

The Confirmed Cause of Death: Metastatic Prostate Cancer

The immediate aftermath of Simpson’s death announcement on April 10, 2024, focused heavily on the cause. His family and longtime attorney, Malcolm LaVergne, confirmed that O.J. Simpson died from a battle with metastatic prostate cancer.

Simpson had been privately dealing with the cancer diagnosis for some time, with reports indicating he was first diagnosed the previous year. Metastatic prostate cancer is an advanced stage of the disease where the cancer has spread from the prostate gland to other parts of the body, often the bones or lymph nodes. The disease is generally considered incurable at this stage, though treatments can manage symptoms and prolong life.

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His attorney confirmed that Simpson passed away at his home in Las Vegas, Nevada, surrounded by his children and grandchildren. The former football star’s remains were later cremated, with his attorney confirming the cremation occurred shortly after his death. This quiet, private end stood in stark contrast to the highly publicized life he had lived.

O.J. Simpson's Final Years and Health Battle

In his final years, Simpson had been living a relatively low-profile life in Las Vegas following his release from prison in 2017. He had served nine years for an armed robbery and kidnapping conviction stemming from a 2007 incident at a Las Vegas hotel, a separate legal drama from his infamous 1995 murder trial.

Reports leading up to his death indicated his health was failing, though the family kept the specific details of his cancer private. His last public communications often came through his social media accounts, where he would occasionally post short videos discussing sports and current events, projecting an image of normalcy despite his serious health condition. These posts ceased shortly before his death.

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The Enduring Controversy: The Murder Trial Legacy

No discussion of O.J. Simpson’s life, even in death, can be separated from the 1995 "Trial of the Century." The trial, where he was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, remains one of the most significant and divisive events in modern American history.

The verdict, which polarized the nation along racial lines, created a duality to his public identity: the celebrated Hall of Famer versus the accused murderer. This intense public scrutiny and the unresolved nature of the case for many Americans ensured that his name remained a cultural flashpoint for decades.

The Goldman and Brown families continued to pursue justice through the civil court system. In 1997, a civil jury found Simpson liable for the wrongful deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman, ordering him to pay $33.5 million in damages. This civil judgment, which he largely avoided paying, served as a constant reminder of the legal and moral shadow cast over his later life.

The Complex Reaction to His Passing

The news of Simpson's death brought a wave of reactions that reflected his complicated legacy. While his family mourned the loss of a father and grandfather, the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman released statements that underscored their continued pain and the closure that the civil verdict had provided them, even as the criminal acquittal remained a source of controversy.

His death, therefore, is not merely the end of a life, but the final punctuation mark on a cultural phenomenon that involved race, celebrity, wealth, and the American justice system. It marks the end of "The Juice," but not the end of the debate surrounding the man who went from gridiron glory to the center of the century's most infamous trial.

The official cause of death—metastatic prostate cancer—provides a clear medical explanation for his passing, yet the narrative of his life will forever be intertwined with the unresolved questions and the profound cultural impact of his most controversial years.