Former NFL star O.J. Simpson has died aged 76 after a battle with cancer, his family have announced.
A statement posted on his social media accounts read: "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 had been battling prostate cancer which became public earlier this year. Back in February, he shut down reports he was in a hospice, declaring on social media: “Hey X world, hospice? Hospice? You talking about hospice? No, I’m not in any hospice. I don’t know who put that out there. I guess it’s like Donald [Trump] says, ‘You can’t trust the media.’
“In any event, I’m hosting a tonne of friends for the Super Bowl here in Las Vegas. All is well, you know. So take care, have a good Super Bowl weekend.”
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Simpson was one of the top running backs in NFL history (Getty Images)Simpson was regarded as one of the greatest running backs of all time after spending a decade in the NFL playing for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. He become a household name after being drafted No.1 overall by the Bills in 1969 after playing college football for USC.
He was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player in 1973 and was the league's rushing leader four times with the Bills before spending his final two seasons with the 49ers before retiring after the 1979 season. He still holds numerous NFL records and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1985.
After his football career, Simpson moved into acting. He appeared in various films and TV shows.
However, in 1994, he was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman after they were found stabbed to death outside her Los Angeles home.
Simpson pleaded not guilty and after a high-profile trial dubbed the 'trial of the century' that lasted nearly a year. After a case on live TV which sparked mass debates on race, gender, domestic abuse, celebrity justice and police misconduct, he was acquitted by a jury.
A civil lawsuit from the victims' families found him responsible for wrongful death and battery, ordering him to pay $33.5 million in damages. ButUS laws meant he did not have to pay them back using his pension fund.
In 2008, he was convicted after leading five men into an armed robbery in Las Vegas. He was released in 2017 on parole after being originally sentenced to 33 years in prison.
Speaking at his parole hearing in 2017, he said: "I'm sorry things turned out the way they did. I had no intent to commit a crime."
He added: "I realised in my nine years here that I was a good guy, but I could have been a better Christian. I have lived a conflict-free life."
He added: "I have never had an alcohol problem. I had drinks on that day but I have never had a substance problem at all."
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In his later years, Simpson regularly documented his life on social media with videos both from prison and later after his release. After being released, he started a lavish new life in Las Vegas which was generally lived out of the public eye aside from his social media updates.
Simpson was involved in an infamous car chase before he was acquitted of murdering his ex wife (Getty Images)He lived in a gated community and enjoyed regularly playing golf. In his last post, he was shown wearing a San Francisco 49ers jersey and showing support for his former team ahead of the Super Bowl. However, he fought health struggles in recent years prior to his death.
Last July, he underwent emergency heart surgery. It was reported he had a stent placed in his heart after his health deteriorated as doctors inserted the device to keep his arteries clear.
Simpson had three children from his marriage to Marguerite L. Whitley. Arnelle, Jason and Aaren. However, Aaren tragically drowned in the family's swimming pool when he was just two years old.
He also shared two children with Nicole, Sydney and Justin. Their marriage lasted seven years before their divorce in 1989, and she was murdered in 1994 before Simpson was acquitted of her death.
His later years were spent living in a gated community in Las Vegas (Twitter)
Simpson was a keen golfer after he was released on parole in 2017 (Twitter)Simpson's former manager, Norman Pardo, addressed his worsening health last year. Pardo told RadarOnline.com : “The doctors want him to rest at home because there isn’t much they can do for him.
“Now he can’t even finish a round of golf – I don’t even think he golfs anymore because he can't even finish a half a round of golf two months ago when I was talking to him.”
The Pro Football Hall of Fame issued a statement. It read: "O.J. Simpson, the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in an NFL season, died April 10, 2024, of cancer, according to his family. He was 76. Simpson's diagnosis of prostate cancer was made public about two months ago, and he had received chemotherapy treatment." The statement went on to breakdown his numerous achievements during a historic NFL career.
"O.J. Simpson was the first player to reach a rushing mark many thought could not be attained in a 14-game season when he topped 2,000 yards," said Jim Porter, president of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "His on-field contributions will be preserved in the Hall's archives in Canton, Ohio."
American sports presenter Skip Bayless reacted to news of Simpson's death live on FS1's Undisputed, declaring: "He's the most charismatic athlete I ever knew and that includes Magic Johnson.
"You could make the case he was the greatest running back ever, greatest college running back ever.
"His commercials were legendary. What a personality he was born with. Just electrifying. I don't want people to forget that he was something. In his day he was something. That is not to discount anything that happened after."
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