OJ Simpson had a record-breaking NFL career and Hollywood dreams before he was accused of and later acquitted in the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in a court trial that captivated the nation.
OJ Simpson, born as Orenthal James Simpson, was a star football player at the University of Southern California. Bettmann Archive Simpson married his first wife, Marguerite Whitley, on June 24,1967, and the pair went on to welcome two children, daughter Arnelle and son Jason. Michael Ochs Archives Simpson was chosen as the No. 1 overall pick in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft by the Buffalo Bills. Getty Images Simpson went on to become a star running back for the Buffalo Bills. Focus on Sport via Getty Images By the end of his football career, Simpson was named to the NFL All-Decade Team of the 1970s and the NFL 100 All-Time Team. Getty Images Despite his success on the field, Simpson and Whitley filed for divorced in 1979. Bettmann Archive After 10 years in the NFL, Simpson switched his career into acting and sports broadcasting. Getty Images Simpson worked on films such as “The Klansman” in 1974, with Lola Falana and Richard Burton. Pierluigi/Shutterstock OJ starred alongside Leslie Nielsen in “The Naked Gun” (1988). Moviestore/Shutterstock Simpson starred in the thriller/sci-fi movie, “Capricorn One,” with Sam Waterston and James Brolin. Moviestore/Shutterstock Simpson met Nicole Brown in 1977, while she was still working as a waitress in Beverly Hills. The pair married in February 1985. Getty Images Simpson also acted in the 1979 film, “Firepower”. ITV/Shutterstock Simpson co-starred besides George Kennedy, Leslie Nielsen, and Susan Beaubian in “The Naked Gun” in 1988. Moviestore/Shutterstock Simpson is pictured with party guests on October 6, 1988 at Lagoons in Kauai, Hawaii. Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images American football player and actor O J Simpson holding hands with his children Justin and Sydney at the funeral of their mother, and his ex-wife, Nicole Simpson Brown following her murder, Los Angeles, June 16th 1994. Getty Images Brown and Simpson welcomed two children together, son Justin Simpson and daughter Sydney Simpson, before splitting up in October 1992. DMI/The LIFE Picture Collection/Shutterstock In 1994, two years after their divorce, Simpson was accused of murdering Nicole Brown and her friend, Ron Goldman, after they were both found with stab wounds outside her Brentwood home. Bei/Shutterstock Simpson was seen with his children Justin and Sydney at Nicole Brown’s June 16, 1994 funeral. Getty Images O.J. Simpson was trailed by Los Angeles police cars in a high speed chase on a Southern California freeway in Los Angeles on June 17, 1994 after being charged with two counts of murder. Los Angeles Times via Getty Images The Simpson murder trial was one of the most viewed court trials in American history. ABACA/Shutterstock On Oct. 3, 1995, Simpson was found not guilty in the death of Nicole Brown and her friend Ron Goldman. AP In Sept. 2007, Simpson was arrested and held without bail for robbery of sports memorabilia that he claimed was his and had been stolen. Shutterstock On Dec 5, 2008, Simpson was sentenced on 12 charges, including felony kidnapping and armed robbery related to the 2007 confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas. Isaac Brekken/UPI/Shutterstock On July 20, 2017, Simpson was granted parole at Lovelock Correctional Center after serving 9 years for the 2007 conviction. Jason Bean/UPI/Shutterstock Simpson died on April 11, 2024 after battling with prostate cancer. @TheRealOJ32 / X O.J. Simpson and Guests during Kauai Party – October 6, 1988 at Lagoons in Kauai, Hawaii, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images) Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images 
