O.J. Simpson, who gained notoriety during his infamous 1990s murder trial, has died at 76 after a battle with cancer. His family confirmed the news Wednesday in Las Vegas, where Simpson succumbed to prostate cancer.

 

"On April 10, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed in his battle with cancer," the family stated Thursday, requesting privacy during this difficult time.

 

Simpson, a former NFL star turned actor, played professionally for 10 years before transitioning to a career in film. However, his personal life was marked by tragedy and controversy. Following a divorce in 1979, he married Nicole Brown, who accused him of spousal abuse before their 1992 divorce.

 

On June 12, 1994, Brown and her friend Ron Goldman were found stabbed to death outside her Brentwood home, leading to Simpson's arrest for the murders. His subsequent murder trial was a media circus that captivated the nation. Despite overwhelming evidence against him, Simpson was acquitted on October 3, 1995.

 

Though he avoided criminal charges, Simpson was ordered to pay over $33 million to the victims' families in wrongful death and assault civil suits. Simpson's Heisman Trophy, among other items, was auctioned to raise funds, with nearly $500,000 reportedly going to the Goldman family.

 

With information from New York Post.