OJ Simpson died of prostate at age 76 cancer on Wednesday, April 10 – nearly 30 years after the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.
The former footballer was surrounded by his children and grandchildren when he died – 29 years after he was famously acquitted of the murders following ‘the trial of the century’.
Before the scandal, Simpson was hailed as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history before turning to acting.
He embarked on a short-lived film career in which he starred in blockbusters such as The Naked Gun and No Place To Hide, but this new career path would end abruptly after he was arrested for the 1994 murders.
As Simpson’s death shocks the world, DailyMail.com looks back at his short film career…
OJ Simpson died of prostate cancer on Wednesday, April 10 at the age of 76 – almost 30 years after the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman (pictured with Brown and their children Justin and Sydney in 1994)
Before the scandal, Simpson was hailed as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history before turning to acting. During his short-lived film career, he starred in blockbusters including The Naked Gun (portrayed as Det. Nordberg in the franchise alongside Leslie Nielsen)
OJ was acquitted of Nicole and Ron’s murders in 1994 after his double murder trial, which was watched by millions; seen in 1995 during his trial
OJ’s acting career actually started before he played in the NFL, and continued throughout. He played for the Buffalo Bills from 1969 to 1977 and for the San Francisco 49s from 1977 to 1978.
Prior to his pro career, OJ played at the college level – playing for the City College of San Francisco team in 1965 and during his time at the University of Southern California. He won the Heisman Trophy in 1968.
He started his career in 1968 in an uncredited role in Dragnet 1967 – as a potential recruit; he had three uncredited roles that same year in It Takes a Thief – as an airline passenger – and in Ironside – as a spectator – and in The Name of the Game as a prison guard in the gas chamber.
At the time he was in school at USC.
OJ had an uncredited role in Death of a Gunfighter in 1969, and later that year had his first credited role in Medical Center, a TV series.
He appeared in the episode while he was still negotiating his contract for the Buffalo Bills.
OJ appeared in a number of films and TV shows in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including: The Dream of Hamish Mose in 1969, Cade’s County in 1972, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law in 1973, Here’s Lucy in 1973, Why in 1973 , The Klansman in 1974 and The Towering Inferno in 1974.
He starred in the 1977 film Capricorn One and in Roots, a TV miniseries that aired the same year (featured in the film Capricorn in a film still released in 1978).
OJ most famously starred in The Naked Gun franchise – appearing in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad in 1988, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear in 1991 and then Naked Gun 33 1/ 3: The Final Insult in 1994; seen with his co-star Leslie Nielson from the first film
He also starred in the 1977 film Capricorn One and in Roots, a TV miniseries that aired the same year.
The athlete also appeared in a number of TV movies, including Detour to Terror in 1980, Goldie and the Boxer Go to Hollywood in 1981 and Cocaine and Blue Eyes in 1983.
OJ most famously starred in The Naked Gun franchise – appearing in The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad in 1988, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear in 1991 and then Naked Gun 33 1/ 3: The Final Insult in 1994.
He co-starred with Leslie Nielson in all three films, as well as Priscilla Presley, who played Jane Spencer.
OJ played Det. Nordberg and Leslie starred as Lieutenant Frank Drebin.
He appeared in one episode of In the Heat of the Night in 1989, 67 episodes of 1St and Ten, a TV series that aired from 1986 to 1991.
He played the character TD Parker.
OJ played the role of Allie Wheeler in the 1992 project No Place To Hide, and John ‘Bulldog’ Frogman in Frogmen, a TV movie that aired in 1994.
He appeared in an episode of In the Heat of the Night in 1989, 67 episodes of 1St and Ten, a TV series that aired from 1986 to 1991 (pictured in In the Heat of the Night)
OJ played the role of Allie Wheeler in the 1992 project No Place To Hide, and John ‘Bulldog’ Frogman in Frogmen, a TV movie that aired in 1994 (pictured in No Place to Hide)
His career was cut short when he was charged with the murders of Nicole and Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994.
He played himself in an episode of Adventures of Wonderland in 1994, before his career was cut short by the infamous trial and acquittal.
His last two roles were the 2004 short film The Lemon Twist and an episode of the TV series ADHDtv: With Lew Maklin in 2008.
Nicole and Ron were found stabbed to death outside her LA home on June 12, 1994. She was 35 and he was 25.
Nicole was married to OJ from 1985 to 1992; they share two children: Sydney and Justin.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest were equally salacious, with OJ leading police on a low-speed chase in a Bronco after failing to turn himself in.
His double murder trial in June 1994 was watched by millions and dominated headlines.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Simpson was linked to the crime scene through forensic evidence, but he ultimately walked free and jurors voted to acquit him.
He was acquitted in October 1995, but was found liable for their deaths through a civil lawsuit in 1997.
He was forced to pay out $33.5 million in damages to the victims’ families.
In 2008, OJ was sentenced to 33 years in prison on several charges, including armed robbery and kidnapping, with nine years of parole eligibility.
Simpson was released on parole in 2017 after serving nine years in prison.
He was granted early discharge in December 2021.
Since his release, he has lived in a gated community in the city of Las Vegas.