OJ Simpson dead at 76, family says

Sportscaster Jim Gray reflected on the life and legacy of Orenthal James Simpson, who passed away after losing his battle with cancer.

Former NFL running back O.J. Simpson has passed away, according to his family. He was 76.

"On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer," they wrote on X.

He died surrounded by his children and grandchildren, they said. 

His bout with cancer was mostly kept from the public. 

O.J. SIMPSON MURDER TRIAL PROSECUTOR RECEIVES SUPPORT FROM JUDGE ON JUDICIAL CAMPAIGN

O.J. Simpson is seen on Nov. 12, 2023, in Las Vegas. (Mega/GC Images)

"During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace," the statement added.

Simpson was widely regarded as a legendary running back — and perhaps one of the best running backs of all time — but his fame was eclipsed by the double murder trial of his ex-wife and her friend.

He became embroiled in a murder trial following a June 1994 arrest in connection with the brutal slayings of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend, Ron Goldman. Simpson was 46 years old at the time.

O.J. Simpson and Nicole Brown Simpson pose at the premiere of "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" in Los Angeles on March 16, 1994.   

On June 21, 1994, Simpson was arraigned and pleaded not guilty. 

His status as an accused double murderer rocked the country and his courtroom trials captivated households. His fall from grace continued throughout the mid-'90s and early 2000s.

That murder case, dubbed "The Trial of the Century," received international press attention and was recently dramatized in the popular TV show, "The People v. O.J. Simpson." It was also examined in the 2016 documentary, "OJ: