Trivia

Was considered for the title role in The Terminator (1984), but producers feared he was "too nice" to be taken seriously as a cold-blooded killer.

A Las Vegas (NV) jury convicted him of armed robbery and kidnapping in 2008, 13 years to the day after he was acquitted of killing ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

The second professional athlete to host Saturday Night Live (1975) (February 25, 1978). He was the only former host not invited to attend the show's 25th Anniversary Special.

Multiple attempts at a Hollywood comeback yielded no offers.

On June 17, 1994, OJ Simpson was arrested and charged with the June 12, 1994 murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. OJ was tried for the double murders with special circumstances on January 24, 1995, and on October 3, 1995, he was found not guilty after 16 months of confinement.

In November 2006 publisher Judith Regan arranged for Simpson to write a hypothetical confession to the Nicole Brown Simpson / Ron Goldman murders. The book, "If I Did It", attracted so much negative publicity that it was quickly canceled.

Was Ahmad Rashad's best man at his 1985 wedding to Phylicia Rashad. Bill Cosby walked her down the aisle at the ceremony.

The case cost nearly $20 million to fight and defend.

During his 1998 guest appearance on The Ruby Wax Show (1997), he pretended to stab host Ruby Wax with a banana while mimicking the theme music from Psycho (1960).

When the verdict for the murder trial was broadcast on live television, at least 150 million people tuned in.

His murder trial was the longest murder trial ever held in the state of California.

At the height of his football fame, polls indicated he was one of the top three most recognized faces in North America.

(2/4/97) Held liable for the deaths of ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman by a jury in a civil suit. A few days later, the jury awarded compensatory damages to the Goldmans in the amount of $8.5 million, and punitive damages in the amount of a further $25 million.

The first pro football player to grace the cover of "Rolling Stone" (September 8, 1977).

February 4, 1997 - OJ Simpson was ordered to pay $25 million in punitive damages and $8.5 million in compensatory damages for a total of $33.5 million to Ron Goldman's family and Nicole Brown's family for their wrongful deaths. The award was assessed 10% interest annually for every year that it's not paid.

Was working on a TV movie entitled Frogmen (1994) shortly before the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. It was reportedly designed to be a pilot for a proposed series, but has never aired.

Children by second wife Nicole Brown Simpson: Sydney Simpson (born 17 October 1985), Justin Ryan Simpson (born 6 August 1988).

Under terms of their divorce, Marguerite Simpson received a $500,000 trust fund for herself and her two children. In addition, she received $600,000 to purchase a new home and 50% of his deferred income from his pro-football employment contracts. They also divided $3 million in community property.

Howard Stern's book "Miss America" was originally titled "Getting Away With Murder" and had a photo of O.J. and Stern (taken at Donald Trump's wedding) on the cover.

Children by first wife, Marguerite L. Whitley: Arnelle Simpson (born 4 December 1968) Jason L. Simpson (born 21 April 1970) Aaren Lashone Simpson (24 September 1977 - 26 August 1979) (drowned in family swimming pool).

Was granted parole by a unanimous vote the Nevada Board of Parole Commissioners. (July 2017)

Was a very good friend of Frank Olson, the executive vice president and general manager of Hertz's rental-car division during the 1970s and 1980s. It was Frank's decision to employ Simpson as a celebrity spokesperson to promote Hertz's rental car division in 1974. He remained a friend of Simpson throughout his life and was one of his few supporters during his 1995 murder trial. Ironically, both he and Simpson were natives of San Francisco and both died on the very same day - April 10, 2024.

In an interview with Michael Kay on "CenterStage", Kevin Costner cited Simpson as his favorite athlete, calling him the greatest football player he ever saw.

Was in a street gang called The Persian Kings c. 1954.

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985.

Football player turned actor/sportscaster

Nicole Brown Simpson appeared as a bus passenger in an uncredited role in the made-for-TV movie Detour to Terror (1980) starring Simpson.

Won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 as a halfback for the University of Southern California.

When he retired in 1979 he held the following NFL records: rushing yards in a season with 2,003 (since broken by Eric Dickerson), and touchdowns in a season with 23 (since broken by John Riggins in 1983).

Running back for the Buffalo Bills (1969-77) and San Francisco 49ers (1978-79).

Ranks 21st on NFL All-Time Rushing Average List (4.674).

Tied for 30th with Herschel Walker on NFL All-Time Rushing Touchdowns List (61).

It is estimated to have generated more than one billion dollars in media and merchandising.

Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1983.

Ranks 16th on NFL All-Time Rushing Attempts List (2,404).

Ranks 14th on NFL All-Time Rushing Yardage List (11,236).

Was originally considered for the role of 'Peter' in Dawn of the Dead (1978) before George A. Romero decided to cast an unknown (Ken Foree). Romero had previously directed a Simpson television documentary entitled O.J. Simpson: Juice on the Loose (1974).

Released from prison on October 1, 2017.

A Hungarian metal band ('Húsdaráló Project') wrote a song about him.

Was 23 years younger than Cicely Tyson, who played his wife in The Last Ten Yards (1969).

A computer game (from Banana Productions) entitled "O.J.'s All-American Race to Acquittal" debuted in January 1995, and reveals among other things that O.J.'s full name, Orenthal James Simpson, is an anagram of "O.J. on simple harassment".

Mentioned in Joe Eszterhas's memoir "Hollywood Animal".

Inducted into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 1984 (inaugural class).

Appears briefly as an extra in "An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn".

Following his death. He won't public memorial services. His remains were cremated and his ashes were given to his family members.

In 2003 he was residing outside Miami, Florida.

Has three grandchildren.

Brother of Melvin Leon Simpson, Shirley Simpson-Baker, and Carmelita Simpson-Durio.

Son of Jimmy Lee Simpson.