O.J. Simpson died on Wednesday, April 10 following a battle with cancer at age 76. While Simpson initially came into the public eye as an NFL star — playing for the Buffalo Bills and eventually the San Francisco 49ers — he has come to be most commonly known for his infamous double murder trial in 1994, where he was accused of murdering both his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman.
He was also represented by the late Kardashian family patriarch, Robert Kardashian. Simpson’s trial has been the subject of various documentaries and docuseries. Prior to the trial, the convicted felon garnered various film and TV spots, as well.
Here are some selected films and series inspired by Simpson’s case, as well as some he appeared in as an actor prior to making crime headlines.
O.J. Simpson, the sports star turned movie star turned accused murder turned convicted felon, has died at the age of 76. From the Decider archives:
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O.J. Simpson Documentaries and Docuseries
ESPN Ezra Edelman’s five-part docuseries was released in 2016, and spans Simpson’s life in the public eye, beginning with his college football and NFL tenure. The project features eight hours of material, including over 70 interviews with friends and colleagues, and went on to win the Oscar for Best Documentary in 2017.
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Photo: Fox This interview with Simpson was finally aired on FOX in 2018, after being shelved since 2006. Various notable revelations surfaced from it, and after it was aired, Simpson claimed that he’d been “pimped” to score the network ratings. (This special is currently unavailable to watch on any legal streaming services, but don’t let that stop you from scouring the dark web!)
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Dramatizations Inspired By O.J. Simpson
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story
Photo: Everett Collection Ryan Murphy’s Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning dramatization of Simpson’s case and trial features stellar performances from Cuba Gooding Jr. (Simpson), David Schwimmer (Kardashian), and more. The FX limited series was released in 2016, marking the first season of American Crime Story, and would go on to win 8 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series.
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Photo: Everett Collection This 2019 crime drama centers on Simpson’s wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, in her final days before she was killed, per IMDb. The film stars Mena Suvari in the title role.
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Selected Movies Featuring O.J. Simpson
Photo: Everett Collection This 1974 disaster film centers on a fire that takes place in a San Francisco high-rise building, per IMDb. Starring Paul Newman, Steve McQueen, and Frank M. Robinson, Simpson played Jernigan, the security chief. The film is available for purchase on streamers such as Prime Video, Apple TV+, and iTunes.
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The 1988 comedy inspired by the sitcom Police Squad! featured Simpson as Detective Nordberg, alongside Leslie Nielsen’s Detective Frank Drebin and Priscilla Presley’s Jane Spencer. This film marked the start of a trilogy, and is the inspiration for an upcoming remake starring Liam Neeson.
This sequel featured the return of Simpson, Nielsen, and George Kennedy, who reprised their roles as Nordberg, Debrin, and Captain Ed Hocken, respectively. The Naked Gun 2 1/2 was released three years following its predecessor.
Where to stream the naked gun 2 1/2
Photo: Everett Collection The third Naked Gun film involves the crime-fighting team to prevent the plot of terrorists, who intends to bomb the Oscars, per IMDb.
