OJ Simpson's time in Hollywood: A look back at The Naked Gun star's hit movie career

Release time：2024-05-21 12:05:00 Source：Global Gazetteer news portal

OJ Simpson died at age 76 from prostate cancer on Wednesday, April 10 - almost 30 years on from the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.

The former football player was surrounded by his children and grandchildren when he passed away - 29 years after he was famously acquitted in 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 movie career which saw him star in blockbusters including 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 brief hit movie career... 

OJ Simpson died at age 76 from prostate cancer on Wednesday, April 10 - almost 30 years on from the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman (pictured with Brown and their kids 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. His short-lived movie caree saw him star in blockbusters including The Naked Gun (pictured as Det. Nordberg in the franchise alongside Leslie Nielsen)

OJ was acquitted of the 1994 murders of Nicole and Ron after his double-murder trial that 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 until 1977, and for the San Francisco 49s from 1977 until 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 roll in Dragnet 1967 - as a potential recruit; he had three uncredited role that same year in It Takes a Thief - as an airline passenger - and in Ironside - as an onlooker - and in The Name of the Game as a gas chamber prison guard.

At the time he was in school at USC. 

OJ had one uncredited role in 1969 in Death of a Gunfighter, and got his first credited role later that year in Medical Center, a tv series.

He appeared in the episode while he was still negotiating his contract for the Buffalo Bills. 

OJ acted in a number of films and TV shows in the late sixties and early seventies, 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. 

Hestarred in the 1977 film Capricorn One as well as Roots, a TV mini series airing the same year (seen in the film Capricorn in a 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 as well as Roots, a TV mini series airing 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 starred alongside Leslie Nielson in all three films, as well as Priscilla Presley, who played Jane Spencer.

OJ played Det. Nordberg and Leslie played as Lt. 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 until 1991. 

He played the character T.D. Parker.

OJ starred as Allie Wheeler in the 1992 project No Place To Hide, and John 'Bulldog' Frogman in Frogmen, which was a TV movie that aired in 1994.

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 until 1991 (pictured in In the Heat of the Night)

OJ starred as Allie Wheeler in the 1992 project No Place To Hide, and John 'Bulldog' Frogman in Frogmen, which was a TV movie that aired in 1994 (pictured in No Place to Hide)

His career was cut short  when he was accused of murdering Nicole and Ron Goldman on June 12, 1994 

He played himself in one 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 The Lemon Twist and one episode of the TV series ADHDtv: With Lew Maklin in 2008.

 Nicole and Ron were found stabbed to death outside her home in LA on June 12, 1994. She was 35 and he was 25.

Nicole was married to OJ from 1985 until 1992; they share two kids - Sydney and Justin.

The circumstances around his arrest were equally salacious, with OJ leading cops 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 the headlines.

At trial, prosecutors argued Simpson was linked to the crime scene through forensic evidence, but he ultimately walked free with jurors voting to acquit him.

He was acquitted in October 1995 but was found liable for their deaths via a civil trial in 1997.

He was forced to pay out $33.5million in damages to the victims' families.

In 2008, OJ was sentenced to 33 years in prison on a variety of charges including armed robbery and kidnapping, with eligibility for parole in nine years.

Simpson was granted parole in 2017 after serving nine years in prison, and released on parole.

He was granted early discharge from parole in December 2021.

He had been residing in a gated community in Las Vegas city since his release.

Related articles