OJ Simpson, the former football star turned actor, who was cleared of all charges in a dramatic trial involving the murder of his ex-wife and her lover, passed away at the age of 76.

His family confirmed his death saying: “On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. During this time of transition, his family asks that you please respect their wishes for privacy and grace. -The Simpson Family.”

Three years after his criminal trial, Simpson was found liable in a civil claim brought by the families of the victims, despite not having been proven guilty of the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman.

Orenthal James Simpson, who was born in San Francisco, played football professionally for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers, setting records and winning the Heisman Trophy while at USC, according to Variety.

Before turning pro as a football player, he began acting while still a student at USC, making appearances on Medical Centre. While still playing in the NFL, he starred in films like The Klansman, Roots, The Cassandra Crossing, and The Towering Inferno.

He played in three Naked Gun films and the comedy Back to the Beach after quitting football. When he was arrested, the NBC adventure series Frogmen abruptly ended after he had finished a two-hour pilot.

His ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her boyfriend Ronald Goldman were discovered dead outside their Brentwood condominium on June 12, 1994.

As Simpson was thought to be a person of interest in the killings, charges were brought against him.

He had also entered a plea of not guilty to a domestic abuse case against Nicole Brown Simpson during their marriage. Rather than surrender, he tried to escape in his white Ford Bronco and the police pursued him at a leisurely speed, setting off a media frenzy.