O. J. Simpson

Birth Name: Orenthal James Simpson

Date of Birth: July 9, 1947

Place of Birth: San Francisco, California, United States

Date of Death: April 10, 2024

Place of Death: Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.

Ethnicity: African-American, as well as likely some English

O. J. Simpson was an American professional football player, broadcaster, actor, and advertising spokesman. He was tried and acquitted for the 1994 murders of his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson; and Ron Goldman, in criminal court. He was later found liable in a civil trial. He had played college football for the USC Trojans, winning the Heisman Trophy. A running back, he then played for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). In the NFL, he was awarded consecutive Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selections, as well as NFL Most Valuable Player (MVP), and led the league in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and points scored. As an actor, he appeared in The Naked Gun franchise, as well as the films The Klansman, The Towering Inferno, Killer Force, The Cassandra Crossing, Capricorn One, Firepower, CIA Code Name: Alexa, and No Place to Hide, the made-for-tv movie Goldie and the Boxer, and the mini-series Roots. In the late 2000s, he was convicted of armed robbery and kidnapping.

O. J. was the son of Eunice (Durden), a hospital administrator, and Jimmy Lee Simpson, a bank custodian, who was a “drag queen” in San Francisco. His father was from Arkansas. His mother was from Louisiana. He was reportedly named Orenthal after a French actor his aunt liked. O. J. was raised in the housing projects of Potrero Hill, San Francisco.

He had three children with his former wife Marguerite L. Whitley; and two children with his former wife, the late Nicole Brown.

O. J.’s paternal grandfather’s surname was Simpson.

O. J.’s paternal grandmother was Pearlie Mae Potter (the daughter of Will Potter and Mattie Miles). Pearlie was born in Arkansas. Will was the son of Nick Potter and Flora.

O. J.’s maternal grandfather was Dennis Durden (the son of Curtis Durden and Lucinda Bayliss). Dennis was born in Louisiana. Curtis was the son of Moore Durden and Mariah/Majiah. Lucinda was the daughter of Amos Bayliss and Adaline.

O. J.’s maternal grandmother was Patsy Sewell (the daughter of Sam/Samuel Sewell and Kate/Katie Herndon). Patsy was born in Louisiana. Kate was the daughter of John Fredrick Herndon, who was white; and of Lou Patsy/Patsey Charles.

O. J. was a second cousin of professional baseball player Ernie Banks. Their maternal grandfathers were siblings.

Sources: Genealogies of O. J. Simpson – http://www.wargs.com
https://www.geni.com

O. J.’s maternal great-grandparents, Curtis Durden and Lucinda Bayliss, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://www.familysearch.org