The O.J. Simpson Trial: Where Are They Now? You'll Be Surprised (2024)

On Thursday, the world was shocked to hear that decorated NFL star and infamous pop culture figure O.J. Simpson died.

As previously reported by The Root, Simpson passed away due to cancer at the age of 76. But the news of his death has been met with mixed reactions from both folks online and public figures—due in large part to his unforgettable 1994-95 criminal trial for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.

The trial began in Nov. 1994 and lasted nearly a year, with its widely controversial conclusion—a.k.a. his not guilty verdict—taking place on Oct. 1995. In light of O.J.’s death, we felt it fitting to take a loo back at some of the key figures who played a part one of America’s most contentious cases to date.

Johnnie Cochran (Lead “Dream Team” Attorney)

After making a unforgettable name for himself as a part of the “Dream Team” defense attorneys for Simpson, Johnnie Cochran would go on to represent other influential figures on the entertainment industry such as P. Diddy and Michael Jackson. In Dec. 2003, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor before ultimately passing away on March 29, 2005.

Robert Kardashian (The “Dream Team” Attorney)

Robert Kardashian was a close friend of Simpson, dating back to when the two first met at USC. Simpson was even the best man at Kardashian’s wedding to Kris Jenner back in 1978. An inactive lawyer, Kardashian got his law license reinstated in order to aid his friend during the trial. However, Kardashian’s trust in Simpson’s innocence lessened in the years following the trial. Kardashian was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July 2003 and succumbed to his illness less than two months later.

Robert Shapiro (The “Dream Team” Attorney)

After representing Simpson in the trial, Shapiro went on to represent a myriad of celebrity clients such as Eva Longoria and Robert Kardashian Jr. (specifically as it related to the revenge p*rn suit he lobbed against the mother of his child Blac Chyna back in 2017.) Shapiro also cofounded several businesses such as Shoe Dazzle and started a non-profit organization named after his son Brent Shapiro aimed at raising drug awareness. He is still alive.

Marcia Clark (Prosecutor)

After losing in the Simpson trial, Marcia Clark went on to author several novels and appear as a legal commentator on a handful of shows Headline News and CNN. She also penned a handful of true-crime articles for The Daily Beast. She is still alive.

Gil Garcetti (District Attorney)

Though his office lost the Simpson trial, Gil Garcetti went on to win reelection in 1996 as the Los Angeles District Attorney. He would later lose in the 2000 election before going on to serve as a consulting producer for the popular TNT series “The Closer” and “Major Crimes.” He is still alive.

Faye Resnick (Friend of Nicole)

Faye Resnick was a brief friend of Nicole Brown Simpson and allegedly one of the last people who spoke to Simpson before her death. She was an interior designer and modeled for Playboy magazine back in 1997. She also appeared in the first season of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” in which she was a friend of Kyle Richards. She is still alive.

Lance Ito (Judge)

Judge Lance Ito remained mostly silent in the aftermath of the Simpson tral before retiring in 2015. He is still alive.

Mark Fuhrman (Former LAPD Detective and Witness)

Due to Mark Fuhrman’s now infamous “tapes” and his lack of credibility during the trial, in the aftermath of Simpson’s case, he went on to publish several books—the first of which was about the infamous trial. He currently serves as a forensic and crime scene expert for Fox News and as the host of his own radio show in Spokane, Wash.

Brian “Kato” Kaelin (Witness)

After serving as a witness in the Simpson case, “Kato” Kaelin went on to do several entertainment gigs, serving as a radio host, reality tv star, game show contestant and more.