Former NFL star OJ Simpson has died at the age of 76 following a cancer battle.

Announcing the devastating news his family took to social media today (Thursday, April 11).

In a post, they revealed O. J, real name Orenthal James Simpson, died on Wednesday, April 10.

He was known for being a running back for the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers from 1969 to 1979, but he became more widely known for his murder trial in the mid-1990s.

Revealing the news, his family said: "On April 10, 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."

Simpson became one of the most notorious figures in American history when he was charged with the murder of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman in 1994.

His trial was televised around the country and, although he was acquitted, he was later found liable for their deaths in a civil lawsuit and was ordered to pay £26.7million pounds to the victims of the families.

In 2017 he was released from prison after serving nine years of a 33-year sentence for armed robbery and kidnapping having been arrested in Las Vegas a decade earlier.

Simpson was also an actor and starred in a number of successful films, including Towering Inferno and Naked Gun, in a Hollywood career that began in 1974 while in the middle of his playing career.

He had been a popular figure in America because of his sporting prowess and he is still recognised as one of the NFL’s great running backs.

He was named Most Valuable Player in 1973 after becoming the first player to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, one of a host of records that saw him admitted into the Hall of Fame in 1985.

But having carved out a fruitful career as a broadcaster and actor once he retired from the 49ers, he was propelled to global infamy in 1994 when he attempted to escape police in a low-speed car chase in LA.