The O.J. Simpson Murder Trial: Where Are The Key Players Now?

Marcia Clark; O.J. Simpson; Judge Lance Ito — Marcia Clark, O.J. Simpson, Lance Ito. Photo:
Ted Soqui/Sygma via Getty Images; RICK MEYER/AFP via Getty Images; OOL/AFP via Getty Images

Nearly three decades later, the O.J. Simpson trial is still remembered for its massive cultural impact, which transformed lawyers, witnesses and judges into public figures. As the country waited to hear whether or not Simpson would be convicted of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman, those involved became household names.

The proceedings occurred over the course of 11 months, from November 1994 to October 1995. After the former NFL pro — who died of cancer in 2024 — was acquitted, most of the trial's participants went on to pursue lives out of the national spotlight.

Find out what happened to the key players following the controversial verdict that ended one of the most explosive events of the 20th century.

01 of 08

Marcia Clark

As the lead prosecutor on the trial, Marcia Clark remains especially tied to the proceedings. After losing the high-profile case, she resigned from the L.A. county district attorney's office and entered the media and entertainment industry. In 1997, Clark co-authored a book about the trial titled Without a Doubt, and she appeared as a commentator on several news networks.

The famed former lawyer has also written various fictionalizations of the D.A.'s office. Clark penned a series of novels and a TV show pilot that was picked up by FX but never produced.

In 2016, Sarah Paulson won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Clark in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story. Clark joined Paulson as her date to the Emmys, and at the event, the actress told PEOPLE the two had become very close.

02 of 08

Lance Ito

The case's presiding judge, Lance Ito, retired from his duties on the Los Angeles County Superior Court bench in 2015. Still, his decision to allow cameras inside the courtroom during Simpson's trial left a lasting impact on how future criminal trials were publicized.

Ito gives very few media interviews and has consistently declined to comment on the explosive case. He lives an otherwise private life. In 2021, Ito's wife, former detective Margaret York, died at age 80.

03 of 08

Johnnie Cochran

The late Johnnie Cochran led the defense of Simpson, becoming known for his declaration, "If it doesn't fit, you must acquit," after his client's infamous glove demonstration. Before Simpson's trial, Cochran already had experience representing well-known and wealthy clients. Before he retired in 2002, he worked with celebrities including Sean "Diddy" Combs and Michael Jackson.

In 2005, Cochran died of a brain tumor at age 67. Simpson was among the stars who attended their former attorney's funeral.

04 of 08

Robert Shapiro

Defense attorney Robert Shapiro continued his high-profile career after his success on Simpson's "dream team" of lawyers, which also included the late Robert Kardashian. Shapiro has experience representing a substantial roster of celebrities, like Eva Longoria, Johnny Carson, Jose Canseco and Darryl Strawberry, among others.

Shapiro also made his name as an entrepreneur. He founded several companies, including LegalZoom.com and RightCounsel.com. As a philanthropist, the practicing lawyer started the Brent Shapiro Foundation to help people who struggle with addiction. (The foundation is named in memory of Shapiro's son, who died in 2005 after an overdose.)

John Travolta earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Shapiro in The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story in 2016. He lost out to his co-star Sterling K. Brown, who played co-prosecutor Christopher Darden.

05 of 08

Kato Kaelin

Actor Kato Kaelin was staying as Simpson's house guest on the night of the two murders, and as a result, spent the spent four days on the witness stand during the trial. After the case closed, he continued on in the public arena and appeared on sitcoms, radio stations and reality shows.

Most recently, in 2019, Kaelin placed eighth on season 2 of Celebrity Big Brother.

06 of 08

Denise Brown

Denise Brown took the stand to describe the alleged domestic abuse Simpson inflicted upon her late sister Nicole. Today, she and her other sister, Tanya, lead the Nicole Brown Foundation to bring awareness and help victims of domestic violence.

07 of 08

Christopher Darden

Marcia Clark's co-prosecutor, Christopher Darden, also left the D.A.'s office after the Simpson trial. He went on to teach on the faculty at Southwestern University School of Law, and he appeared as a legal commentator on a number of networks like CNN, NBC and Fox News.

Darden has written and spoken extensively about the Simpson case, and he has vocally maintained his belief that the late athlete was indeed guilty of murder. Sterling K. Brown won his first Emmy playing Darden in American Crime Story.

Currently, Darden is running for the role of L.A. County Superior Court Judge.

08 of 08

Faye Resnick

Nicole Brown Simpson's close friend Faye Resnick also became a prominent name during the case; she penned the 1994 book Nicole Brown Simpson: The Private Diary of a Life Interrupted about her friend's life.

In 1996, Resnick published another tell-all describing her own experiences during the trial. She capitalized on her notoriety and started modeling for Playboy in 1997.

Fans of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills know the author as a friend of Kyle Richards. Resnick has made several guest appearances on the reality show and has also been seen on Keeping Up with the Kardashians alongside Kris Jenner.

Connie Britton played Resnick on Ryan Murphy's critically acclaimed miniseries The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.