Latest news with #O.J.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
23 Films Linked To Real-Life Murder Cases
Probably one of the wildest behind-the-scenes facts I know is that Curb Your Enthusiasm literally saved a man accused of murder, possibly even from the death penalty. The man, Juan Catalan, was accused of murdering teenager Martha Puebla in 2003. He said he was at the Dodgers game with his daughter and his friends when the murder occurred, but there wasn't enough proof of Catalan's lawyer discovered Curb Your Enthusiasm had filmed at that very same game. Raking through the footage, they were able to find Catalan at the game and back up his alibi. Similarly, the infamous O.J. trial almost used footage from O.J.'s recent TV pilot, Frogman, which was never released following the murder accusations. Why was the footage relevant? It showed O.J.'s proficiency with a knife. Simpson had reportedly received military training for the role. Also, Simpson's costar Todd Allen had once gone with O.J. to Ross Cutlery — the suspected source of the murder weapon, which was never found — between shooting scenes. Eerily, the show also featured the death of the character's ex-wife. The footage did not end up being used in O.J.'s trial, in which he was acquitted of murder. The Exorcist features a real murderer and possible serial killer. Director William Friedkin went to an NYU radiology lab to scout locations and extras, and to observe an angiogram that would inspire a similar scene in the film. While at the lab, he met the technician Paul Bateson and decided to cast him as a technician in the movie as well. Bateson was later convicted of the murder of film critic Addison Verrill and is suspected of multiple other murders. There was evidence connecting him to the murder of six other men, though the judge in the case decided it was not enough, and he was convicted only of Verrill's murder. The Godfather cast Gianni Russo after he helped smooth tensions between mob boss Joe Colombo and the film's producers. Russo had grown up adjacent to the mob and knew many mob bosses, including Frank Costello, lending authenticity to the film, which jump-started a long acting career for Russo. The film actually saved his life at one point; Russo owned a casino and got into an altercation with a customer, which led to Russo killing him in self-defense. It was ruled a justifiable homicide, but Russo wasn't off the hook — the man he'd killed was a cartel member. According to Russo, a hit was put out on him, but he was spared because Pablo Escobar liked The Godfather. The Sopranos cast several men with mob ties, including Michael Squicciarini. After his death, Squicciarini was accused of being involved in the murder of drug dealer Ralph Hernandez. It was claimed that he had lured Hernandez to a club so that he could be shot by a member of a crime family he was associated with. Squicciarin was only implicated after witnesses noticed him on the show and recognized him from the night of the murder. Goodfellas also gained authenticity for casting Louis Eppolito, who had grown up around the mob but became a cop. However, he was later infamously convicted of being a mob assassin (Eppolito still claimed he was innocent until his death). He was also in the films Predator 2 and Lost Highway. Speaking of Lost wasn't the only suspected murderer in the film. The film, which is about a man being accused and jailed for murdering his wife, also starred Robert Blake. Blake was later arrested for the murder of his wife, who was shot while sitting in their car during a dinner date. It was alleged that Blake had hired two stunt performers to kill her, though the jury did not believe the stunt performers, who were abusing drugs. Blake was acquitted, though he was later held liable for her death in a civil case. Back to The Zodiac killer was a big fan of the film. He actually mentioned it in one of his letters, calling it, "the best saterical comidy (sic) that I have ever seen." The famous killer would later inspire the film's screenwriter to write what would eventually become The Exorcist III. Jeffrey Dahmer was a fan of this film and even showed it to one of his would-be victims, Tracy Edwards, who escaped being murdered by Dahmer. Danny Rolling, the Gainesville Ripper, was also influenced by The Exorcist III and the book that inspired it, Legion, which featured the Gemini killer. The murderer claimed his alternate personas, Gemini and Ynnad (Danny backwards), were responsible for his crimes. The backwards spelling of Danny appeared to be a reference to the possessed speaking backwards in the film. While we're on the subject of killers inspired by films, we have to mention John Hinckley Jr., who tried to assassinate then–President Ronald Reagan to impress Jodie Foster, whom he had become obsessed with after seeing her in Taxi Driver. A handyman allegedly obsessed with Psycho reportedly set out to murder Marli Renfro, the woman who acted as Janet Leigh's body double in the notorious shower scene, but killed the wrong person by accident. His victim, it turns out, was Myra Davis (who also went by her stage name Myra Jones), who was Leigh's stand-in for lighting and staging, but not the double seen on screen in the shower scene (though her hand is seen briefly). Natalie Wood, who starred in a number of films including West Side Story, Rebel Without a Cause, and Gypsy, died under extremely mysterious circumstances while filming Brainstorm. Wood, who was 43 at the time, was with her husband Robert Wagner on his boat on a weekend vacation. According to Wagner himself (though he initially denied this), he and Wood argued, and then he went to bed without her. The next morning, she was found drowned a mile away. Wood had been drinking, and it's possible her death was an accident, but she was found with bruises that could mean she was attacked. Nearby witnesses had heard a woman scream. The captain of the boat, Dennis Davern, allegedly drunkenly confessed to Wood's sister years later that he'd seen Wagner push Wood, who then fell overboard, and that Wagner refused to rescue this is unconfirmed. We'll likely never know exactly what one person might: Brainstorm costar Christopher Walken, who was also there that night, and had reportedly also argued with Wagner. Jean Spangler was just starting to gain headway in Hollywood when she disappeared at 27, leaving behind a note that read, "Kirk, Can't wait any longer. Going to see Dr. Scott. It will work best this way while mother is away." Kirk apparently referred to someone Spangler had met on set, according to her mother. Police speculated that Kirk might refer to the famous actor Kirk Douglas, whom she had recently worked with on Young Man with a Horn. Douglas was in Palm Springs at the time, and told police he barely remembered Spangler. "I told Detective Chief Thad Brown that I didn't remember the girl or the name until a friend recalled it was she who worked as an extra in a scene with me in my picture Young Man With a Horn," Douglas said. "Then I recalled that she was a tall girl in a green dress and that I talked and kidded with her a bit on the set, as I have done with many other people. But I never saw her before or after that and have never been out with her." Spangler's disappearance has never been solved, and Young Man with a Horn was one of her final films. Shelley Malil, perhaps best known for costarring as Haziz in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, was later imprisoned for stabbing his ex-girlfriend 23 times in front of a friend while her children slept upstairs. She survived, and he was released after eight years, against the wishes of his victims. He blamed his actions in part on a lack of roles following The 40-Year-Old Virgin. Actor Johnny Lewis — who had once dated Katy Perry and is allegedly the person "The One That Got Away" is about — murdered his landlady, killed her cat, then attacked a house painter and his neighbor (who were able to escape), before dying from what was ruled an accidental fall in 2012. Ironically, Lewis had left Sons of Anarchy years prior because it was too "violent." In the years since, he had played a serial killer on Criminal Minds and starred in the horror film Lovely Molly. The murder came shortly after Lewis moved back into the Writer's Villa, a Los Angeles home where a woman had rented out rooms to young creatives for decades. Lewis had been going through a personality change following a motorcycle accident, which many family and friends believed contributed to his violent outbursts, which came on suddenly and seemed to get worse after stints in jail. Serial killer Clifton Bloomfield appeared as an extra on shows like Breaking Bad and Felon, basically mid–killing sprees. For example, he was hired on Felon after serving time as a convicted killer, and a month later, went on to kill three more people before being caught and imprisoned again. According to the casting director, no one on set even knew or was told that Bloomfield was a convicted killer. Tara Correa-McMullen, an up-and-coming actor who appeared on shows like Zoey 101, died in a gang-related potential drive-by shooting at age 16 in 2005. Friends said that she had recently been hanging out with a "bad crowd" but had been trying to get her life back on track. Eerily, Correa-McMullen was best known for playing a former gang member on Judging Amy. Her character was trying to turn her life around after involvement in a drive-by shooting, but ultimately failed and was killed in jail. In another creepy coincidence, Judith Eva Barsi, the child actor who most famously voiced Ducky in Land Before Time, played a child murdered by her father in Fatal Vision. She was later murdered by her father at the age of 10. He also murdered his wife, Judith's mother, before killing himself. Imagine going on a dating show to meet the love of your life and meeting a killer instead. That's exactly what happened on the popular game show The Dating Game. Contestant Rodney Alcala actually won his episode (though he ended up being rejected for a date). It was later revealed that Alcala was a serial killer who would end up being convicted of seven suspected of many more. A contestant on Megan Wants a Millionaire and I Love Money 3, Ryan Jenkins, also later turned out to be a killer — in fact, just after the latter show finished filming, his wife's dead body was found. It was soon discovered he had a history of assault, which apparently his background check hadn't uncovered. This didn't actually involve murder, but it's a wild behind-the-scenes fact involving a murder trial. Cannibal Holocaust was so horrifically violent and offensive that in Italy, director Ruggero Deodato was charged with obscenity and later murder after it was suspected that some of the actors had actually died in the film. The actors literally had to come to court to prove they were alive. Deodato was also charged with animal cruelty (though it was later overturned) because multiple animals had been killed onscreen. And finally, we can't make this post without mentioning the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust. Alec Baldwin was using a gun as a prop when it went off and killed Hutchins. The gun had been declared safe before using, and Baldwin reportedly did not know it was loaded — he also denied pulling the trigger, though the FBI reported the gun could not have fired without the trigger being pulled. Baldwin was originally charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were later dismissed. First AD David Halls was sentenced to probation, and armorer Gutierrez-Reed was convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Filming eventually resumed, and the film was quietly released last month.
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
OJ Simpson's bible from Robert Kardashian Sr. sells for hefty price at auction, Kim Kardashian's offer denied
A bible that Robert Kardashian Sr. gave to his former client O.J. Simpson prior to his death has been sold at auction and for a hefty price tag, TMZ first reported. The late lawyer's daughter, Kim Kardashian, offered $15,000 to buy the family heirloom, but was turned down. Shortly after the 11 p.m. deadline on Saturday, March 29, the bible sold to its highest bidder for $65,800 or $80,276 at a buyer's premium, according to its listing on Goldin Auctions' website. A total of 49 bids were placed on the bible, with 14 of those coming on its final day of availability, according to the website. The bible also featured an inscription from the late lawyer who represented Simpson during his infamous murder trial. "O.J., this book will help. God loves and he will speak to you with his words. Read this book everyday. God has a definite plan for your life. You are his child and he will use you again. I love you and God loves you," the auction posted what they believed the transcription read. Malcolm LaVergne, the special administrator of O.J.'s estate, told the outlet that he doesn't know who the lucky buyer is but noted that whether you loved O.J. or hated him, it's clear "his legacy endures." The outlet reported that the estate's auction brought in an estimated $300,000 in sales, listing a number of other items that were sold, including a personally signed and framed photo of O.J. and former President Bill Clinton. That image sold for over $18,000, while a replica of O.J.'s 1968 Heisman Trophy for $42,700, the outlet reported. But noticeably missing from the auction was Simpson's deathbed. Simpson won the Heisman Trophy in 1968 as a running back for the University of Southern California, and in 1973 he became the NFL's first running back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. He earned the nickname "Juice" after an 11-year NFL career with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Simpson had an elite team of attorneys known as the "Dream Team" that included Johnnie Cochran, Alan Dershowitz, Robert Kardashian, Shawn Holley, Robert Shapiro and others. They ultimately convinced jurors of enough reasonable doubt to acquit Simpson in the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. Although the jury found Simpson not guilty of murder charges, his legal troubles continued for decades. He lost a civil lawsuit and was ordered to pay $33.5 million to the victims' families. He never paid most of it. Simpson died after a private battle with prostate cancer on April 10, 2024. Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kim Kardashian's Offer To Get Sentimental Family Item From O.J. Simpson's Estate Slammed As Low
Kim Kardashian's attempt at reuniting her famous family with an item connected to her late dad is proving difficult. "The Kardashian" star's move to purchase a rare item from O.J. Simpson's ongoing estate auction was blocked by legal restrictions and perceived low price. Kim Kardashian's late father, Robert Kardashian, famously represented O.J. Simpson in court while he was on trial for the murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. The item in question was a Bible Robert gifted to the convict the day after he was taken into custody for the murder of his ex-wife. Malcolm LaVergne, the executor of O.J.'s estate, who is in the process of selling his assets to settle outstanding debts, received an offer from Kim for the bible. The business owner reportedly offered $15,000 for the sentimental item, but Malcolm turned it down because it was already under contract with the court to be auctioned off. The executor said: "The amount is why I had no choice, because why would I spend $15,000 of estate money —why would I spend $15,000 in attorney's fees — to sell it to Kim for $15,000?" Malcolm added: "That's a zero-sum game. That's a bad business model. If Kim had offered $150,000, we would've been in court getting this approved outside of the auction." According to PEOPLE, the executor noted that the budding attorney can still bid on the bible online, and while it already has a bid of $9,800 on it, Malcolm said that Kim may eventually purchase the item for less than her bidding price. Malcolm shared that the bible came with a heartfelt note from Robert to his dear friend. The note was reportedly dated June 18, 1994, which was the day after O.J. was charged with double murder. "O.J., this book will help. God loves, and he will speak to you with his words. Read this book every day. God has a definite plan for your life. You are his child, and he will use you again. I love you, and God loves you," Robert wrote in the note. Robert and O.J. shared a close bond, and his decision to represent him during the murder trial led to O.J.'s acquittal on all counts. He was, however, found guilty in a civil trial in 1997. Kim's father passed away in September 2003 at the age of 59, only eight weeks after being diagnosed with esophageal cancer. In 2008, O.J. encountered another legal issue and faced time in prison. Nine years in prison for armed robbery and kidnapping. He died in April 2024 from prostate cancer at the age of 76. Since his death, all the Kardashian kids have continually honored their father's life in various ways. The mogul, her sisters Kourtney and Khloe, her brother Robert J., and her mother Kris Jenner have all been vocal about upholding the late Robert's legacy. Kim has gone a step further by enrolling in law school to become a legal luminary like her father. She famously passed the baby bar exams in 2021 and has lent her voice to numerous pleas for criminal justice reforms. In her 2020 Oxygen documentary, "Kim Kardashian West: The Justice Project," Kim shared insights into how her legal work has made her feel a deeper connection to her late father. She described moments when she experienced frustration while studying late into the night, reflecting on how these challenges often reminded her of him and their shared passion for justice. Kim said: "I could be frustrated and studying really late and have to get up and wonder how he did it, having four kids and must've been going through some of the same things that I have gone through," she said. "So it would have been exciting to talk to him about that, and I know that he would be so, so proud." The Kardashian clan came together once more in 2019 to pay homage to Robert's legacy by attending the opening of UCLA's Robert G. Kardashian Center for Esophageal Health in Los Angeles in 2019. As reported by PEOPLE, Kim and Khloe attended the event and were supported by their half-sisters Kendall and Kyle Jenner, as well as other members of Robert's family. The SKIMS owner took to her Twitter (now X) at the time to announce the goal behind the center: "So proud to announce the Robert G Kardashian center for esophageal health being launched at UCLA. My wish is that other families can have more information and we can also focus on health and prevention." Khloe informed the public that the wing will "provide resources for groundbreaking research, patient care and education/training, in addition to support of efforts in esophageal health." It is no doubt that after Robert's death, Kris swung into action to make something out of his memory and their children, a mission that paid off with billions of dollars. Now, The Blast noted that Kim is set to replicate her loving mother's feat by painstakingly managing her first daughter's career and finally getting a taste of Kris's world. According to inside sources, Kris is beyond thrilled about Kim following in her footsteps and is more than willing to offer her all the helpful tips to help advance North's career. The source highlighted the significant sacrifices made by the momager in dedicating her time and effort to managing her children's successful careers. Despite her relentless work, there is a sense that her contributions often go unrecognized by her family. According to the source, balancing a momager's demanding role can sometimes feel thankless. The source added that the family matriarch is "pretty happy that Kim's getting a taste of what it's like and how exhausting it is. Kim's already complaining about all the time it takes out of her own schedule, and she's asking Kris for her help." Will Kim Kardashian eventually clinch the bible and further preserve her father's memory?
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
O.J. Simpson's Estate Sues Son Justin For Allegedly Moving Into Dad's House
O.J. Simpson's estate is taking legal action against Justin Simpson, the late athlete and Nicole Brown Simpson's son, for allegedly moving into his father's house without permission and refusing to leave. TMZ reports that Malcolm LaVergne, the attorney serving as the special administrator of O.J.'s estate, filed a suit against Primary Holdings, LLC, a company he says is owned and operated by Justin. The legal documents state that the company purchased the home in August 2022 while O.J. was living there to stop creditors from seizing the property. LaVergne says Justin moved into the house after his father passed away in April 2024 and is 'refusing to vacate the property or pay the estate back for the alleged payments Simpson continued to make even after Primary Holding took ownership.' The attorney says O.J. did not intend for the house to be separated from the estate and has been making payments on the house. Legal action is being taken because Justin is accused of moving into the house despite having his own property nearby, which contradicts what is stated in O.J.'s will. According to MSN, Justin is now 36-years-old and is a successful realtor. The Heisman Trophy winner and controversial figure passed away on April 10, 2024, after his battle with prostate cancer. A statement was posted on X by his family on his behalf at the time, reading, '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.' Simpson accomplished a variety of feats in his life, as he was an NFL football running back, actor, and broadcaster. The star athlete played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected first overall by the Buffalo Bills in the 1969 NFL/AFL draft. He earned his NFL Most Valuable Player title in in 1973 after he became the first NFL player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season. More from O.J. Simpson's Ashes Have Been Turned Into Jewelry For His 4 Kids Stephen A. Smith Slams BET Awards For Including O.J. Simpson In 2024 In Memoriam OJ Simpson's Lawyer Describes Simpson's Last Days, Says Family Won't Donate Brain To CTE Research
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
O.J. Simpson's Estate Lock Horns With His Son Over Home He Lived In Before His Death
It has been nearly a year since O.J. Simpson died from a battle with prostate cancer; however, his chapter is not yet over, thanks to an issue with his estate. According to new reports, the late NFL star's lawyer and son are at odds over the rights to one of his homes. The legal rep, who is also the estate's executor, filed a suit against Justin Simpson and his Primary Holdings company. O.J. Simpson's longtime attorney called out his son for not following his final wishes. The legal drama comes months after the estate executor revealed he might have to butt heads with Justin to cover the deceased mounting debts. Malcolm LaVergne, the attorney serving as the special administrator of O.J.'s estate, slammed Justin for moving into his father's home and refusing to leave. The legal rep explained in his lawsuit that the late athlete's son had purchased the property through his LLC Primary Holdings. LaVergne claimed the company bought the home O.J. had been living in when he died through a deal. The terms of their agreement allegedly stated that Primary Holdings would own the property to protect O.J.'s financial interests and shield the house against creditor claims. However, Justin broke the agreement by moving into the home after his father's death while claiming he was entitled to the property as the owner of Primary Holdings. On that note, O.J.'s son refused to vacate the property, nor did he agree to pay back the alleged payments the deceased made in the past. LaVergne stressed that O.J. never wished to separate the house from his estate and had made the house payments, not Justin. Therefore, the attorney argued the latter was going against his late father's will by refusing to leave the home, per TMZ. Last August, The Blast reported that LaVergne had hinted at a rift between him and O.J.'s son. He referenced him while lamenting the mounting debts his late employer had left behind, revealing he needed millions to cover the bills. LaVergne hoped to bring in part of the massive sum by selling O.J.'s "forever" home in Las Vegas for over $269,000. However, he noted that the sale might not be a smooth transaction because he might have to butt heads with Justin, who helped his father purchase the property in 2022. Additionally, the estate executor claimed he faced "strong resistance" in his efforts to clear O.J.'s debts. Although he did not mention Justin, LaVergne implied the resistance came from the deceased's family, noting O.J.'s personal belongings were missing and he wanted them back. O.J. fell from grace after he was suspected of the murders of his former wife, Nicole Brown, and her friend, Ron Goldman, in 1994. Although he was acquitted of the charges, the case left him with a massive debt of $33.5 million. The court ordered the former NFL Most Valuable Player titleholder to pay the large sum to the victims' families, $33.5 million as he was later found liable for the crime. Because O.J. failed to settle the debt in 1997, the interest on the judgment reportedly increased the bill to around $100 million. If that wasn't bad enough, the State of California slammed O.J.'s estate with a $500K tax lien last year. Per the executor, these debts made the estate "virtually worthless," and LaVergne desperately searched for ways to fund the estate and pay back creditors. Following O.J.'s death from prostate cancer in April 2024, The Blast shared that LaVergne had debunked his family's claims of being by his side when he died. The estate executor shut down the narrative in an interview, revealing the deceased had passed away in the presence of a "close family member." As for why O.J.'s children couldn't be next to him in his last moments, LaVergne stressed that their absence did not diminish the love between the father and his kids. "You have to remember that they've shared O.J. with the world their entire lives," he said, adding: "At first, they shared good O.J. But still he was famous. And then, in 1994 on, they kind of had to share bad boy O.J. with the world. But at the end of the day, these children just lost a father." LaVergne's claims about the love between O.J. and his children were confirmed later in August when they immortalized their father's memory. The Blast covered that the legal rep confirmed the touching gesture in a statement, noting four of O.J.'s adult children had agreed to the deal. Arnelle, Jason, Sydney, and Justin Simpson converted their father's ashes into jewelry, but LaVergne did not specify their chosen type. However, cremation jewelry typically featured necklaces or bracelets with miniature urns as pendants. The process reportedly cost $4,243.06, covering the cremation, jewelry, and death certificates. Although O.J.'s children were not by his side when he died, their decision to keep him close to their hearts showcased their love for him. Will his other kids band with Justin in his fight against the estate executor, or will they stay neutral?
