Mark Fuhrman, a former detective and a witness in O.J. Simpson‘s highly publicized trial, died on May 12, 2026, multiple outlets reported on May 18. He was 74 and reportedly living with cancer.
Learn about Fuhrman, his connection to the Simpson trial and his cause of death below.
Who Was Mark Fuhrman?
Fuhrman was a Los Angeles Police Department detective. He retired from his job in 1995 and became a true crime writer, TV and radio personality.
How Was Mark Fuhrman Connected to the O.J. Simpson Trial?
Fuhrman testified during Simpson’s trial and was the police officer who found the bloody glove at the crime scene, where Simpson’s ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman were found dead in 1994. Fuhrman was discovered to have used the “n-word” racial slur in several recorded interviews. Simpson’s defense team used this to accuse Fuhrman of committing perjury on the stand, accusing him of planting key evidence in a racially motivated plot to convict Simpson at the time.
When asked whether he planted or created key evidence in a racially motivated scheme to convict Simpson, Fuhrman used his Fifth Amendment right and declined to answer.
Simpson was infamously acquitted of murder in 1995. In 1996, Fuhrman pleaded no contest to one felony count of perjury for lying about using a racial slur. He apologized for using racist language and claimed he was not racist.
How Did Mark Fuhrman Die?
Fuhrman’s cause of death has not been disclosed at the time of publication, but TMZ reported that he died from an “aggressive form of throat cancer.” He was diagnosed with the disease in 2025 and was hospitalized for a week before he passed, according to the outlet.
How Did O.J. Simpson Die? His Cause of Death
Simpson died in April 2024 after battling prostate cancer. The late ex-football player’s children released a statement at the time, confirming his death.
“On April 10th, our father, Orenthal James Simpson, succumbed to his battle with cancer,” the statement read. “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.”
