Role Call: Who’s who in FX’s “The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”

FX’s 10-episode limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson (Tuesdays at 10pm ET/PT beginning Feb. 2) dramatizes one of the seminal news stories of the 20th century: the events surrounding the arrest and trial of former football star O.J. Simpson for the murders of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman in 1994. Based on Jeffrey Toobin’s book The Run of His Life: The People v. O.J. Simpson and from executive producer Ryan Murphy, the series assembles a stellar cast, including John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Schwimmer, Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance, Bruce Greenwood, Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Nathan Lane. Here’s a list of the major players in the trial, and who plays them in the series:

O.J. Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.)
Simpson
Former college and pro football star, “The Juice” became an actor, football broadcaster, celebrity pitchman and prime suspect in the murder of his ex-wife and her friend.

Robert Shapiro (John Travolta)
Shapiro
Celebrity lawyer initially led O.J.’s defense team and made a televised appeal to O.J. to surrender to police.

Robert Kardashian (David Schwimmer)
Kardashian
O.J.’s close friend and lawyer read a letter from O.J. — interpreted by many as a suicide note — at a televised press conference.

Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson)
Clark
Deputy D.A. who became the case’s lead prosecutor.

Johnnie Cochran (Courtney B. Vance)
Cochran
A lead attorney on O.J.’s defense team, Cochran represented celebrities like Michael Jackson, and was renowned for civil rights and police misconduct cases.

ALSO SEE: Courtney B. Vance recalls O.J. Simpson case, meeting Johnnie Cochran

Christopher Darden (Sterling K. Brown)
Darden
Deputy D.A. who became Clark’s co-counsel on the prosecution.

Lance Ito (Kenneth Choi)
Ito
Judge presiding over the trial was criticized for allowing TV cameras into the courtroom.

Gil Garcetti (Bruce Greenwood)
Garcetti
L.A. County D.A. whose office prosecuted the case.

Mark Fuhrman (Steven Pasquale)
Furhman
The LAPD detective’s past use of racial epithets severely damaged the prosecution’s case.

F. Lee Bailey (Nathan Lane)
Bailey
The defense lawyer famously discredited Fuhrman and introduced the possibility of racially motivated evidence tampering by police.

Al Cowlings (Malcolm-Jamal Warner)
Cowlings
O.J.’s close friend and former teammate, “A.C.” drove the white Ford Bronco famously chased by the LAPD.

Kato Kaelin (Billy Magnussen)
Kato
A bit-part actor staying in O.J.’s guest house, Kaelin testified to hearing “thumps” outside on the night of the murder. He became a media circus sideshow attraction.

Photos: Copyright 2015, FX Networks. All rights reserved. Credit: FX, Fox 21 TVS, FXP & Credit: Michael Becker/FX Networks

About Ryan Berenz 2166 Articles
Member of the Television Critics Association. Charter member of the Ancient and Mystic Society of No Homers. Squire of the Ancient & Benevolent Order of the Lynx, Lodge 49, Long Beach, Calif. Costco Wholesale Gold Star Member since 2011.