The former LAPD detective whose name became forever tied to one of America’s most explosive murder trials has died, closing another chapter in the saga that captivated the nation for decades.

Mark Fuhrman, the former Los Angeles Police Department detective who became one of the most controversial figures in the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder case, died at 74 after reportedly battling an aggressive form of throat cancer.

Chief Deputy Coroner Lynette Acebedo of Kootenai County, Idaho, confirmed Fuhrman’s death to Fox News Digital on Monday. NBC4 reported that he died last week.

A Detective at the Center of the “Trial of the Century”

Fuhrman became a pivotal figure during the trial surrounding the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman after discovering a bloody glove at Simpson’s Rockingham estate.

Prosecutors argued the glove matched another found near the bodies of the two victims, a piece of evidence they believed strongly linked Simpson to the killings.

At first, Fuhrman’s testimony appeared to strengthen the prosecution’s case.

Then the trial took a dramatic turn.

Audio recordings later surfaced in which Fuhrman used racial slurs, including the N-word, igniting outrage and triggering fierce debate over racism, police conduct, and the integrity of the investigation itself.

“He Got in Trouble at the O.J. Simpson Trial”

Forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, who said he knew Fuhrman and worked with him over the years, reflected on how quickly the detective’s role shifted from key investigator to deeply controversial witness.

"He got in trouble at the O.J. Simpson trial because of things he said to a reporter that were recorded," Baden told Fox News Digital.

Despite previously denying such conduct under oath, Fuhrman’s credibility came under intense scrutiny after the tapes became public.

The defense seized on the recordings to argue that evidence may have been mishandled and even suggested Fuhrman planted the bloody glove to frame Simpson.

The accusations became one of the defining moments of the trial and fueled public distrust that still surrounds the case today.

The Only Person Convicted in Connection to the Trial

Fuhrman was later accused of lying on the witness stand and was convicted of perjury in 1996, making him the only person associated with the Simpson case to be convicted of a crime tied to the trial.

Even with the controversy that followed him for decades, Baden still described Fuhrman as a talented investigator.

Despite the controversy surrounding the case, Baden described Fuhrman as "a very smart detective," while adding, "he wasn’t always totally accurate."

Baden also said Fuhrman remained deeply driven by investigative work throughout his life.

"I think they’ll remember him," Baden said, reflecting on Fuhrman’s lasting public legacy decades after the "Trial of the Century."

He further described Fuhrman as "an investigative detective at heart" who was "intense in what he was doing."

Life After the LAPD

After retiring from the LAPD in 1995 amid the fallout from the Simpson trial, Fuhrman stayed in the spotlight through a career in media and true crime.

He became a true crime author and talk radio host while continuing to participate in major criminal investigations.

According to Baden, Fuhrman also worked on the high-profile Martha Moxley murder case in Connecticut involving Michael Skakel, a cousin of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

His opinions on criminal investigations, policing, and unsolved cases kept him in the public eye long after the Simpson verdict stunned the country.

Kato Kaelin Reflects on Fuhrman’s Death

Kato Kaelin, an actor and friend of slain Nicole Brown Simpson, responded to news of Fuhrman’s death with a message focused on reflection and loss.

"It’s always sad to learn of the passing of someone so my thoughts go out to his family during this difficult time," he said. "While we were never close personally, our lives were indelibly linked through our roles in the O.J. Simpson trial over thirty years ago. It was a deeply complex and painful chapter for everyone involved, but any loss of life is a time for reflection and solemnity. I hope his loved ones can find peace in their grief."

More than 30 years after the O.J. Simpson trial dominated headlines across America, Fuhrman’s name remains inseparable from the courtroom battle that exposed deep national divisions over race, policing, celebrity, and justice.