F. Lee Bailey.Photo: Jonathan Wiggs/The Boston Globe via Getty
F. Lee Bailey, the famed attorney widely known for his role on the O.J. Simpson trial, died on Thursday. He was 87.
Superior Court Judge Kenneth J. Fishman, Bailey’s former partner, confirmed his passing toThe Boston Globe.
Bailey’s oldest son Bendrix Lee toldTMZthat his father died of what the family suspects to be old age while living in hospice. He also revealed that his father did not want a funeral and will most likely be cremated.
The family is considering a celebration of life ceremony, his son told the outlet.
Bailey was one of the members ofO.J. Simpson’s legal “Dream Team” in the1995 trialalongside Johnnie Cochran,Robert Shapiro,Robert Kardashianand more. The trial led to the acquittal of the former NFL star in the murders of his ex-wife,Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Simpson, 73, spoke out about Bailey’s death in a video posted on Twitter, calling Bailey “a great friend” and “one of the great lawyers of our time.”
F. Lee Bailey and OJ Simpson.MYUNG J. CHUN/AFP via Getty
Simpson also alleged that his former defense attorney just finished a book about his perspective of the 1995 trial last week. “Normally, I read nothing about that case, but that is one book I’m looking forward to reading,” the former NFL player said.
F. Lee Bailey holding photo of the Boston Strangler.Bettmann/ Getty
Bailey is also known for representing Albert DeSalvo who confessed to being the Boston Strangler and getting the acquittal of Ohio doctorSam Sheppardwho was suspected in his wife Marilyn Reese’s murder in a re-trial after he was initially found guilty.
Several of the defense attorney’s cases have beenfeatured in television and movies. Nathan Lane famously played Bailey inAmerican Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson, to great acclaim.
In 2001, Bailey was disbarred for alleged misconduct, first in Florida and then in Massachussets. He was denied admittance to practice law in Maine after passing the state’s bar exam,TheBoston Globereported.
Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.
Among other career moves, Bailey was once the host of the 1967 home television showGood Companyand the host of the legal reality showLie Detectorin 1983.
The attorney was married four times throughout his life and had three children.
source: people.com
