O.J. Simpson First Wife Marguerite Whitley: Marriage, Kids And What Happened After

ByJennifer Gibson

If you’re searching for O.J. Simpson’s first wife, the answer is Marguerite Whitley (sometimes listed as Marguerite L. Whitley). She was married to O.J. Simpson long before the world knew him for a murder trial and long before he became a tabloid-level figure. Their relationship is part of the “early chapter” of his life—college football, the rise to fame, and a young family trying to live inside growing celebrity pressure.

Quick Facts About Marguerite Whitley

  • Name: Marguerite Whitley (O.J. Simpson’s first wife)
  • Married To O.J. Simpson: 1967
  • Divorced: 1979
  • Children Together: Three (Arnelle, Jason, Aaren)
  • Public Profile: Largely private, especially compared to O.J.’s later fame

Who Was O.J. Simpson’s First Wife Marguerite Whitley

Marguerite Whitley is best known publicly as O.J. Simpson’s first wife, but during their marriage she wasn’t a celebrity figure in the way people think of today. Their relationship began before O.J. became a national sports icon, which meant their early life together was built in a more normal context—until fame started changing everything around them.

Unlike O.J.’s later marriage to Nicole Brown Simpson, which became permanently tied to major headlines, Marguerite’s name mostly appears in biographical summaries and family-history discussions. She has generally stayed out of the spotlight for decades.

When Did O.J. Simpson Marry Marguerite Whitley

O.J. Simpson married Marguerite Whitley in 1967. The timing is important because it places their marriage at the start of his rise—when his athletic career was rapidly expanding and public attention was beginning to follow him everywhere.

Fame can transform a marriage quickly. One partner becomes a public figure, schedules become unpredictable, and privacy becomes rare. For many couples, especially young couples, that shift adds pressure in ways most people never experience.

How Long Were They Married

Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson were married for about 12 years. They divorced in 1979. Over those years, O.J. moved deeper into the world of national sports fame and celebrity visibility—two things that can be exciting from the outside but exhausting inside a household.

Did Marguerite Whitley And O.J. Simpson Have Children

Yes. Marguerite Whitley and O.J. Simpson had three children together:

  • Arnelle
  • Jason
  • Aaren

Most people know these names because of later public interest in O.J.’s life, but Marguerite’s role in that story is often overlooked. She was raising a family during the most chaotic part of his fame buildup—when the demands of public life and the reality of home life can collide hard.

The Tragedy In 1979

One of the most heartbreaking parts of this timeline is that their youngest child, Aaren, died in 1979 after a drowning accident. This happened in the same year as the divorce, which is part of why 1979 is often described as a devastating turning point in the family’s story.

When a family goes through grief like that, it doesn’t just affect emotions—it can reshape relationships, routines, and the ability to cope with stress. It’s one of those losses that changes everything, whether people talk about it publicly or not.

Why Marguerite Whitley Stayed So Private

A big reason people keep searching “O.J. Simpson first wife” is that Marguerite never became a public-facing personality. She didn’t build a media brand. She didn’t sit for constant interviews. She mostly disappeared from the public conversation, especially after O.J.’s later life became dominated by headlines.

There are a few practical reasons someone in her position might choose privacy:

  • Protection: Avoiding unwanted attention and speculation
  • Family boundaries: Keeping children and relatives away from public chaos
  • Normal life preference: Not everyone wants fame, even if they were once close to it

And in her case, privacy likely became even more important once O.J.’s name turned into a global flashpoint in the 1990s.

How This Marriage Fits Into O.J. Simpson’s Larger Timeline

O.J. Simpson’s life story is often told in two halves: “football and fame” and “trial and controversy.” Marguerite Whitley belongs to the first half—the era where he was building a public identity as a star athlete and a celebrity figure.

After divorcing Marguerite in 1979, O.J. later married Nicole Brown Simpson (his second wife). That second marriage, and its tragic ending, became the most widely discussed chapter of his personal life. But Marguerite’s role matters because she was there at the beginning—when his fame was becoming a force that affected everything around him.

Bottom Line

O.J. Simpson’s first wife was Marguerite Whitley. They married in 1967, divorced in 1979, and had three children together: Arnelle, Jason, and Aaren. Their story is largely private, but it includes both the early years of O.J.’s rise to fame and a major family tragedy in 1979. If you’re looking for the clean answer to the search: Marguerite Whitley is the first wife—and the first major chapter in his family life.

Featured image source: https://abcnews.com/US/oj-simpson-trial-now/story?id=17377772

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