Jim Brown, NFL Great, Actor And Social Activist, Dies At 87

Jim Brown was virtually unstoppable in every arena. Whether on the field, as a Hollywood film hero, or civil rights advocate, Brown was a force.

Photo Insert: During his NFL tenure, Brown never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 — after being named Most Valuable Player.

One of the greatest players in NFL history, Brown, who retired at the peak of his playing career to pursue acting and remained in the public spotlight as an activist — and due to off-field transgressions that included allegations of violence against women — has died.

He was 87, Tom Withers reported for the Associated Press (AP).

A spokeswoman for Brown’s family said he died peacefully in his Los Angeles home on Thursday night with his wife, Monique, by his side.

“To the world, he was an activist, actor, and football star,” Monique Brown wrote in an Instagram post. “To our family, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken.”

One of pro football’s first superstars, Brown was a wrecking ball while leading the league in rushing for eight of his nine seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He never missed a game, playing in 118 straight before his sudden retirement in 1965 — after being named Most Valuable Player.

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