High-profile lawyer F. Lee Bailey dies at age 87

F. Lee Bailey, a controversial attorney known for defending famous clients like O.J. Simpson and the alleged Boston Strangler, died Thursday. He was 87 years old.

What is the legacy Bailey leaves behind? Bailey’s law career spanned four decades. Born in a Boston suburb, he left Harvard University to join the Marine Corps and became a Marine pilot. He later earned a law degree from Boston University in 1960. He made a name for himself defending the alleged Boston Strangler, Albert DeSalvo, from 1962 to 1964. He went on to defend other controversial public figures, most notably O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted on murder charges in 1995. Described as brilliant by some and egocentric by others, Bailey sought publicity throughout his career. In 2001 the Florida and Massachusetts state bar associations disbarred him on charges he mishandled stock owned by a convicted drug smuggler. He served six weeks in federal prison after being held in contempt of court when he refused to turn over the stock. He is survived by his three children.

Dig deeper: Read WORLD’s review of The People vs. O.J. Simpson, a mini-series dramatizing the 1995 murder trial.