Jim Brown, the transcendent athlete-actor-activist who ran roughshod over the NFL and won multiple MVP awards before retiring abruptly at age 30 to focus on the civil rights movement and a career in Hollywood, died at the age of 87, his former team and his widow said on Friday, May 19.

Brown, a running back, led the NFL in rushing eight times in nine seasons and helped lead the Cleveland Browns to a championship in 1964.

He surprised sports fans two years later when, at the height of his career, he announced his retirement while filming the World War II film "The Dirty Dozen." Brown appeared in more than 50 film and television projects in the years that followed.

Brown also made his mark as a civil rights activist, working with inner-city gang members and prison inmates.

"One of the greatest players in NFL history, a true pioneer and activist," the NFL tweeted. "Jim Brown's legacy will live on forever."

Brown was a multisport star at Syracuse University in New York, competing in basketball, football, lacrosse and track. He scored more than 70 lacrosse goals in two seasons for Syracuse, and he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983.
Brown was a multisport star at Syracuse University in New York, competing in basketball, football, lacrosse and track. He scored more than 70 lacrosse goals in two seasons for Syracuse, and he was inducted into the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame in 1983.
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Brown plays football for Syracuse in the 1957 Cotton Bowl. Brown, a bruising fullback, rushed for three touchdowns in the game.
Brown plays football for Syracuse in the 1957 Cotton Bowl. Brown, a bruising fullback, rushed for three touchdowns in the game.
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Brown shakes hands with Paul Brown, head coach of the Cleveland Browns, after rushing for an NFL-record 237 yards in November 1957. Cleveland drafted the running back with the sixth pick overall that year.
Brown shakes hands with Paul Brown, head coach of the Cleveland Browns, after rushing for an NFL-record 237 yards in November 1957. Cleveland drafted the running back with the sixth pick overall that year.
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Brown runs during a game against Dallas in 1960. He led the league in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and was named MVP in 1957, 1958 and 1965.
Brown runs during a game against Dallas in 1960. He led the league in rushing in eight of his nine seasons and was named MVP in 1957, 1958 and 1965.
AP
Brown plays with his twins Kevin and Kim in 1961.
Brown plays with his twins Kevin and Kim in 1961.
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Brown, right, joins boxers Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali after Ali won a bout in 1963.
Brown, right, joins boxers Sugar Ray Robinson and Muhammad Ali after Ali won a bout in 1963.
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Brown is bundled up on the sidelines during an NFL game against the New York Giants in December 1964.
Brown is bundled up on the sidelines during an NFL game against the New York Giants in December 1964.
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Brown rumbles down the sideline during the NFL Championship Game in December 1964. The Browns smashed the Baltimore Colts 27-0.
Brown rumbles down the sideline during the NFL Championship Game in December 1964. The Browns smashed the Baltimore Colts 27-0.
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Brown visits with Elvis Presley as Presley was filming the 1964 film "Roundabout." Brown was working on the Western movie "Rio Conchos," which was his film acting debut.
Brown visits with Elvis Presley as Presley was filming the 1964 film "Roundabout." Brown was working on the Western movie "Rio Conchos," which was his film acting debut.
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Brown reads the New York Daily News in 1965 after he had a big game against the Giants.
Brown reads the New York Daily News in 1965 after he had a big game against the Giants.
AP
Brown went to nine Pro Bowls during his NFL career, and he finished with 12,312 rushing yards and 2,499 receiving yards. He ran for 106 touchdowns and caught 20.
Brown went to nine Pro Bowls during his NFL career, and he finished with 12,312 rushing yards and 2,499 receiving yards. He ran for 106 touchdowns and caught 20.
Tony Tomsic/AP
In 1966, while filming "The Dirty Dozen," Brown announced that he would be retiring from professional football at the age of 30. "My ambition right now is to devote as much time as possible to the National Negro Industrial and Economic Union project, which stresses full participation of Negroes in the mainstream of the American economy," he said at his news conference. Brown founded the organization, later renamed the Black Economic Union, to support Black entrepreneurship.
In 1966, while filming "The Dirty Dozen," Brown announced that he would be retiring from professional football at the age of 30. "My ambition right now is to devote as much time as possible to the National Negro Industrial and Economic Union project, which stresses full participation of Negroes in the mainstream of the American economy," he said at his news conference. Brown founded the organization, later renamed the Black Economic Union, to support Black entrepreneurship.
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Brown appears in a publicity photo for his acting career. After retiring, he appeared in more than 50 film and television projects.
Brown appears in a publicity photo for his acting career. After retiring, he appeared in more than 50 film and television projects.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Brown and other leading Black athletes offer support for boxer Muhammad Ali and his reasons for rejecting the draft during the Vietnam War in 1967. Seated from left are Bill Russell, Ali, Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
Brown and other leading Black athletes offer support for boxer Muhammad Ali and his reasons for rejecting the draft during the Vietnam War in 1967. Seated from left are Bill Russell, Ali, Brown and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.
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Brown meets with children in Madrid while on the set of the 1969 film "100 Rifles."
Brown meets with children in Madrid while on the set of the 1969 film "100 Rifles."
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Brown co-starred with Raquel Welch in "100 Rifles," which was one of the first major studio films to feature an interracial love scene.
Brown co-starred with Raquel Welch in "100 Rifles," which was one of the first major studio films to feature an interracial love scene.
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Brown, right, and Fred Williamson star in the 1974 film "Three the Hard Way."
Brown, right, and Fred Williamson star in the 1974 film "Three the Hard Way."
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Brown joins Vin Scully, center, and George Allen while commentating on an NFL game in Los Angeles in 1978.
Brown joins Vin Scully, center, and George Allen while commentating on an NFL game in Los Angeles in 1978.
Yarnold/AP
Brown poses for a portrait at his Los Angeles home in 1984.
Brown poses for a portrait at his Los Angeles home in 1984.
Lennox McLendon/AP
Brown and attorney Johnnie Cochran enter a court in Los Angeles in 1985. That year, Brown was charged with raping and assaulting a 33-year-old woman in his home. The judge later dismissed the charges based on inconsistent testimony. During the 1960s, Brown was charged on two separate occasions with assaulting women: a jury found him not guilty in one case, and the charge was dismissed in the other after the woman refused to name him as her assailant. In 1999, following a domestic disturbance with his wife, Monique, Brown was arrested and charged with making terrorist threats toward her. In the 911 tape, she accused Brown of threatening to kill her, a claim she later recanted. A jury found Brown guilty of vandalism for smashing his wife's car with a shovel.
Brown and attorney Johnnie Cochran enter a court in Los Angeles in 1985. That year, Brown was charged with raping and assaulting a 33-year-old woman in his home. The judge later dismissed the charges based on inconsistent testimony. During the 1960s, Brown was charged on two separate occasions with assaulting women: a jury found him not guilty in one case, and the charge was dismissed in the other after the woman refused to name him as her assailant. In 1999, following a domestic disturbance with his wife, Monique, Brown was arrested and charged with making terrorist threats toward her. In the 911 tape, she accused Brown of threatening to kill her, a claim she later recanted. A jury found Brown guilty of vandalism for smashing his wife's car with a shovel.
Bettmann Archive/Getty Images
Brown talks with Florida Rep. Mitch Needelman, right, and Juvenile Justice Secretary Walt McNeil before meeting with the Florida House Committee on Juvenile Justice in 2007. Brown addressed the committee regarding gang intervention and prevention.
Brown talks with Florida Rep. Mitch Needelman, right, and Juvenile Justice Secretary Walt McNeil before meeting with the Florida House Committee on Juvenile Justice in 2007. Brown addressed the committee regarding gang intervention and prevention.
Phil Coale/AP
Brown and his wife, Monique, stand in front of his statue outside the Cleveland Browns' stadium in 2016.
Brown and his wife, Monique, stand in front of his statue outside the Cleveland Browns' stadium in 2016.
David Richard/AP
Brown, center, attends a football game in Israel along with NFL legends Jerome Bettis, left, and Cris Carter in 2017. Eighteen members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were in the country to meet some of the 2,000 active players in Israel's various leagues.
Brown, center, attends a football game in Israel along with NFL legends Jerome Bettis, left, and Cris Carter in 2017. Eighteen members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were in the country to meet some of the 2,000 active players in Israel's various leagues.
Tsafrir Abayov/AP
Brown and rapper Kanye West meet US President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office for a working lunch to discuss the criminal justice system and prison reform in 2018.
Brown and rapper Kanye West meet US President Donald Trump in the White House Oval Office for a working lunch to discuss the criminal justice system and prison reform in 2018.
Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/Sipa USA/AP
Brown attends a gala for the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation, which raises money for cancer research, in 2022.
Brown attends a gala for the Harold and Carole Pump Foundation, which raises money for cancer research, in 2022.
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