Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter Dead -- Boxer Dies at Age 76

Boxer Rubin "Hurricane" Carter -- whose wrongful murder conviction in the '60s became an international symbol for racial injustice -- has died.

Carter died in his sleep Sunday at his home in Toronto where he had been getting treatments for prostate cancer ... according to reports.

Carter spent 20 years in jail for a wrongful murder conviction -- but he maintained his innocence the entire time.

Police arrested Carter in '66 for a triple homicide ... however, none of the eyewitnesses identified Carter as the shooter. Carter was tried and convicted twice -- but after the second conviction was overturned in 1985, prosecutors gave up.

Bob Dylan even wrote a song about the trial called, "Hurricane."

The boxer's life story was made into a movie in 1999 called "The Hurricane" and he was played by Denzel Washington. The actor was nominated for an Oscar for the role.