Jan Ashley was never a big celebrity. She did not try to be famous, and she did not appear on TV. But her name is known because she was married to Robert Kardashian Sr., the father of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob Kardashian. Even though her marriage to Robert lasted only one month, her life was much more than that.
This article tells her story in very simple and clear words, using lists and tables to make everything easy to understand.
Quick Facts About Jan Ashley
| Topic | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Janice Lynn Glass Ashley |
| Born | August 3, 1948, Texas, USA |
| Known For | Ex-wife of Robert Kardashian Sr. |
| Job | Beauty queen, model, homemaker |
| First Husband | John Ashley (actor and producer) |
| Second Husband | Robert Kardashian Sr. |
| Famous Issue | Comments about Khloé Kardashian’s paternity |
| Died | October 2015, age 67 |
Early Life: Growing Up in Texas
Jan Ashley was born and raised in Texas. She grew up in a simple, normal family. There is not much public information about her childhood, but people who knew her said she was:
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Friendly
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Quiet
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Polite
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Kind
As a teenager, she entered beauty pageants. Because she was very pretty and had a warm personality, she soon became well-known in local competitions.
Her Big Early Achievement
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In 1966, she won Miss Tulsa, one of the biggest pageants she competed in.
Winning this title opened many doors for her. It helped her move into small modeling jobs and made her more connected to people in the entertainment world.
Her First Marriage: A Long and Loving Partnership with John Ashley
Before anyone connected her to the Kardashian family, Jan married John Ashley, a Hollywood actor and producer.
Who Was John Ashley?
John Ashley was known for:
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Acting in movies and TV shows
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Producing the famous TV show The A-Team
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Working on many films in the Philippines
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Being respected in the entertainment world
Jan and John’s Marriage
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Married in 1978
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Lived both in the U.S. and abroad while John worked
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Jan often cared for John’s children from a past relationship
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Their marriage was known to be stable and full of love
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They stayed married for almost 20 years
A Tragic End
In 1997, John Ashley died suddenly from a heart attack while working overseas.
This loss deeply hurt Jan. After years of being happily married, she was suddenly alone. Friends said it took her a very long time to recover from her grief.
How Jan Met Robert Kardashian Sr.
A year or so after John’s death, Jan met Robert Kardashian Sr. The way they met is often described as unusual. According to some stories:
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Robert saw a picture of Jan while looking at a house
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He asked who she was
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A mutual friend later introduced them
Why They Connected
Both Jan and Robert:
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Had gone through emotional pain
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Wanted companionship
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Shared similar values
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Enjoyed simple, family-oriented life
Their relationship grew quickly, and they soon started talking about marriage.
Their Short Marriage: Only About 30 Days
Jan Ashley and Robert Kardashian married in November 1998 in Vail, Colorado.
Wedding Highlights
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Small and quiet
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Some of Robert’s children attended
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The couple went on a ski trip for their honeymoon
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Everyone hoped it would be a fresh start for both of them
But things changed fast.
Why the Marriage Fell Apart (Jan’s Version)
Jan later explained several reasons for their breakup:
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Robert was still emotionally hurt from his divorce from Kris Jenner.
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Family problems made life stressful.
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Money issues and financial requests caused conflict.
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Pressure from the Kardashian family made Jan feel unwelcome.
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Arguments increased, and both became unhappy.
Within one month, the marriage was over.
Robert filed for annulment, which means the marriage was legally treated as if it never happened.
Comparing Her Two Marriages
| Topic | Marriage to John Ashley | Marriage to Robert Kardashian |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Nearly 20 years | About 30 days |
| Type | Loving and stable | Stressful and short |
| Lifestyle | Quiet Hollywood life | Public attention due to Kardashians |
| Main Issue | John’s sudden death | Family conflict & emotional stress |
| Impact on Jan | Deep love, long partnership | Emotional confusion and media interest |
The Khloé Kardashian Paternity Controversy
Many years after her divorce from Robert, Jan Ashley became part of a big media story.
In 2012, Jan said in an interview that:
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Robert once told her that Khloé Kardashian might not be his biological daughter.
This claim created a huge storm online and in the news. Robert’s third wife, Ellen Pierson, made similar statements around the same time.
How the Kardashians Responded
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Khloé strongly denied everything.
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Kris Jenner also denied the claims.
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The family accused Jan and Ellen of lying and trying to get attention.
There has never been any public DNA test to prove anything, so the story remains unconfirmed.
Many people felt sorry for Khloé because the topic was very personal and painful.
Jan’s Life After the Drama
After the big media controversy, Jan Ashley chose to stay quiet. She did not give many interviews and did not try to keep her name in the spotlight.
How She Lived Afterward
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Stayed away from media
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Spent time with close friends and family
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Lived a simple and peaceful life
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Did not involve herself again in Kardashian discussions
People who knew her described her as gentle, private, and someone who liked calm, normal life away from Hollywood noise.
Her Death and Legacy
Jan Ashley passed away in October 2015 at the age of 67.
She was:
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Remembered kindly by friends
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Given a private funeral
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Laid to rest near her first husband, John Ashley
How People Remember Her Today
Jan Ashley is remembered for:
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Her long, loving marriage to John Ashley
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Her extremely short marriage to Robert Kardashian
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Her involvement in the Khloé paternity story
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Her quiet and private personality despite being connected to fame
Simple Summary of Jan Ashley’s Life
Here is a short, basic summary in simple bullet points:
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Born in Texas in 1948
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Won Miss Tulsa in 1966
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Married actor John Ashley in 1978
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Widowed when John died in 1997
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Married Robert Kardashian Sr. in 1998
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Marriage lasted about 30 days
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Spoke publicly about Khloé Kardashian’s paternity in 2012
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Lived quietly afterward
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Died in 2015 at age 67
Final Thoughts
Jan Ashley never looked for fame. She was a private person who happened to marry two well-known men. Her life was shaped by love, loss, and unexpected public attention. Even though her time with the Kardashian family was short, it made her a small but memorable part of their history.
In the end, Jan’s story is not about drama—it is about a woman who lived most of her life quietly, loved deeply, and tried to stay true to herself, even while surrounded by the noise of fame.