Jan Ashley became known for her short marriage to Robert Kardashian Sr. He was a lawyer and businessman. He was also the father of the famous Kardashian children.
Her birth name was Janice Lynn Glass. She grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She later became Miss Tulsa and worked at Phillips Petroleum.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Janice Lynn Glass Ashley |
| Known as | Jan Ashley |
| Birth | August 1948 |
| Birthplace | Amarillo, Texas, United States |
| Raised in | Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Nationality | American |
| High school | Will Rogers High School |
| Pageant title | Miss Tulsa 1966 |
| Early career | Executive secretary |
| Employer | Phillips Petroleum |
| First husband | John Ashley |
| Marriage to John Ashley | 1978 until his death in 1997 |
| Second husband | Robert Kardashian Sr. |
| Marriage to Robert | November 25, 1998 |
| Marriage ending | Annulled in 1999 |
| Children with Robert | None |
| Returned to Oklahoma | 2012 |
| Death | October 1, 2015 |
| Age at death | 67 |
| Burial | Forest Lawn Memorial Park, California |
Early Life of Jan Ashley
Jan Ashley was born as Janice Lynn Glass in Amarillo, Texas, in August 1948. Her parents were James Douglas Glass and Monnie M. Glass. Her family later moved to Tulsa.
She went to Will Rogers High School in Tulsa. In 1966, she won the title of Miss Tulsa. This gave her local fame while she was still young.
After school, Jan started working. She became an executive secretary to Kenneth Stanley “Boots” Adams. He was an important leader at Phillips Petroleum.
Jan Ashley’s Career
Much of her later fame came from her marriages. Still, Jan had her own work life before that time. She worked in a large company and held a trusted office job.
Her work at Phillips Petroleum put her in a busy business setting. She worked close to senior leaders. The job also gave her years of office experience.
Her early life was simple and private. She had a local pageant title and a steady job. Fame came much later.
Jan Ashley and Her Marriage to John Ashley
In 1978, Jan Ashley married John Ashley. He was an American actor, singer, and producer. The couple later lived in California.
John Ashley acted in films such as Beach Party and Beach Blanket Bingo. He also worked as a producer. His TV work included The A Team and Walker, Texas Ranger.
Their marriage lasted for almost 20 years. John died on October 3, 1997. He was 62 years old at the time.
Who Was Robert Kardashian Sr. Before Jan Ashley?
Robert George Kardashian was born on February 22, 1944, in Los Angeles. He studied at the University of Southern California. He later earned a law degree.
Robert became famous during the O. J. Simpson murder trial. He had known O. J. Simpson for years. He later joined Simpson’s legal team.
Robert had already been married before he met Jan. His first wife was Kris Jenner, who was then Kris Kardashian. They had four children together.
Jan Ashley and Robert Kardashian’s Marriage
Jan Ashley married Robert Kardashian Sr. on November 25, 1998. The marriage took place a little more than one year after John Ashley died. Robert was already a well known public figure.
The marriage soon faced problems. Robert later asked the court to end the marriage through a nullity. He filed a sworn statement in May 1999.
In that statement, Robert said they had talked about having a child. He later changed his mind. Their marriage ended in an annulment in 1999.
Why Did Jan Ashley and Robert Kardashian’s Marriage End?
Robert gave one main reason in his court statement. He said they had planned to have a child together. He later decided that he did not want more children.
Jan Ashley gave a different view years later. She said family stress hurt the marriage. She spoke about problems linked to Kris Jenner and Robert’s children.
The two stories do not fully match. So, no one can prove every private reason for the split. What is clear is that the marriage ended in 1999.
What Did Jan Ashley Say About the Kardashian Family?
Years later, Jan Ashley spoke about her former husband and his family. Her comments brought her name back into the news. She also talked about family tension.
The biggest issue came in 2012. Jan claimed Robert had told her that Khloé Kardashian was not his birth daughter. Ellen Pierson later made a similar claim.
The Kardashian family denied the story. Kris Jenner rejected it, and Khloé also spoke against it. Robert had also called all four children his biological children in a court paper.
Robert Kardashian’s Later Life
Robert’s children later became world famous. They are Kourtney Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, and Rob Kardashian. Their TV fame came after Robert died.
After his marriage to Jan ended, Robert later married Ellen Pierson. They married in 2003. Robert was very ill at the time.
Robert died on September 30, 2003. He was 59 years old. He had esophageal cancer.
Life After Robert Kardashian
After the annulment, Jan did not build a TV career. She stayed away from daily celebrity news for most of her later life. Her public image remained much smaller than that of the Kardashian family.
She appeared in the news mostly when she spoke about Robert. These interviews brought short bursts of attention. Still, she did not become a full time media figure.
In 2012, she moved back to Oklahoma. This was the state where she had spent much of her youth. It was also where she went to school and became Miss Tulsa.
Jan Ashley’s Death and Final Years
Jan Ashley died on October 1, 2015. She was 67 years old. Her family later shared news of her death.
Her family remembered her as a sister and aunt. Her parents and John Ashley had died before her. Her brother Jerry D. Glass survived her.
Her family planned a private service. She was to be buried beside John Ashley at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in California. Their long marriage remained a major part of her life story.
A Life Beyond the Kardashian Name
It is easy to know Jan Ashley only because of Robert Kardashian. But her life had many parts before that marriage. She grew up in Oklahoma, worked, and won a local beauty title.
She also spent many years married to John Ashley. Her marriage to Robert was far shorter. Still, it became the part of her life that drew the most public interest.
Her later comments caused debate, mainly because of the claim about Khloé’s father. That claim was denied by the Kardashian family. Her life is best told through facts that can be checked.
FAQs
Who was Jan Ashley?
Jan Ashley was born as Janice Lynn Glass. She became Miss Tulsa in 1966, worked at Phillips Petroleum, married John Ashley, and later became the second wife of Robert Kardashian Sr.
How long was Jan Ashley married to Robert Kardashian?
She married Robert Kardashian Sr. on November 25, 1998. The marriage was short and ended in an annulment in 1999.
Was Jan Ashley married before Robert Kardashian?
Yes. Her first husband was John Ashley, an actor and producer. They married in 1978 and stayed married until his death in 1997.
Did Jan Ashley have children with Robert Kardashian?
No. She and Robert had no children together. Robert already had four children with Kris Jenner.
What happened to Jan Ashley?
She moved back to Oklahoma in 2012. She died on October 1, 2015, at age 67. She was to be buried beside John Ashley in California.