Jan Ashley is best known as the second wife of the late lawyer Robert Kardashian, but her life was much more than one short marriage. She was a Texas-born former pageant winner who spent most of her years away from the spotlight.
Her name returned to headlines in 2012 after she spoke about the Kardashian family. This guide covers her background, her marriages, the controversy and her passing, and it separates confirmed facts from claims.
Jan Ashley Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Full name | Janice Lynn Glass Ashley |
| Known as | Jan Ashley |
| Born | August 3, 1948 (reported) |
| Birthplace | Amarillo, Texas |
| Died | October 1, 2015, in Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Known for | Second wife of Robert Kardashian |
| First husband | Actor and producer John Ashley |
| Children | No confirmed children |
| Social media | None |
Who Is Jan Ashley
Jan Ashley was an American former beauty pageant titleholder. Most people know her because of her brief marriage to Robert Kardashian in 1998. Do not confuse her with other people who share the name, such as entertainers in other countries.
Janice Lynn Glass Ashley at a Glance
- Born Janice Lynn Glass in Texas
- Crowned Miss Tulsa in 1966
- Widowed in 1997 after her marriage to John Ashley
- Married Robert Kardashian in 1998
- Died in 2015 at age 67
Early Life in Texas
Jan was born in Amarillo and raised there. Reports name her parents as James Douglas Glass and Monnie M. Glass. Little else is known about her childhood, and her siblings are not publicly documented.
Growing Up in Amarillo
Amarillo is a Texas Panhandle city. Sources describe a simple, grounded upbringing, but no reliable interviews give more detail. That lack of public records fits her later preference for privacy.
Miss Tulsa and Her Early Recognition
Jan’s first public recognition came through pageants. She won the Miss Tulsa title in 1966, when she was about 18.
Success in Beauty Pageants
The title gave her local attention in Oklahoma. It is the main career highlight tied to her name. No other professional career, such as acting or business, is confirmed for her.
Her First Marriage to John Ashley
Before Kardashian, Jan was married to John Ashley. He was an actor and producer known for beach-party films and low-budget movies from the 1950s to the 1970s.
Marriage to the Actor and Producer
Reports say they married in 1978. John died on October 3, 1997, and one account says he had a heart attack near a studio where a film was in production. He had earlier been married and had a son from a previous marriage.
Some sites list Cole Ashley as Jan’s child. Others say she had no children. Since John had children from other relationships, Jan is best described as having no confirmed children of her own.
How She Met Robert Kardashian
Jan said she met Kardashian in early 1998. She was selling her house, and he came to look at it. She recalled that he noticed her photo there.
Introduction Through Los Angeles Social Circles
No reliable source ties their meeting to Los Angeles social circles. By her own account, they met through a home sale. Robert was well known at the time as a lawyer and for his role in the O.J. Simpson trial, so a relationship with him drew curiosity.
Marriage to Robert Kardashian and Its Quick End
The marriage was one of the shortest chapters in Kardashian family history. It lasted only weeks.
The 1998 Marriage
Reports say they married on November 25, 1998. Robert had divorced Kris Jenner years earlier. Some accounts say he had recently faced serious health issues, though details vary by source.
Annulment and Legal Resolution
Several sources say the marriage ended within about a month. Some call it an annulment, and others call it a divorce. The exact legal wording is unclear in public sources. What is consistent is that the union ended almost right away.
Why the Marriage Fell Apart
Jan gave her own explanation in later interviews, so this is her account and not a legal finding.
Family Differences and Personal Goals
Reports suggest Jan did not want the glamorous, high-profile lifestyle tied to Robert’s family. She reportedly preferred a quieter life. That difference in expectations is often cited as part of the breakup.
Kardashian Family Dynamics
Jan said the problem was not Robert himself. She blamed the constant turmoil involving his ex-wife and children. Key points:
- She pointed to ongoing conflict around his first family
- She said Robert’s children and Kris Jenner played a role
- The Kardashian side has not confirmed her version in public sources
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The 2012 Khloé Paternity Claims
This is the most controversial part of her story, and it should be handled carefully.
Media Attention Returns
In 2012, Jan’s name resurfaced after reports said she claimed Robert had told her that Khloé Kardashian was not his biological daughter. The claim spread quickly across entertainment media.
Star Magazine Interview and Public Debate
The claim was published in Star magazine, which quoted Jan and Robert’s third wife, Ellen Pierson. Ellen had married Robert about six weeks before his death in 2003. Fans and critics debated the claim online. It remains an allegation, not a proven fact.
Memoir Admission and Family Responses
Kris Jenner wrote in her 2011 memoir that she had an affair during her marriage to Robert. That added fuel to the story. Khloé responded publicly on Twitter and strongly rejected the claims and criticized the women who made them.
Life After the Kardashian Marriage
After the headlines faded, Jan returned to a private life.
Choosing Privacy Over Fame
She did not build a media career from her brief fame. Reports describe her as someone who preferred to stay out of the public eye and rarely gave interviews.
Return to Oklahoma
She spent her later years in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the city linked to her pageant win. Details about her work and daily life are limited.
No Social Media Presence
Jan had no known social media accounts. That helps explain why so little verified information exists about her.
Her Death in 2015
Final Years and Passing
Jan Ashley died on October 1, 2015, in Tulsa at age 67. Her cause of death was not widely reported, and no reliable public source confirms it.
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
She was reportedly buried beside her first husband, John Ashley, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California. This detail comes from biography sites and is not verified by official records.
Conclusion
Jan Ashley’s story is a mix of a quiet life and a brief burst of fame. She was a Texas-born pageant winner, a widow of an actor and, for a few weeks, the wife of Robert Kardashian.
Much of what is written online is repeated from the same few sources. When reading about her, rely on confirmed facts and treat claims about other people as allegations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jan Ashley?
She was a former Miss Tulsa and the second wife of lawyer Robert Kardashian.
When was Jan Ashley born?
She was reportedly born on August 3, 1948, in Amarillo, Texas.
How long was Jan Ashley married to Robert Kardashian?
Only about a month, after a wedding reported on November 25, 1998.
Why did Jan Ashley and Robert Kardashian split?
She blamed turmoil involving his ex-wife and children, and she reportedly disliked the spotlight.
Did Jan Ashley have children?
There are no confirmed children, although some sites list a stepson.
What did Jan Ashley claim about Khloé Kardashian?
In 2012 she said Robert told her Khloé was not his biological child. This is an unproven claim, and Khloé rejected it.
When did Jan Ashley die?
She died on October 1, 2015, at age 67 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Where is Jan Ashley buried?
She was reportedly buried next to John Ashley at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
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