Most people know the Kardashian family from reality television and social media. However, not many people know about Jan Ashley, a woman who was briefly part of this famous family. Her story is interesting because she chose a quiet life instead of fame, even though she was married to Robert Kardashian Sr., the father of Kim, Kourtney, Khloe, and Rob Kardashian.
Jan Ashley lived most of her life away from cameras and media attention. She only became known to the public because of her short marriage to Robert Kardashian in 1998. Their marriage lasted just 30 days, making it one of the shortest celebrity marriages in history. Let’s learn more about her life, her marriage, and why she decided to stay away from the spotlight.
Personal Info
| Full Name | Janice Lynn Glass (Jan Ashley) |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | August 3, 1948 |
| Place of Birth | Amarillo, Texas, United States |
| Famous For | Ex-wife of Robert Kardashian Sr. |
| First Marriage | John Ashley (actor and producer) |
| Second Marriage | Robert Kardashian Sr. (1998) |
| Marriage Duration | 30 days |
| Beauty Title | Miss Tulsa 1966 |
| Date of Death | October 1, 2015 |
| Age at Death | 67 years old |
Early Life and Beauty Pageant Days
Jan Ashley was born as Janice Lynn Glass on August 3, 1948, in Amarillo, Texas. She grew up in a simple American family with her parents, James Douglas and Monnie M. Glass. Her childhood was normal and peaceful, far away from the world of celebrities and fame.
As a young woman, Jan was known for her beauty and confidence. In 1966, she won the title of Miss Tulsa, which was a big achievement for her. Beauty pageants were very popular during that time, and winning such a title brought her recognition in her community. However, unlike many beauty queens who tried to become famous, Jan preferred to live a quiet and private life.
These early experiences helped Jan develop confidence and grace. She learned how to present herself well in public, but she never wanted to be in the spotlight for too long. This choice would define her entire life, even when she later married into one of America’s most famous families.
First Marriage to John Ashley
Before Jan met Robert Kardashian, she was married to John Ashley, a well-known actor and film producer. John worked on famous movies and television shows like “Apocalypse Now” and “The A-Team.” They got married in 1978 and had a loving relationship.
Even though John worked in Hollywood, Jan always chose to stay away from the entertainment industry. She preferred a calm and private life at home while John worked on movie sets. Friends said they were a perfect match because John had the public career while Jan kept their home life stable and peaceful.
Jan and John were married for nearly 20 years until John died suddenly from a heart attack on October 3, 1997. He was 62 years old at the time. John’s death was very difficult for Jan. She had lost not just her husband but also her best friend and partner. After his death, Jan was alone and grieving for a long time.
Meeting Robert Kardashian
After John’s death, Jan eventually met Robert Kardashian Sr. This meeting happened when Robert was renting a house across the street from where Jan lived. At that time, Robert was also going through difficult times. He had recently divorced from Kris Jenner, and he was famous because of the O.J. Simpson trial where he worked as a lawyer.
Robert and Jan started dating and fell in love quickly. They spent seven months together before Robert proposed to her during a trip to Hawaii. Everything seemed perfect, and Jan thought she had found love again after losing John.
On November 25, 1998, Jan and Robert got married in Vail, Colorado. It was supposed to be a beautiful new beginning for both of them. Robert even brought his four children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloe, and Rob—on their honeymoon because he wanted them to bond with Jan right away.
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The 30-Day Marriage
Unfortunately, the marriage did not work out as planned. Just 30 days after their wedding, Jan asked for an annulment. An annulment means the marriage is canceled as if it never happened. They officially separated on December 25, 1998, exactly one month after they got married.
For many years, neither Jan nor Robert explained why their marriage ended so quickly. People were curious and confused about what went wrong in such a short time. The truth only came out years later when Jan decided to speak publicly about it.
In 2014, Jan finally revealed the reasons for their divorce. She said that Robert’s children and his ex-wife, Kris Jenner, caused many problems in their marriage. Jan explained that Robert was upset all the time because of issues with his family. She said his children and ex-wife were always asking him for money, and this stress affected their relationship.
Jan also mentioned that Robert talked about Kris Jenner every day, even though they were divorced. The problems from his first marriage never really ended, and this made it impossible for Jan to have a peaceful marriage with him. She felt like an outsider and could never become part of the Kardashian family.
Being married to someone famous was very different from what Jan expected. She was not used to media attention, family drama, and constant pressure. After just one month, she realized that this life was not for her, and she decided to leave.
The Controversial Claims
In 2012, many years after her divorce, Jan Ashley made headlines again. She gave an interview to Star Magazine where she made a shocking claim about Khloe Kardashian. Jan said that Robert told her Khloe was not his biological daughter. According to Jan, Robert had doubts about Khloe’s paternity because Kris Jenner had affairs during their marriage.
These claims created a huge controversy in the media. The Kardashian family strongly denied Jan’s statements. Khloe Kardashian was very upset and defended herself on social media. She called the claims hurtful and disgusting.
Many people debated whether Jan’s claims were true or not. Some believed her, while others thought she was just trying to get attention. However, Jan did not continue talking about this issue. After the initial interview, she went back to her private life and never spoke publicly about the Kardashians again.
Life After the Spotlight
After all the media attention, Jan Ashley returned to living a quiet and private life. Unlike other people connected to the Kardashian family who often appeared on television or social media, Jan chose to stay completely away from fame.
She did not write books, give interviews, or try to make money from her connection to the famous family. This showed that Jan truly valued her privacy and peace more than anything else. She wanted to be remembered for who she was, not just as Robert Kardashian’s ex-wife.
Jan Ashley passed away on October 1, 2015, at the age of 67. She was buried next to her first husband, John Ashley, showing that her first marriage was the most important relationship in her life. Even though she briefly married into the Kardashian family, she chose to spend eternity with John, the man she loved for nearly 20 years.
The Legacy of Jan Ashley
Jan Ashley’s story teaches us important lessons about fame, family, and personal choices. She showed that not everyone wants to be famous, even when they have the chance. While the Kardashian family built a huge empire based on reality television and social media, Jan chose a completely different path.
Her brief 30-day marriage to Robert Kardashian made her part of celebrity history, but she never let that define her entire life. She was a beauty queen, a loving wife to John Ashley, and a woman who valued dignity and privacy above everything else.
Today, when people search for information about the Kardashian family, they sometimes come across Jan Ashley’s name. Her story reminds us that behind every famous family, there are many people with their own stories, struggles, and choices. Jan Ashley’s choice to walk away from fame shows real strength and self-awareness.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How long was Jan Ashley married to Robert Kardashian?
Jan Ashley was married to Robert Kardashian for only 30 days. They got married on November 25, 1998, and separated on December 25, 1998. Their marriage was annulled, which means it was legally canceled.
2. Who was Jan Ashley’s first husband?
Jan Ashley’s first husband was John Ashley, a famous actor and film producer. He worked on popular movies and TV shows like “Apocalypse Now” and “The A-Team.” They were married for nearly 20 years until John died in 1997.
3. Why did Jan Ashley and Robert Kardashian divorce so quickly?
Jan Ashley said the divorce happened because of family problems. She explained that Robert’s children and his ex-wife, Kris Jenner, caused a lot of stress in their marriage. Robert was upset all the time about family issues and money problems, which made their relationship very difficult.
4. What did Jan Ashley say about Khloe Kardashian?
In 2012, Jan Ashley claimed that Robert Kardashian told her Khloe was not his biological daughter. This statement created big controversy, and the Kardashian family strongly denied these claims. Jan never spoke about this topic again after her initial interview.
5. When did Jan Ashley die?
Jan Ashley passed away on October 1, 2015, at the age of 67. She lived a quiet and private life until her death. She was buried next to her first husband, John Ashley, in a peaceful ceremony away from media attention.
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