Kris Jenner had a love-hate dynamic with her late biological father and siblings before their deaths. It is in focus amid Kris' mother's death.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleKris Jenner is currently going through a tough time after losing one of her closest people, her mother, Mary Jo 'MJ' Shannon. Kris announced the sad news on Instagram, calling her mother the "heart of our family" and expressing that her own heart was "broken into a million pieces." The matriarch of the Kardashian-Jenner family is devastated by the death of MJ, who left the world at the age of 91 on July 16, 2026. Amid the tragic news, Kris' father and sister have come under the spotlight.
With the passing of Kris Jenner's mother, Mary Jo Shannon, she lost both her parents. Although many knew about Harry Shannon, whom Kris addresses as "my dad", her biological father was actually Robert True 'Bob' Houghton. Unlike the highly publicized lives of the Kardashians and the Jenners, Robert lived a low-key life away from the spotlight. He was one of the lesser-known members of the famous family. As for Robert's profession, he was reportedly an aircraft engineer.
Robert Houghton is English by ancestry but held American citizenship after immigrating to the country in the 80s. After growing up in the US, he made it his permanent home and lived there for the rest of his life. As for his spousal life, Robert tied the knot with Mary Jo 'MJ' Campbell in 1954, and they embraced parenthood within a year. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, Kristen Mary (now Kris Jenner), in 1955. After three years, the former couple welcomed their second daughter, Karen Houghton in 1958.
Robert and MJ got divorced when Kris was just seven years old. Following the split, MJ raised both their kids as a single mother until she remarried businessman Harry Shannon. Harry helped MJ raise her daughters, Kris and Karen, and loved them as his own children. The sisters also frequently regarded him as their true father figure while they were growing up. MJ split with her first husband, Robert Houghton, long before Kris built the Kardashian-Jenner brand. He was absent for much of Kris and her sister's adult life.
Robert Houghton even passed away before he could witness his kids' success in life. He met with a tragic end in 1975, when Kris was 19 years old. He died as a result of injuries sustained in a car crash. He was driving with his girlfriend in Mexico when his vehicle collided with a train, killing him at the age of 44. Thus, he left the world decades before his former family achieved global fame. Following his death, his grandchildren kept his memory alive through a unique family naming practice.
When Khloé Kardashian named her first daughter True Thompson in 2018, Kris Jenner revealed on social media that the name was chosen to honor her biological father, Robert True Houghton, as well as her paternal grandfather, True Otis Houghton. Thus, Robert's memory lives on even though he passed away.
Karen Houghton was the only sibling of entrepreneur and reality TV star, Kris Jenner. Born on November 24, 1958, Karen was three years younger than Kris. She worked as a flight attendant, a part-time nurse, and an author who published two cookbooks. In the later part of her life, Karen was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and had previously battled bipolar disorder. She passed away unexpectedly at the age of 65 on March 18, 2024, due to cardiac arrest and sudden cardiac arrhythmia.
Karen's relationship with her sister Kris reportedly got strained when they gained popularity. At times, Karen spoke out in public interviews, claiming that fame had changed Kris. However, the siblings completely mended their bond during the final years of Karen's life. As for Karen's spousal life, she was married to Mark Zettel and they have a daughter named Natalie Zettel, who is 28 years old as of July 2026.
What are your thoughts on Kris Jenner's dynamics with her late biological father and siblings before their death? Let us know.
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