Robert True Houghton was the father of Kris Jenner and Karen Houghton. He was married to Mary Jo “M.J.” Campbell and reportedly worked as an engineer. Robert died in a car accident in 1975, years before the Kardashian-Jenner family became famous.
His middle name, True, later continued in the family when Khloé Kardashian named her daughter True Thompson.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Robert True Houghton |
| Date of birth | May 12, 1931, reportedly |
| Birthplace | San Diego, California, reportedly |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Engineer, reportedly |
| Father | True Otis Houghton |
| Wife | Mary Jo “M.J.” Campbell |
| Children | Kris Jenner, Karen Houghton |
| Grandchildren | Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Rob, Kendall, Kylie |
| Year of death | 1975 |
| Reported cause of death | Car accident |
| Reported place of death | Mexico |
| Known for | Being Kris Jenner’s father |
Robert True Houghton’s Early Life
Robert was reportedly born on May 12, 1931, in San Diego, California.
There is little reliable information about his childhood or early years. His mother’s identity and details about his siblings are not clearly documented in the available sources.
His father was True Otis Houghton, according to Kris Jenner.
His Education
Robert’s education is not publicly documented.
There is no reliable information about the schools or college he attended or what he studied.
What Did Robert True Houghton Do for a Living?
Robert was reportedly an engineer.
However, little information is available about his professional life. His employer, engineering field, and career history have not been clearly documented.
Some secondary reports also describe him as entrepreneurial, but details about any businesses he owned are limited.
Marriage to Mary Jo Campbell
Robert was married to Mary Jo Campbell, commonly known as M.J.
The couple had two daughters together, Kris and Karen Houghton.
Their marriage later ended. One secondary source reports that Robert and Mary Jo divorced when Kris was around seven years old.
Mary Jo later married businessman Harry Shannon, who became an important father figure in Kris’s life.
Robert True Houghton’s Children
Robert had two daughters with Mary Jo:
- Kris Jenner
- Karen Houghton
Both daughters originally carried their father’s surname, Houghton.
Kris was born Kristen Mary Houghton. Her middle name came from her mother, Mary Jo, while Houghton was her father’s family name.
Who Is Kris Jenner?
Kris Jenner is Robert’s best-known daughter.
She became a television personality, businesswoman, and manager. She gained worldwide attention through Keeping Up with the Kardashians and her family’s other television and business projects.
Kris became the mother of six children: Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Rob Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner.
Robert died long before Kris and her children became internationally famous.
Who Was Karen Houghton?
Karen Houghton was Robert and Mary Jo’s other daughter.
She lived a more private life than her sister Kris.
The available sources provide little information about Karen’s relationship with her father during childhood.
Robert’s Grandchildren
Through Kris Jenner, Robert became the maternal grandfather of six well-known members of the Kardashian-Jenner family:
- Kourtney Kardashian
- Kim Kardashian
- Khloé Kardashian
- Rob Kardashian
- Kendall Jenner
- Kylie Jenner
Robert did not live to see his grandchildren become famous.
The Story Behind the Name True
The name True has a history in Kris Jenner’s family.
In 2018, Kris explained that her paternal grandfather was named True Otis Houghton and her father was Robert True Houghton.
Khloé Kardashian later continued the family name by naming her daughter True Thompson.
Kris publicly said she was excited that Khloé had chosen the name.
Kim Kardashian’s Tribute to Her Grandfather
Kim Kardashian has also publicly remembered Robert.
In 2021, she shared an old photograph of him on her Instagram Story and identified him by his full name, Robert True Houghton.
Kris has also shared old pictures of her father on social media.
Robert and Kris Jenner’s Childhood
Robert and Mary Jo separated while Kris and Karen were young.
According to secondary reports, the girls were mainly raised by their mother after the divorce.
Kris has also spoken about her stepfather, Harry Shannon, as an important father figure in her childhood.
Some reports claim Kris hoped her biological parents would get back together. However, details about her childhood relationship with Robert are not fully documented in reliable public sources.
How Did Robert True Houghton Die?
Robert died in 1975.
Secondary reports say he died following a car accident in Mexico.
A former girlfriend, Vicky Thomsen, reportedly said she was traveling with Robert in his Porsche when the vehicle collided with a truck.
She reportedly said Robert suffered serious internal injuries after the accident.
These details come from secondary accounts and have not been independently confirmed in the information reviewed.
Was Robert Planning to Remarry?
According to Vicky Thomsen’s reported account, she and Robert were traveling to another town where they planned to get married.
If accurate, Robert was planning another marriage after his relationship with Mary Jo ended.
However, this remains a reported claim rather than a firmly confirmed fact.
How Old Was Robert True Houghton When He Died?
Some sources say Robert was 44 years old when he died.
However, there is a problem with that figure.
If his reported birth date of May 12, 1931, and reported death in March 1975 are both correct, he would have been 43 years old.
Because the available reports conflict, his exact age at death should not be stated with certainty.
Kris Jenner Was Young When Her Father Died
Kris was around 19 years old when Robert died.
His death happened many years before she became known as a television personality and businesswoman.
It also happened decades before the Kardashian-Jenner family entered reality television.
Robert True Houghton’s Net Worth
Robert’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
There is no confirmed information about his salary, property, investments, businesses, or total wealth.
Online estimates should therefore be treated carefully.
Did Robert True Houghton Have Social Media?
Robert died in 1975, long before modern social media existed.
He did not have social media accounts.
His daughter Kris and granddaughter Kim have shared old photographs of him online.
Interesting Facts
- Robert’s full name was Robert True Houghton.
- He was reportedly born on May 12, 1931.
- His reported birthplace was San Diego, California.
- His father was True Otis Houghton.
- He reportedly worked as an engineer.
- Robert married Mary Jo “M.J.” Campbell.
- They had two daughters, Kris and Karen Houghton.
- Robert and Mary Jo later divorced.
- He was the maternal grandfather of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Rob, Kendall, and Kylie.
- Robert died in 1975.
- His death was reportedly caused by a car accident in Mexico.
- Vicky Thomsen was reportedly his girlfriend at the time of the accident.
- His exact age at death is unclear because available reports conflict.
- Kim Kardashian has shared an old photograph of him online.
- The family name True came from Robert and his father, True Otis Houghton.
- Khloé Kardashian continued the name by calling her daughter True Thompson.
- Robert’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
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