22 February 2024 , 08:21
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Robert Kardashian would have been celebrating his 80th birthday today but he died in September 2003, just two months after being diagnosed with oesophageal cancer.
The lawyer rose to prominence through his involvement in the OJ Simpson murder trial. However, his sudden health decline shocked his family and he sadly never lived to see the Kardashians achieve their huge levels of fame and success.
Before his death, Robert made Caitlyn Jenner promise to look after the kids he shared with Caitlyn's then-wife Kris Jenner. Kris also made a shocking confession to her ex-husband Robert as he lay on his death bed. Here, we've taken a look back at Robert's untimely death.
Cancer diagnosis
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Robert Kardashian died shortly after his diagnosis (Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
He sadly didn't live to see his family's fame (AFP via Getty Images)Robert was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in July 2003. The sad news came as a shock to his loved ones as he didn't smoke or drink. There was also no history of cancer in his family.
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Kim Kardashian had been very close to her dad and recently revealed how she learned his cancer was terminal. Robert had been dining out with his family at their favourite Armenian restaurant when he struggled to swallow his food and seemed unwell. At the hospital, the doctor broke the news to Kim and her sister Kourtney Kardashian that their dad's cancer was terminal.
Robert didn't want to tell his parents about his diagnosis, but Kim thought it was important for them to know. "I called them, and they were, like, 'What? What are you talking about? We'll be there in a few hours," Kim recalled in an interview with GQ magazine. "They came up from Palm Springs, and [their son] was in bed. Can you imagine? They were close, and to not tell them. My grandmother was never the same again."
Death
His family were devastated by his death (Kim Kardshian/Instagram)Robert sadly died in September 2003, at the age of 59. His death left a huge hole in the Kardashian family and his children were heartbroken after he passed.
"At the funeral, when I saw my father in his casket, I completely fell apart," Khloe Kardashian remembered in her memoir Strong Looks Better Naked. "I don’t remember the details, but apparently I was an emotional wreck, and I’m told that I was so distraught I actually passed out. At one point I fell to the floor kicking and screaming, and I had to be sedated. It was really intense. I refused to believe my father was gone."
Khloe also said she believed her dad's cancer and death was down to stress. Kris Jenner also opened up about Robert's death and said: "It was so surreal, the knowledge he had cancer was one thing, but to think it would actually take his life, I never in a million years thought that would happen to him."
Kris Jenner's admission
Kris Jenner had cheated on Robert Kardashian (Instagram)
She confessed her love for him on his deathbed (Getty Images for The Met Museum/)Robert and Kris were married from 1978 until their divorce in 1991 after Kris had an affair with Emmy-nominated Hollywood animator Todd Waterman. While the former couple decided to go their separate ways, they still managed to develop a close friendship in later years.
In an episode of The Kardashians, it was revealed Kris managed to share a loving moment with her ex-husband before he died. In the episode, Khloe sat down to interview her dad's first cousin Cici Bussey.
The pair spoke about Kris and Robert's divorce, with Cici explaining how Robert's mother Helen Kardashian didn't want the family to speak to Kris following the divorce. Cici said Kris was essentially kicked out the family, but she was determined to have a relationship with the momager so she could still see the Kardashian kids.
Cici told Khloe: "And when your mom went over there before he passed away, remember Kim snuck her in?" Khloe asked what happened and Cici explained: "Well, they said their goodbyes. I think they professed their love and she said, 'You're the love of my life' and he said the same thing and he died."
Caitlyn Jenner promise
Robert Kardashian was friends with Caitlyn Jenner, then Bruce Jenner (Instagram)When Robert's cancer was found to be terminal, he made Kris' new partner Caitlyn Jenner, then Bruce Jenner, promise to "always take care" of his children. Robert and Kris share four children together - Kourtney, Kim, Khloe and Rob Kardashian.
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Things went smoothly for a while after Robert died, until Caitlyn fell out with the Kardashians when she transitioned from Bruce. Khloe accused her step-dad of failing to keep his word to Robert after the transition.
Speaking on I'm A Celebrity.... Get Me Out of Here!, Caitlyn revealed Khloe had been "p****d off" by her transformation and they hadn't spoken in five years. Khloe later admitted she felt Bruce was "walking out of their lives" - which is not what Caitlyn promised Robert.
"In some ways I felt the worst part was that other people had known about the transition before we did. I felt devalued by that fact. It was about my own loss; it was about the pain I felt because he was walking out of our lives," Khloe said in her memoir.
Legacy
The Kardashian family made sure to honour Robert (AFP via Getty Images)
Robert's family have made sure to keep his legacy going. His son, Rob, attended the same school - the University of California - he went to and and got a huge picture of his dad tattooed on his arm. Kim has also followed in her father's footsteps, undertaking law studies.
Kris even considered changing her name back to Kardashian following Robert's death. "I live in a Kardashian world. It's like Kardashian inc. in my office - I eat Kardashian, I breathe Kardashian, I sleep Kardashian. I deal in Kardashians- so everyone calls me Kris Kardashian, and it goes on and on," she told ABC News.
Almost 16 years after Robert's death, the Kardashians honoured his legacy by attending the opening of UCLA's Robert G. Kardashian Centre for Esophageal Health in Los Angeles in 2019. Kim, Khloe and Kris attended along with Kylie and Kendall Jenner.
The wing will "provide resources for groundbreaking research, patient care and education/training, in addition to support of efforts in esophageal health," Khloe wrote on her Instagram Story at the time.