Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of reality television star and businesswoman Kris Jenner, has died at the age of 91, with her family remembering her as a strong influence who shaped their values and love for family.
Mary Jo Campbell, the mother of Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Kris Jenner, has died at the age of 91.
Kris Jenner announced the death of her mother in an emotional tribute shared on social media, describing Campbell as a source of strength, wisdom and unconditional love throughout her life.
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner wrote.
The family did not immediately disclose the cause of Campbell’s death.
Campbell, who was also known as MJ Shannon, became familiar to millions of viewers through her appearances on the Kardashian-Jenner family’s reality television programmes, including Keeping Up with the Kardashians and The Kardashians.
Although she was not the central figure in the shows, Campbell developed her own following among viewers because of her humour, outspoken personality and memorable advice to her children and grandchildren.
Mary Jo Campbell’s influence on the Kardashian-Jenner family
Born in 1934, Campbell played an important role in the lives of her daughters, Kris Jenner and Karen Houghton.
Her daughter Karen Houghton died in March 2024 at the age of 65 after suffering cardiac arrest.
Over the years, Campbell was often celebrated by the Kardashian-Jenner family for her resilience, including her public battle with cancer twice.
Kris Jenner said her mother taught her important lessons about family, faith and facing challenges with courage.
“She taught us that family is everything. She showed us how to love unconditionally and how to find joy in the little moments. She showed me how to face life’s challenges with resilience and faith,” Jenner said.
Campbell’s relationship with her grandchildren — Kim, Kourtney and Khloé Kardashian, as well as Kendall and Kylie Jenner — was also frequently featured on the family’s television programmes.
The family celebrated Campbell’s 90th birthday on an episode of The Kardashians, where she reflected on her life and said her greatest achievement was raising her two daughters.
“My biggest accomplishment was having my two daughters,” she said.
During the celebration, Kris Jenner became emotional while discussing the possibility of losing her mother, describing Campbell as her “best friend”.
Campbell responded with humour, saying she was not leaving anytime soon and would have to stay around for another birthday celebration.
Following news of her death, Kim Kardashian also paid tribute to her grandmother, describing her as “my best friend, my gossip buddy, my forever twin”.
Kim said Campbell played an important role in teaching her about hard work, confidence and business values, recalling that her grandmother gave her one of her first jobs at a retail store in San Diego.
The lessons she learned from Campbell later influenced Kim Kardashian’s approach to building businesses, including her fashion brand SKIMS.
Kris Jenner also reflected on her mother’s lasting impact, saying her influence would continue through future generations of the family.
“When I look at my kids and my grandkids, I will forever see pieces of you in all of us,” Jenner wrote.
Mary Jo Campbell is survived by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
