Robert Kardashian

Robert George Kardashian (February 22, 1944 – September 30, 2003) was a prominent American attorney and businessman, renowned for his close association with O. J. Simpson, whom he defended during the notorious 1995 murder trial. Kardashian and Simpson's friendship began in 1967 at the University of Southern California, and they became inseparable, with Simpson serving as the best man at Kardashian’s wedding to Kris Houghton in 1978.

In the aftermath of the tragic murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman on June 12, 1994, Kardashian offered refuge to Simpson in his home to shield him from the media frenzy. Notably, he was seen transporting Simpson’s garment bag upon his return from Chicago, a bag that prosecutors suspected might have contained crucial evidence. Following Simpson's failure to surrender to authorities, Kardashian made headlines by reading a letter from Simpson to the press, which many interpreted as a suicide note.

Despite having allowed his law license to lapse prior to the trial, Kardashian reactivated it to assist as a volunteer member of Simpson's defense team, known as the "Dream Team," alongside notable attorneys Robert Shapiro and Johnnie Cochran. As part of this team, Kardashian was protected from being compelled to testify against Simpson.

Kardashian shared four children—Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and Rob—with Kris Kardashian. The family gained fame through their reality series, *Keeping Up with the Kardashians*. He briefly dated Priscilla Presley in the mid-1970s. Tragically, Kardashian was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in July 2003 and passed away two months later at the age of 59 in Encino, Los Angeles.