The death certificate for Mary Jo “MJ” Shannon, the 91-year-old mother of Kris Jenner, lists cardiac arrest as the immediate cause of death, with acute respiratory failure and metastatic lung cancer recorded as contributing factors, according to documents obtained by media outlets on July 28.
Official details and public announcement
Shannon died on July 16, less than two weeks before what would have been her 92nd birthday. Her death was publicly confirmed that day by daughter Kris Jenner, who shared a message and a photograph on Instagram mourning the loss of “my beautiful Mommy MJ.”
“Today, we said goodbye to my beautiful Mommy MJ,” Jenner wrote in the July 16 post. “There are no words that could ever capture what she has meant to me or the heartbreak of having to say goodbye.”
Reports indicate Shannon had been living with metastatic lung cancer for several months prior to her death. Media outlets said they obtained the information from Shannon’s death certificate; representatives for Jenner had not immediately supplied additional comment when contacted.
On-screen presence and family legacy
Shannon was a recurring figure on the family’s reality television series, appearing across generations on both Keeping Up With the Kardashians and the later Hulu series The Kardashians. Her most recent on-screen appearances were in Season 6 of The Kardashians in 2025.
The Jenner–Kardashian family occupies a significant place in contemporary celebrity culture, and Shannon’s passing prompted an outpouring of public attention. Jenner’s Instagram message reflected a private family moment made public through social media and widely covered by entertainment outlets.
Key dates and facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of death | July 16 |
| Age | 91 |
| Immediate cause | Cardiac arrest |
| Contributing conditions | Acute respiratory failure; metastatic lung cancer |
| Public announcement | Kris Jenner’s Instagram post, July 16 |
| Last TV appearances | Season 6 of The Kardashians (2025) |
What this means for the family’s public narrative
The release of official medical findings adds a factual layer to a story that has played out in the public eye for years. Shannon’s appearances on reality television made her a familiar presence to viewers and helped to humanize a family frequently framed by headlines and cultural debate. The disclosure that she had metastatic lung cancer — an advanced stage of the disease — offers context for the timeline leading up to her death and may shape how future episodes, tributes or public statements are handled by the family and producers.
- Documented cause: Cardiac arrest with respiratory failure and cancer listed as contributors.
- Timing: Death occurred July 16; announcement posted by Kris Jenner the same day.
- Public-facing role: Shannon’s screen appearances extended into 2025, keeping her part of the family’s televised narrative.
As a high-profile family whose private events often become public moments, the Jenner–Kardashian clan has frequently navigated grief and personal milestones in a spotlight. The publication of Shannon’s death certificate adds detail to an account that followers and media outlets have been tracking since Jenner’s initial social-media message.
Requests for comment from Jenner’s representatives were reported as pending by news organisations that reviewed the official records.
This report is based on information published by national news services and the death certificate details obtained by media outlets. No additional medical or private family information was supplied by Jenner’s office at the time of reporting.
