Kato Kaelin, Notable O.J. Simpson Trial Witness, Initiates Divorce Proceedings

Kato Kaelin, famously known for his role as a key witness in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, is parting ways with his wife of four years. This news comes shortly after the passing of former LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman, who died at the age of 74.

The 67-year-old television personality, whose full name is Brian Gerard “Kato” Kaelin, is ending his marriage to Nan Xue Kaelin. The couple had exchanged vows on September 17, 2021.

Kaelin rose to public prominence during the 1995 murder trial that captured global attention. His involvement in the case made him a household name.

At the time of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman, Kaelin was residing in a guest house on O.J. Simpson’s Brentwood property. His testimony during the trial was pivotal.

Kaelin, a friend of Nicole Brown, provided testimony that raised questions about O.J. Simpson’s whereabouts on the night of the killings. The trial earned its nickname as “the trial of the century” due to its high-profile nature.

With his striking blonde hair and media-friendly presence, Kaelin became a memorable figure in the televised courtroom drama. He contributed to the doubts surrounding Simpson’s movements on that fateful night, just a short distance from Brown’s residence. Simpson later passed away in April 2024 after a battle with cancer.

TMZ reported on Thursday that Kaelin and Xue filed a joint petition for dissolution in Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday.

The couple separated on August 1, 2025 according to documents obtained by the site.

They have no minor children together, no interest in real property, and no community assets or liabilities to divide as the filing states both parties had waived any right to spousal support. 

He told TMZ: ‘Nan is the most wonderful and beautiful woman in the world. We will 4EVER be great friends and have laughter between us. Please respect our privacy.’ 

Daily Mail has reached out to Kaelin’s representatives for comment and has yet to hear back. 

This is Kaelin’s second divorce as he was married to Cynthia Coulter from July 1983 until 1989. 

Kaelin became one of the most recognizable personalities to gain his 15 minutes of fame during the 1995 O.J. Simpson murder trial

After the eight-month trial ended with Simpson’s acquittal in early October 1995, Kaelin continued to play off the fame he gained for years to come.

Kaelin, who hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, honed in on the entertainment industry while a student at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, where he hosted an eponymous talk show and a game show for a local station. 

Well before his connection to the infamous Simpson trial, Kaelin appeared in low-budget films, including the comedy Beach Fever (1987), the horror film Night Shadow (1989), the sci-fi action flick Prototype (1992) and the erotic thriller Save Me (1994).

During his time in Hollywood, Kaelin struck up a friendship with Nicole Brown, the second wife of O.J. Simpson, who divorced the NFL legend in 1992.

The two had originally bonded during a ski trip in Aspen, Colorado, in December of 1992, and he later rented a guest home on her property for a year.

But Kaelin didn’t follow Brown when she moved into a condo on South Bundy Drive in Brentwood — where she and her friend Ron Goldman would be murdered — as it didn’t have enough space for him.

Instead, Kaelin began renting out the guest house on her ex-husband Simpson’s property.

Because of his physical proximity to Simpson, he ended up providing a key piece of testimony about the athlete-turned-actor’s whereabouts on the night of June 12, 1994, when Brown and Goldman were murdered.

According to Kaelin, he and Simpson ate a to-go order from McDonald’s at Simpson’s home that night, and he said that he last saw Simpson around 9:30 p.m.

Crucially, the timeline laid out by prosecutors alleged that Simpson killed Brown and Goldman between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m., and his whereabouts were accounted for again until around 11 p.m. that night.

Kaelin also testified to hearing sounds on the property later that night that prosecutors attributed to Simpson as he returned.

Kaelin also helped the prosecution’s case by claiming that Simpson was wearing the same dark blue shirt that he had worn earlier in the evening when they ate their fast food together.

Notably, dark blue cotton fibers had been discovered at the crime scene, which were alleged to have come from Simpson’s shirt. Kaelin testified that when he saw Simpson later that night he had changed his shirt.

Kaelin also testified that Simpson was wearing the same dark blue shirt he had on earlier that evening, after blue cotton fibers were found at the murder scene. He said Simpson had changed his shirt when he next saw him; pictured with prosecutor Marcia Clark

Following the sensation of the trial, Kaelin appeared in more high-profile projects for a time, including the comedy BASEketball, which starred South Park creators and stars Trey Parker and Matt Stone. 

Ironically, the sports comedy was directed by David Zucker, who had collaborated with Simpson when he directed and co-wrote the first two Naked Gun films and co-wrote the third entry in the Leslie Nielsen–starring series. 

Following the trial, Kaelin made numerous talk show appearances, as well as cameo appearances as himself on sketch comedy shows including Mad TV and Mr. Show.

Kaelin continues to be a regular interview guest when it comes to the Simpson murder trial, and he has more films in the works.