John Paul Sarkisian was an American truck driver best known as the father of singer and actress Cher. He was born in California in 1926 and came from an Armenian-American family.
John married Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt, twice. His relationship with Cher was difficult, and he was absent for much of her childhood. He died in Fresno, California, in 1985 at age 58.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | John Paul Sarkisian |
| Date of birth | March 23, 1926 |
| Birthplace | Oakland, Alameda County, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Heritage | Armenian-American |
| Father | Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian |
| Mother | Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian |
| Profession | Truck driver |
| Other reported work | Bartender, mechanic, hairstylist, horse breeder |
| Wife | Georgia Holt |
| Child | Cher |
| Grandchildren | Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman |
| Date of death | January 28, 1985 |
| Place of death | Fresno, California |
| Age at death | 58 |
| Burial place | Fresno Memorial Gardens |
| Net worth | Not reliably known |
Early Life and Armenian Roots
John Paul Sarkisian was born on March 23, 1926, in Oakland, Alameda County, California.
Some sources give Berkeley as his birthplace, but Oakland appears in other biographical and family records. Both cities are in Alameda County.
His parents were Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian.
John came from an Armenian-American family. His family background later became an important part of Cher’s Armenian heritage. Cher also received the surname Sarkisian from her father.
Parents and Siblings
John had several siblings and half-siblings.
Two of his siblings are commonly identified as Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian and Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins.
Reported half-siblings include Louise Voutsinas, Pearl Najimian, Harry Yegan, Elizabeth, and Dick or Dickson.
Sources disagree about the exact number of children in the family, so John’s total number of siblings is not certain.
Little reliable information is available about his education.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Career
John mainly worked as a truck driver, but reports say he held several other jobs during his life.
He reportedly worked as a:
- bartender
- auto mechanic
- hairstylist
- seasonal produce delivery worker
- horse breeder
His father reportedly purchased five trucks to help John start a trucking business.
The family moved to El Centro, California, but the business did not work out as planned.
John continued working in different jobs rather than building a public career in entertainment or politics.
How John Met Georgia Holt
John’s wife was Georgia Holt, whose birth name was Jackie Jean Crouch.
Georgia was born on June 9, 1926, in Kensett, Arkansas. She later worked as a singer, actress, and model.
According to accounts about their relationship, Georgia was 18 and working at a donut shop when she met John.
The two soon began a relationship.
First Marriage to Georgia Holt
John and Georgia first married on June 22, 1945, in Reno, Nevada.
Their marriage quickly became difficult. Georgia later described changes in John’s behavior and said the relationship became unstable.
They eventually moved to El Centro, California.
Georgia became pregnant there, and the couple welcomed their only child together the following year.
John Paul Sarkisian Was Cher’s Father
John and Georgia’s daughter, Cherilyn Sarkisian, was born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California.
She later became known around the world simply as Cher.
John and Georgia’s marriage did not last. They divorced in 1947, when Cher was still very young.
Georgia largely raised Cher without John regularly present.
His Relationship With Cher
John was absent for much of Cher’s childhood.
According to later accounts, Cher first learned more about her father when she was around eight after hearing about his arrest. She reportedly met him in person for the first time when she was about 11.
John later gave his own explanation for his absence. He reportedly said that after his divorce from Georgia, he sometimes had difficulty finding Georgia and Cher because they moved frequently.
Cher and her father had contact at different times, but their relationship remained difficult.
Reported Drug and Gambling Problems
Family accounts and biographies describe John as having problems with substance use and gambling.
Later reporting says John acknowledged having been imprisoned for drug-related offenses and bad-check violations.
He reportedly said his dependence on drugs began after he received pain medication for a medical condition.
John Paul Sarkisian later objected to some of the descriptions of his past that became public, especially statements attributed to Cher.
Second Marriage to Georgia Holt
John and Georgia eventually reunited.
They married for a second time on December 15, 1965, almost two decades after their first divorce.
Cher reportedly welcomed the reunion at first because it gave her another chance to have both parents together.
The marriage was again short.
John Paul Sarkisian and Georgia divorced for the second time in September 1966.
There is no reliable evidence that John married anyone else afterward.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Lawsuit Against Cher
John’s difficult relationship with Cher eventually became a legal dispute.
He reportedly filed a $4 million lawsuit against Cher and two tabloid publications over statements about his personal history.
The disputed statements reportedly involved his drug use, gambling, criminal record, and behavior as a father.
John acknowledged some previous legal problems but argued that other statements damaged his reputation. He also claimed that he had changed his life.
The sources available do not clearly establish the final outcome of the lawsuit.
The Family Photo Dispute
Another reported dispute involved a family photograph.
According to later accounts, Cher had a photograph taken with John and one of her children.
John Paul Sarkisian reportedly sold the photograph to a rug dealer as proof of his relationship with Cher and in connection with a bad-check issue.
The incident reportedly caused another break in their relationship.
Because this account comes mainly from later biographical reporting, it should be treated as a reported family story rather than a fully documented event.
Who Is Cher?
Cherilyn Sarkisian, known professionally as Cher, is an American singer, actress, and television personality.
She first became widely known in the 1960s through Sonny & Cher, her musical partnership with Sonny Bono.
Their best-known songs include I Got You Babe and The Beat Goes On.
Cher later developed a major solo career. Her well-known songs include:
- Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)
- Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves
- Dark Lady
- If I Could Turn Back Time
- Believe
She also became a successful actress and won the Academy Award for Best Actress for Moonstruck.
Her other major honors include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, and Golden Globe Awards.
Cher was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2024.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Grandchildren
John Paul Sarkisian became a grandfather through Cher.
His grandchildren are Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
Chaz is Cher’s child with Sonny Bono and later became an actor, writer, and activist.
Elijah is Cher’s son with musician Gregg Allman. He became a musician and is known for his work with the rock band Deadsy.
When Did John Paul Sarkisian Die?
John Paul Sarkisian died on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California.
He was 58 years old.
Some reports say Cher spent time with her father near the end of his life. Other accounts focus on how distant their relationship had become. Details about their final interactions are not clearly documented.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Cause of Death
John’s exact cause of death has not been publicly confirmed.
Available biographical sources provide his date and place of death but do not give a reliable medical cause.
He was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens in Fresno, California.
Net Worth
John Paul Sarkisian’s personal net worth at the time of his death is not reliably known.
There is no trustworthy public record showing his total wealth, property, or other assets.
Interesting Facts
- John Paul Sarkisian was born on March 23, 1926.
- He was born in Alameda County, California.
- He came from an Armenian-American family.
- His parents were Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian.
- He mainly worked as a truck driver.
- He reportedly also worked as a bartender, mechanic, hairstylist, produce delivery worker, and horse breeder.
- His father reportedly bought five trucks to help him start a business.
- He married Georgia Holt twice.
- Their first marriage began in 1945 and ended in 1947.
- Their second marriage began in 1965 and ended in 1966.
- Cher was his only documented child.
- He was absent for much of Cher’s childhood.
- Family accounts describe him as having struggled with substance use and gambling.
- He reportedly sued Cher and two tabloids for $4 million over statements about his past.
- He was the grandfather of Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
- He died on January 28, 1985.
- He was 58 years old when he died.
- He died in Fresno, California.
- He was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
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