John Paul Sarkisian is remembered today mainly as Cher’s father, a man whose life was filled with struggles, short marriages, and distance from his famous daughter. Though he never lived in the spotlight, his story has drawn curiosity for decades. From his Armenian roots to his troubled bond with Georgia Holt and Cher, Sarkisian’s life is a puzzle that helps explain the singer’s early years. To understand who is Cher’s father, we need to look closely at his background, his family, and his untimely death.
Quick Bio Table – John Paul Sarkisian
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Paul Sarkisian |
| Date of Birth | March 23, 1926 |
| Place of Birth | Oakland, California, USA |
| Nationality | American (Armenian heritage) |
| Parents | Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranoush “Blanche” Dilkian |
| Known For | Biological father of Cher |
| Spouse | Georgia Holt (married 1945–1946, remarried 1965–1966) |
| Children | Cher (born May 20, 1946) |
| Occupation | Truck driver, mechanic, bartender |
| Notable Event | 1975 lawsuit against Cher |
| Death Date | January 28, 1985 |
| Place of Death | Fresno, California, USA |
| Burial | Fresno Memorial Gardens, Fresno |
Early Life and Armenian Roots
Born in Oakland, California, in 1926, John Paul Sarkisian grew up in a working-class family with strong Armenian heritage. His parents, often reported as survivors of the Armenian genocide, gave him a cultural identity that stayed part of his daughter’s story as well. This Armenian-American background shaped his family line and later became a point of pride for Cher, who has mentioned it many times in her career.
Not much is recorded about his youth, but we know he came of age during the Great Depression and World War II. Many Armenian families worked in farming and trade in California’s Central Valley. John Paul Sarkisian nationality was American, but his roots tied him strongly to an immigrant community that valued hard work and survival.
Meeting and Marrying Georgia Holt
In the mid-1940s, John Paul Sarkisian met Georgia Holt, a young woman trying to build a career in entertainment. They married in 1945 when Holt was just 19. The marriage was stormy from the start. Within a year, Cher was born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California. Their union, however, did not last long.
By 1947, the marriage had collapsed, and John Sarkisian Georgia Holt separated. Later, in 1965, they tried again, remarrying briefly, only to divorce once more in 1966. Their rocky relationship became one of the most discussed parts of Holt’s life, since she was married seven times to six different men, but her first and fifth marriages were both to Sarkisian.
Cher’s Difficult Childhood
Growing up, Cher often spoke about her absent father. John Paul Sarkisian was not a constant figure in her life. She recalled times when he struggled with gambling and drug issues, and even moments when she was placed in an orphanage as a baby. This early instability deeply affected Cher, who leaned on her mother and later her stepfather, John Southall.
These experiences gave Cher resilience but also created a distance between father and daughter. In interviews, she said she rarely saw him. This absence explains why many people today still ask, “who is Cher’s father?”, since he was not part of her public journey to fame.
Work and Lifestyle
Like many men of his era, John Paul Sarkisian worked blue-collar jobs. He was most often described as a truck driver, but some reports say he also worked as a mechanic, bartender, or even a barber. His life was far from glamorous, and unlike his daughter, he kept away from fame.
Living in California’s Central Valley, he lived a modest existence. While John Paul Sarkisian Wikipedia pages do not exist for him directly, scattered information about his work and lifestyle appears in records about Cher and Georgia Holt. What is clear is that he never pursued fame or wealth through entertainment, instead earning his living through tough everyday jobs.
Legal Battle with Cher
In the 1970s, tension between father and daughter grew. In 1975, John Paul Sarkisian filed a lawsuit against Cher, demanding $4 million. He claimed her public comments about him were damaging and false. The suit made headlines, but little is known about how it ended.
This legal fight highlights the distance and conflict between them. While Cher was building her career with films like Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean and preparing for later classics like Moonstruck, her relationship with her biological father was strained and largely painful.
Later Years and Death
By the 1980s, John Paul Sarkisian had returned to Fresno, California. There, he lived quietly until his sudden passing on January 28, 1985, at just 58 years old. Many people search how did John Paul Sarkisian die, but the truth is his cause of death was never made public. Records only confirm the date and place of death, with burial at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
This mystery adds another layer to his story. Unlike most celebrity parents, there were no media tributes or big public records of his passing. His death simply marked the end of a life mostly lived outside of fame, but tied forever to one of the world’s most famous singers.
Legacy Through Cher
Though his life was troubled, John Paul Sarkisian left behind a legacy through his daughter. Cher, born Cherilyn Sarkisian, became one of the most iconic performers of all time. Her career has spanned music, movies, fashion, and activism.
Despite their broken relationship, her connection to him is permanent in her full name. The Armenian bloodline he passed down also became part of her identity, giving her a link to a history of survival and migration that resonates with many fans today.
Family Ties and Georgia Holt’s Influence
Much of what we know about John Paul Sarkisian comes from stories around Georgia Holt, who lived to be 96 before passing away in 2022. Holt often spoke openly about her marriages and her struggles raising Cher as a single mother.
Through Holt’s life story, we see the backdrop of Cher’s childhood—multiple marriages, financial struggles, and constant moves. John Sarkisian Georgia Holt was just one chapter in Holt’s dramatic personal life. Still, he remains the father figure who gave Cher her roots, even if not his presence.
Why People Still Search His Name
Search engines today show many queries: who is Cher’s father, how did John Paul Sarkisian die, and John Paul Sarkisian nationality. These questions reflect how little is widely known about him, even as his daughter’s fame reaches every corner of the world.
People remain curious because his absence contrasts with Cher’s massive success. His quiet, troubled life in Fresno is a reminder that not every parent of a star lives in the spotlight. Instead, John Paul Sarkisian is remembered as a background figure whose story helps explain the strength and independence Cher showed throughout her life.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was John Paul Sarkisian?
He was the biological father of Cher, born in 1926, with strong Armenian-American roots.
2. How did John Paul Sarkisian die?
He passed away in Fresno, California, on January 28, 1985, at age 58. The cause of death was not made public.
3. What was John Paul Sarkisian’s nationality?
He was American, but his family background was Armenian.
4. Did John Paul Sarkisian and Georgia Holt marry twice?
Yes. They married in 1945, divorced, then remarried in 1965, and divorced again in 1966.
5. Did he have other children besides Cher?
No. Reliable sources confirm Cher was his only child.
Conclusion
The life of John Paul Sarkisian was far from glamorous. He was a truck driver, a man with Armenian roots, and the biological father of Cher. His marriages to Georgia Holt were short and stormy, and his bond with his daughter was strained, even reaching the courtroom in the 1970s. He died young in 1985, leaving behind unanswered questions about his life and struggles.
Still, his story matters. It shows the other side of fame the absent father whose daughter would go on to be a legend. Knowing about John Paul Sarkisian helps us understand Cher’s early life, her resilience, and her pride in her heritage. Even if his presence was limited, his name remains forever linked to one of music’s most celebrated icons.
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