Celebrity

Who Is John Paul Sarkisian? The Amazing Life Story of Cher’s Father

Published

2 weeks ago

August 30, 2026

Zion

John Paul Sarkisian is best remembered as the father of legendary singer and actress Cher, though his own life followed a very different path from his daughter’s fame. He grew up in an Armenian-American household in California, worked a string of blue-collar jobs, and struggled with addiction and legal trouble throughout his adult life. His relationship with Cher was distant and complicated, yet his heritage and story remain an important part of her personal history. This article looks at his early years, career, family life, and the legacy he left behind.

Table of Contents

John Paul Sarkisian Bio Table

Detail	Information
Full Name	John Paul Sarkisian
Date of Birth	23 March 1926
Place of Birth	Oakland/Berkeley, California, USA
Date of Death	28 January 1985
Place of Death	Fresno, California, USA
Age at Death	58 years
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	Armenian-American
Parents	Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian, Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian
Siblings	Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian, Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins, and several half-siblings
Spouse	Georgia Holt (married 1945, divorced 1947; remarried 1965, divorced 1966)
Daughter	Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian)
Occupations	Truck driver, bartender, auto mechanic, hairstylist
Known For	Being the biological father of singer and actress Cher

Early Life and Armenian Heritage

John Paul Sarkisian was born on 23 March 1926 in the Oakland and Berkeley area of California. His parents, Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian, were Armenian immigrants who had fled the Armenian Genocide in search of safety and a better life in the United States. He grew up alongside two siblings from his mother’s marriage, Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian and Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins, as well as several half-siblings.

Raised during the Great Depression, John faced financial hardship from an early age. His Armenian roots remained a defining part of his identity throughout his life and were later passed down to his daughter, who has spoken openly about her pride in that heritage.

Career and Working Life

John never settled into a single profession. He worked as a truck driver for much of his adult life, a job that became his main source of income, but he also took on roles as a bartender, auto mechanic, hairstylist, and seasonal produce deliverer. He even attempted horse breeding at one stage.

His father once purchased five trucks to help him start his own trucking business in El Centro, California. The venture offered a genuine chance at stability, but it ultimately failed, and John returned to working irregular jobs to get by.

Marriage to Georgia Holt

John met Jackie Jean Crouch, later known by her stage name Georgia Holt, in the mid-1940s. The couple married in 1945 in Reno, Nevada. Georgia went on to build her own career as a singer, model, and occasional actress.

Their daughter, Cherilyn Sarkisian, known to the world as Cher, was born on 20 May 1946 in El Centro, California. The marriage proved unstable almost from the start, and the couple divorced in 1947 when Cher was still a baby. They briefly reconciled and remarried in 1965, but that second attempt ended in divorce again the following year.

Relationship with Cher

John was largely absent during Cher’s childhood. Georgia raised their daughter alone, working as a saloon singer to support the family while John struggled with instability of his own. Cher did not meet her father until she was around eleven years old.

Their reunion was brief and complicated. Cher recognised physical similarities between herself and her father, and for a short time she was pleased to have both parents in her life. However, his ongoing personal problems soon resurfaced, and the relationship between them lasted only a matter of months before it broke down again.

Struggles With Addiction and the Law

John’s adult life was marked by serious personal difficulties, including drug addiction and a persistent gambling habit. These problems repeatedly disrupted his employment and his relationships with family members. He was arrested on more than one occasion, facing charges connected to drug offences and bad cheques, which led to periods of imprisonment.

In the 1970s, John made headlines for suing his own daughter for four million dollars, claiming her public comments about his addiction and behaviour had damaged his reputation. The lawsuit drew significant media attention and widened the already considerable distance between father and daughter.

Death and Lasting Legacy

John Paul Sarkisian died on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, California, at the age of 58. The specific cause of his death has never been publicly disclosed. He was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens in Fresno County.

Although he never sought fame himself, John’s life offers insight into the Armenian-American immigrant experience of the twentieth century. His complicated relationship with Cher also shaped her resilience and determination, qualities she has often credited to her difficult upbringing.

Conclusion

John Paul Sarkisian led a modest, often turbulent life far removed from his daughter’s global stardom. His Armenian heritage, working-class background, and troubled relationship with Cher together tell a quieter, human story behind one of entertainment’s biggest names.