We all know Cher. She’s a music legend, an award-winning actress, and a true icon. With a voice like no other and a style that keeps changing with the times, Cher has stayed famous for decades. But behind all that fame and glitter, there’s a hidden part of her life that many people don’t know.
That part is about her father, John Paul Sarkisian.
He didn’t live a life of fame. In fact, his story is the opposite of Cher’s. His life was filled with struggle, personal problems, and a very rocky relationship with his daughter. But even though he stayed out of the spotlight, people are still curious about him. Who was he? Why did Cher cut ties with him? And what really happened between them?
In this article, we’ll explore the untold story of John Paul Sarkisian — Cher’s troubled father — and reveal all the important moments from his life.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | John Paul Sarkisian |
|---|---|
| Born | March 23, 1926 |
| Birthplace | Oakland, California, USA |
| Died | January 28, 1985 |
| Place of Death | Fresno, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 58 years |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Armenian-American |
| Occupation | Truck Driver, Bartender, Mechanic |
| Famous For | Being Cher’s biological father |
| Spouse | Georgia Holt (m. 1945; div. 1947) |
| Child | Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) |
| Parents | George Sarkisian & Blanche Dilkian |
| Siblings | 2 sisters, several half-siblings |
| Legal Issues | Arrested for drugs and fraud |
| Shocking Fact | Sued Cher for $4 million |
Who Was John Paul Sarkisian?
John Paul Sarkisian was the biological father of Cher, whose full name is Cherilyn Sarkisian. He was born on March 23, 1926, in Oakland, California, and passed away on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, at the age of 58.
He was an Armenian-American who worked mostly in blue-collar jobs, like truck driving. He didn’t chase fame, but his name became known only because of his famous daughter.
Even though he’s often remembered only as “Cher’s dad,” his life had many twists and turns. He went through poverty, addiction, and legal troubles — and his bond with Cher was deeply broken.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Childhood
John was born to Armenian immigrant parents, Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian. His parents had moved to the U.S. to escape hard times back in Armenia. Like many immigrant families in the early 1900s, they were just trying to build a better life.
John grew up during the Great Depression, which was already a tough time in America. For immigrant families like his, it was even harder. But growing up in an Armenian-American home gave John a strong cultural identity. His family stayed close, spoke their native language, and kept their traditions alive.
This background helped shape John’s early years, though it couldn’t stop the personal troubles that would come later in his life.
John’s Many Jobs and Hard Life
John never had a steady career. He worked in many jobs — some long-term, some just for survival. Over the years, he was a truck driver, bartender, auto mechanic, produce delivery man, and even a hairstylist.
At one point, his father bought five trucks to help John start his own business. But that plan didn’t go well. The business didn’t succeed, and John kept jumping from job to job.
According to Amomama, John also tried breeding horses at one time. But no matter what he did, he struggled financially and couldn’t seem to build a stable life. This lack of stability affected everything around him — including his relationships.
Meeting Georgia Holt
In 1945, John met a young woman named Jackie Jean Crouch, who would later be known as Georgia Holt — Cher’s mother. She was just 18 when they met. At the time, she was working at a donut shop, and John, with his charm and stylish look, caught her eye.
He was a smooth talker with a bold personality. Georgia said he had a “farmer’s attitude” but was very good-looking. They quickly fell for each other, and before long, they got married in Reno, Nevada, on June 22, 1945.
But the marriage didn’t stay sweet for long. John’s moods started changing. He became distant and sometimes rough with Georgia. She felt something was wrong but didn’t understand it at first.
Still, she gave him another chance. They moved to El Centro, California, and Georgia became pregnant.
Marriage, Divorce, and Baby Cher
On May 20, 1946, Georgia gave birth to their daughter, Cherilyn Sarkisian — the baby who would grow up to become the global superstar we now know as Cher.
But by that time, the marriage was already falling apart. Just one year after getting married, John and Georgia divorced in 1947. Their time together was short and full of tension. But the impact of that marriage, especially the birth of Cher, was long-lasting.
Years later, in 1965, John and Georgia gave it another try. They remarried briefly, but that also ended quickly. The issues between them never really went away.
John and Cher’s Difficult Relationship
One of the saddest parts of this story is the father-daughter relationship between John Paul Sarkisian and Cher.
Cher didn’t meet her father until she was 11 years old. As she once shared in interviews, he was “charming,” but he also had a dark side. She described him as someone with a criminal past and said he had “some larceny in him.”
Their relationship didn’t last. After about six months, Cher cut ties with him completely. Over time, she even said she had disowned him. According to TheThings, Cher later told people that John was a compulsive gambler and heroin addict — comments that led to serious trouble between them.
A Shocking Lawsuit Against His Own Daughter
In the 1970s, things between John Paul Sarkisian and Cher got even worse. What happened next shocked many people.
John filed a $4 million lawsuit against Cher and two tabloid magazines. He said Cher had made false and hurtful comments about him in interviews. According to TheThings, Cher had told reporters that her father was a heroin addict and a compulsive gambler. John felt these words damaged his name and made him look bad in public.
In response, he admitted to having legal trouble in the past, including arrests for drugs and writing bad checks. But he said he had changed and was trying to live a better life. Still, this court case showed just how broken their relationship really was. It wasn’t just a family problem anymore — it became a public fight.
His Struggles with Addiction and the Law
Sadly, John Paul Sarkisian had many personal problems that affected his whole life. He struggled with addiction, especially with painkillers and illegal drugs. At one point, he even went to prison for crimes connected to narcotics and fraud.
He also had a serious problem with gambling. These issues didn’t just affect him — they hurt the people around him too, especially his family. According to Amomama, he had many chances to change, but he often returned to the same harmful behavior.
His problems made it hard for him to hold a job, stay in relationships, or build a better future. These were big reasons why Cher chose to cut him out of her life.
A Quiet Life and a Lonely Death
After the lawsuit and years of bad choices, John Paul Sarkisian faded from the spotlight. He lived a quiet and private life in his final years. There are no records of him attending any public events or reconnecting with his daughter.
He passed away on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California. He was just 58 years old. His death didn’t make headlines. Cher didn’t speak much about it, and she didn’t attend his funeral. As per public reports, she had already moved on from their toxic relationship.
He was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens, and only a few close people knew about his passing.
What Happened to His Family and Siblings?
Even though John lived a hard life, some of his family members lived long and peaceful lives. He had two full sisters: Louise B. Sarkisian, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 92, and Elizabeth Sarkisian, who died in 2007 at the age of 88.
He also had several half-siblings from his mother’s second marriage to Carl Yegan. These included Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian, Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins, and others. One of his sisters, Lucy, reportedly lived to the age of 114 before passing away in 2021.
Even though John had family, his bond with them, like his bond with Cher, was not well known or public. Most of his life remained private and disconnected from those around him.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Legacy Today
Now, many years later, John Paul Sarkisian is mostly remembered as the troubled father of Cher. He wasn’t a public figure. He didn’t make music or appear on TV. But his name is still brought up because of his daughter’s fame and their difficult past.
He left behind no social media, no interviews, and no written stories. Most of what we know about him comes from Cher’s words, old court records, and family stories.
Even with his struggles, one part of his legacy lives on — his Armenian heritage. Cher has often spoken proudly about being part Armenian. That side of her culture came from John. In that way, a piece of him still lives on in her.
Final Thoughts
The life of John Paul Sarkisian was full of ups and downs. He was a man with a tough past — shaped by poverty, addiction, and broken family ties. He made choices that hurt the people closest to him, including his daughter.
But even with all his flaws, his story is a reminder that behind every famous person, there’s often a complicated family story. Cher rose above the pain and became one of the world’s biggest stars. Her strength, talent, and bold personality are part of her story — and in some ways, part of his.
John Paul Sarkisian may have lived in the shadows, but his name is still part of music history because of the daughter he once held in his arms.
(FAQs)
Did John Paul Sarkisian really sue his daughter Cher?
Yes, he once sued Cher for $4 million over things she said about him in magazine interviews.
Why did Cher cut ties with her father?
Cher disowned John because of his past with drugs, gambling, and the way he treated their family.
Was John ever in jail?
Yes, he served time in prison for drug-related crimes and fraud, according to public sources.
Did John ever try to use Cher’s fame for money?
Yes, he once sold a photo of himself with Cher to cover a bad check, which upset her deeply.
Did Cher go to her father’s funeral?
No, Cher did not attend his funeral and had no public reaction when he passed away.
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