John Paul Sarkisian is best known as the biological father of the singer and actress Cher. He lived a quiet, complex life far from the stage, and his story helps us understand Cher’s early years and Armenian roots. This article tells his background, work, family ties, and legacy in clear and simple words.
Personal Information
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Paul “Johnny” Sarkisian |
| Born | March 23, 1926, California, USA |
| Died | January 28, 1985, Fresno, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 58 years |
| Heritage | Armenian-American; parents were Armenian immigrants |
| Parents | Often reported as Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranoush “Blanche” Dilkian |
| Occupation | Truck driver (and various jobs) |
| Spouse | Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch): married 1946–1947; remarried 1965–1966 |
| Children | Cher (born May 20, 1946) |
| Known For | Father of Cher; part of her Armenian family story |
| Resting Place | Fresno Memorial Gardens |
Early Life and Armenian Roots
John Paul Sarkisian was born in California on March 23, 1926. His birth placed him in a large Armenian-American community that grew in California during the 20th century.
Cher has often been linked to her Armenian background, and her father’s side is central to that identity. Her paternal grandparents were Armenian and had lived through the hard history of the Armenian people. This heritage is part of what shaped the family story that Cher later shared with the world.
Family history profiles also connect John’s parents to the names Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranoush “Blanche” Dilkian, who are frequently listed in genealogical databases and profiles of Cher’s family line.
Marriage to Georgia Holt and the Birth of Cher
John met Georgia Holt (then called Jackie Jean Crouch) when both were very young. The two married in Reno, Nevada, on June 22, 1945. Within a year they had their first child, Cher, born on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California.
The marriage was difficult. John was an Armenian-American truck driver who struggled with gambling and substance issues. He was not always present in the home, and the couple separated soon after Cher’s birth. Her parents divorced when she was about ten months old, a key moment that shaped the rest of her childhood.
Years later, John and Georgia tried again. They remarried in 1965 and divorced again in 1966. This second attempt did not last, but it shows how the two stayed connected through their daughter and through shared history.
Work and Everyday Life
John’s main job is widely reported as truck driver, a tough and honest line of work that kept him on the road. This also helps explain why he was away a lot and why family life was unstable.
Life for immigrants and their children in mid-century California was not simple. The Armenian community worked hard to build new lives while keeping their culture. John grew up in this setting, and it shaped his path and his values, even if he never became a public figure.
A Complicated Father–Daughter Story
Cher has spoken openly about her childhood. Sources say her father was rarely present and that the home changed often as her mother remarried and the family moved. These moves and changes were not easy for a child. Still, this difficult start did not define Cher’s future; she built a career based on talent and strength.
At the same time, John’s Armenian roots were real and important to the family story. Cher later took part in humanitarian work connected to Armenia and has spoken with pride about her background. While John did not live a public life, his heritage remained part of his daughter’s identity.
Later Years and Death
John lived most of his adult life outside the spotlight. He died on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California, at 58 years old. Some public records also note his burial at Fresno Memorial Gardens. The exact cause of death has not been widely reported.
An obituary notice recorded his passing and identified him as Cher’s father, which shows how even in death his main public link was to his famous daughter.
Legacy
John Paul Sarkisian was not a celebrity, but his life still matters in the story of American culture. Through him, Cher carries a direct link to the Armenian diaspora in California. His work life, his struggles, and his on-and-off marriage to Georgia Holt formed the backdrop of Cher’s early childhood. These experiences, both hard and loving, helped shape one of the most successful artists of the last 60 years.
John’s legacy is simple but strong: he is the bridge between an immigrant family story and a world-famous career. Knowing who he was gives more depth to Cher’s life story and to the wider story of Armenian-Americans in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) Who was John Paul Sarkisian?
He was Cher’s biological father, an Armenian-American from California who mainly worked as a truck driver.
2) When and where was he born?
He was born on March 23, 1926, in California, USA.
3) What was his heritage?
He came from an Armenian family; Cher’s paternal grandparents were Armenian.
4) Who were his parents?
Sources list his parents as Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranoush “Blanche” Dilkian.
5) Whom did he marry?
He married Georgia Holt (born Jackie Jean Crouch) in 1946. They divorced the next year, remarried in 1965, and divorced again in 1966.
6) Did he have children?
Yes. His child is Cher (born May 20, 1946).
7) What did he do for work?
He is widely described as a truck driver, and he also did other jobs over the years.
8) When did he die, and where is he buried?
He died on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California, and was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
9) Did John and Georgia ever remarry after their first split?
Yes. They remarried in 1965 but divorced again in 1966.
10) Why is John Paul Sarkisian important in Cher’s story?
He connects Cher to her Armenian roots and is part of the family history that shaped her early life.
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