When people hear the name Cher, they think of the famous singer with the powerful voice and amazing career. But not many people know about her father, John Paul Sarkisian. His life was very different from his daughter’s glamorous world. This is the story of a man who faced many challenges and lived a quiet life away from the spotlight.
Personal Info
| Full Name | John Paul Sarkisian |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | March 23, 1926 |
| Place of Birth | Oakland, California, USA |
| Date of Death | January 28, 1985 |
| Age at Death | 58 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Armenian-American |
| Famous For | Being Cher’s father |
| Occupation | Truck driver, mechanic, bartender |
| Spouse | Georgia Holt (married twice) |
| Children | Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian) |
Early Life and Armenian Roots
John Paul Sarkisian was born on March 23, 1926, in California. His parents, George and Blanche, came to America from Armenia. They left their home country to escape difficult times and find a better life in the United States.
Growing up as the son of immigrants was not easy. John’s family worked hard to make a living. His parents brought with them the Armenian culture, which values family, hard work, and staying strong during difficult times. These values shaped John’s early years.
John had two siblings named Lucy and Roxanne. He also had several half-siblings from his parents’ other relationships. The family stayed close to other Armenian-Americans in California, especially in the Fresno area.
Meeting Georgia Holt
When John was young, he met a woman named Georgia Holt. Her real name was Jackie Jean Crouch, and she was born in Arkansas. Georgia wanted to be an actress and singer. She was beautiful and had big dreams.
John and Georgia fell in love quickly. Their relationship was full of strong feelings, but it was also very unstable. They got married in 1946 when they were both very young. However, their marriage had many problems from the start.
Becoming a Father
On May 20, 1946, Georgia gave birth to their daughter. They named her Cherilyn Sarkisian, but the world would later know her simply as Cher. Sadly, John and Georgia’s marriage did not last long. They divorced in 1947, when Cher was just a baby.
After the divorce, John was not part of Cher’s daily life. Georgia had to raise Cher mostly by herself. She worked as a singer in bars and did whatever jobs she could find to support her daughter. Meanwhile, John lived his own life, far away from his young daughter.
His Jobs and Different Work
John Paul Sarkisian tried many different jobs during his life. He worked as a truck driver, which was his main job. He also worked as a bartender in different places, fixed cars as an auto mechanic, and even worked as a hairstylist.
His father wanted to help him succeed, so he bought five trucks for John. The plan was for John to start his own trucking business. Unfortunately, this business idea did not work out as hoped.
John also tried other ways to make money. He worked with horses and tried breeding them. He delivered fruits and vegetables for farms. He even owned a nightclub at one point. But John could never find lasting success in any of these jobs.
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The Difficult Relationship with Cher
Cher did not meet her father until she was 11 years old. By that time, John had been in prison because of problems with drugs. When Cher finally met him, she had mixed feelings. She was happy to meet her father, but she also saw his problems.
In 1965, John and Georgia got married for a second time. Cher was happy at first because she finally had both parents together. But this did not last long. John went back to his old bad habits. He struggled with addiction and made poor choices.
Cher’s relationship with her father lasted only about six months. After that, she decided to cut all contact with him. This was a very painful decision for a young girl to make, but she felt it was necessary.
Personal Struggles and Problems
John Paul Sarkisian faced serious personal problems throughout his life. He struggled with drug addiction and had gambling problems too. These issues caused him to have legal troubles and spend time in jail.
His addiction affected every part of his life. It destroyed his marriages, hurt his relationship with his daughter, and made it hard for him to keep jobs. Despite trying to change, John could not overcome these problems.
In the 1980s, things got worse between John and Cher. He filed a lawsuit against his daughter for $4 million. He claimed that Cher said bad things about him in interviews with magazines. This legal fight made their relationship even more broken.
Later Years and Death
John Paul Sarkisian lived the last years of his life quietly. He stayed away from the media and public attention. While his daughter became one of the biggest stars in the world, John lived a simple, private life.
On January 28, 1985, John died in Fresno, California. He was only 58 years old. The exact cause of his death was never shared with the public. According to reports, Cher was with her father during his final days, showing that despite everything, there was still some connection between them.
John was buried in Fresno Memorial Gardens in California. His death was quiet, with no big news stories or public attention. It was a peaceful end to a troubled life.
His Legacy
John Paul Sarkisian’s legacy is complicated. He is remembered mainly as the father of Cher, one of the most famous entertainers in history. But his own life tells a different story – one of struggle, addiction, and missed opportunities.
Through Cher, John’s Armenian heritage lives on. Cher has sometimes talked about her Armenian roots, though she was raised mainly by her mother. John’s absence in Cher’s life affected her deeply and shaped the strong, independent person she became.
Cher has spoken honestly about her father over the years. She has said that while their relationship was difficult, she understood that he had his own struggles. She never forgot him, even though they spent most of their lives apart.
Conclusion
John Paul Sarkisian’s life was far from the glamorous world of Hollywood. He was a regular man who faced many challenges and personal demons. While he could not overcome his problems, his story reminds us that behind every famous person is a family with its own struggles and pain.
His greatest contribution to the world was his daughter, Cher, who became an icon of music and entertainment. Though their relationship was broken, John Paul Sarkisian will always be remembered as the father of a legend.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was John Paul Sarkisian?
John Paul Sarkisian was an Armenian-American man born in 1926. He is best known as the father of the famous singer and actress Cher. He worked different jobs like truck driver and mechanic during his life.
2. What was John Paul Sarkisian’s relationship with Cher like?
Their relationship was very difficult. Cher did not meet her father until she was 11 years old. They had contact for only about six months before Cher decided to cut ties with him. They remained distant for most of their lives.
3. When did John Paul Sarkisian die?
He died on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California. He was 58 years old when he passed away. Reports say that Cher was with him during his final days.
4. What kind of work did John Paul Sarkisian do?
He had many different jobs throughout his life. He worked as a truck driver, bartender, auto mechanic, and hairstylist. He also tried breeding horses and owned a nightclub at one time.
5. Did John Paul Sarkisian have any other children besides Cher?
No, Cher was his only child. She was born in 1946 from his marriage to Georgia Holt. Though John and Georgia married twice, they only had one child together.
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