John Paul Sarkisian was an Armenian-American truck driver best known as the biological father of singer and actress Cher. He was also the former husband of Cher’s mother, Georgia Holt.
John worked mainly as a truck driver but reportedly held several other jobs during his life. He and Georgia married twice and divorced twice. Their only child together was Cher, born in 1946. John died in Fresno, California, on January 28, 1985, at age 58.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Profile Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | John Paul Sarkisian |
| Date of Birth | Reported as March 23, 1926 |
| Birthplace | California, USA; sources differ between Oakland and Berkeley |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Armenian-American |
| Father | Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian |
| Mother | Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian |
| Profession | Truck driver |
| Other Reported Jobs | Bartender, auto mechanic, hairstylist, horse breeder |
| Former Wife | Georgia Holt |
| First Marriage | 1946–1947 |
| Second Marriage | 1965–1966 |
| Child | Cher |
| Grandchildren | Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman |
| Date of Death | January 28, 1985 |
| Place of Death | Fresno, California, USA |
| Age at Death | 58 |
| Cause of Death | Not publicly disclosed |
| Burial Place | Reportedly Fresno Memorial Gardens |
| Net Worth | Not reliably known |
Who Was John Paul Sarkisian?
John Paul Sarkisian was the biological father of Cher, whose birth name is Cherilyn Sarkisian.
Unlike his daughter, John did not have a career in entertainment. He lived mostly outside the public eye and worked in several jobs during his life.
His Armenian family background, marriages to Georgia Holt, work as a truck driver, and relationship with Cher make up most of the publicly available information about him.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Age and Birthplace
John was born in 1926 in California.
Most of the information collected gives his birthday as March 23, 1926. However, one profile lists March 3, 1926. March 23 appears more consistently in the supplied information.
There is also a difference in reports about his exact birthplace. One source lists Oakland, California, while another gives Berkeley, Alameda County, California.
Both cities are in Alameda County, but the exact birthplace is unclear from the available information.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Armenian Heritage
John was American and came from an Armenian family.
His parents were Armenian immigrants. Reports say they came to the United States after fleeing the hardship surrounding the Armenian Genocide and its aftermath.
John grew up in an Armenian-American family in California.
His Armenian heritage also became part of his daughter Cher’s family background.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Parents
John’s father was Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian.
His mother was Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian.
The available information describes both of his parents as Armenian immigrants who settled in the United States.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Siblings
Reports identify Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian and Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins as John’s siblings.
Several half-siblings are also named in the available information, including:
- Pearl Najimian
- Louise Voutsinas
- Harry Yegan
- Dick or Dickson
- Elizabeth
Sources do not present John’s family structure consistently. One profile lists seven siblings, while another describes him as the youngest of five children and separately mentions half-siblings.
Because of this difference, his exact number of siblings is unclear.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Education
Reliable information about John’s education is not publicly available.
The collected sources do not identify a school, college, university, degree, or professional qualification connected to him.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Career
John spent much of his working life as a truck driver.
However, he reportedly tried several other types of work over the years.
Jobs connected to him include:
- Truck driver
- Bartender
- Auto mechanic
- Hairstylist
- Horse breeder
Despite these different jobs, truck driving appears to have been his main profession.
His Trucking Business
John reportedly had plans to build his own trucking business.
According to one account, his father bought him five trucks to help him establish the business.
The available information does not clearly explain how long the business operated or how successful it became.
John Paul Sarkisian and Georgia Holt
John was married to Georgia Holt, whose birth name was Jackie Jean Crouch.
Georgia was an American singer-songwriter, model, and occasional actress.
The couple had a complicated relationship and married each other twice.
Their First Marriage
John and Georgia first married in 1946.
Their daughter Cher was also born that year.
The marriage was short. John and Georgia divorced in 1947, about a year after marrying.
Reports describe John as spending significant periods away from his family during this part of his life.
John and Georgia Holt Married Again
John and Georgia reunited many years after their first divorce.
They married for a second time in 1965. One source says the wedding took place in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Their second marriage was also brief.
They divorced again in 1966, with one report giving September 1966 as the time of their second divorce.
Who Was Georgia Holt?
Georgia Holt was Cher’s mother and John’s former wife.
Born Jackie Jean Crouch, she worked as a singer-songwriter, model, and actress.
Her entertainment work included music as well as occasional film and television appearances.
Georgia died on December 10, 2022, at age 96.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Daughter Cher
John and Georgia had one child together: Cher.
Cher was born Cherilyn Sarkisian on May 20, 1946, in El Centro, California.
No other children of John Paul Sarkisian are identified in the collected information.
Who Is Cher?
Cher is an American singer, actress, and television personality.
She first became widely known through her musical partnership with Sonny Bono. Sonny & Cher recorded the hit song I Got You Babe.
Cher later built a successful solo career.
Some of her well-known songs include Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, and Dark Lady.
Her career has covered music, movies, and television for more than six decades.
Cher’s Awards and Achievements
Cher has received major awards for both music and acting.
Her awards include an Academy Award, Grammy Award, Emmy Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.
She was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on October 19, 2024. Actress and singer Zendaya presented her induction.
Cher has also been reported to have sold more than 100 million records worldwide.
One source reports that she became the only solo artist with number-one singles on U.S. Billboard charts across seven consecutive decades, from the 1960s through the 2020s.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Relationship With Cher
John was not consistently present throughout Cher’s childhood.
His first marriage to Georgia ended when Cher was still very young, and reports say he spent significant periods away from his family.
The available information does not provide a complete history of John and Cher’s relationship.
One report says Cher was with her father during his final days in 1985.
John’s Reported Drug and Gambling Problems
Some reports state that John struggled with drug use and gambling.
These problems have been mentioned in accounts of his difficult relationship with Georgia Holt and his periods away from the family.
Detailed information about these struggles is limited, so they should not be described beyond what has been reported.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Grandchildren
John became a grandfather through Cher.
His two grandchildren are Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
Chaz Bono is Cher’s child with Sonny Bono.
Elijah Blue Allman is Cher’s son with musician Gregg Allman.
When Did John Paul Sarkisian Die?
John Paul Sarkisian died on January 28, 1985.
He was 58 years old.
His death occurred in Fresno, California.
How Did John Paul Sarkisian Die?
John’s exact cause of death has not been publicly disclosed in the information collected.
There is not enough reliable evidence to state that he died from a particular illness, accident, or other specific cause.
Where Is John Paul Sarkisian Buried?
John is reported to have been buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens in Fresno County, California.
This burial location is reported by one of the available sources.
John Paul Sarkisian’s Net Worth
John Paul Sarkisian’s personal net worth is not reliably known.
There is no confirmed public information about the value of his estate, income, property, or other assets when he died.
Did John Paul Sarkisian Have Social Media?
John did not have modern social media accounts.
He died in 1985, years before platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and X existed.
Photos and information about him that appear online today come from family records, archives, biography websites, and accounts related to Cher.
Things to Know About John Paul Sarkisian
- John Paul Sarkisian was born in California in 1926.
- March 23, 1926, is the more commonly reported date of birth in the information collected.
- Sources differ between Oakland and Berkeley as his exact birthplace.
- He was an American of Armenian descent.
- His father was Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian.
- His mother was Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian.
- He worked mainly as a truck driver.
- He reportedly also worked as a bartender, auto mechanic, hairstylist, and horse breeder.
- His father reportedly bought him five trucks to help him start a trucking business.
- He married Georgia Holt twice.
- Their first marriage lasted from 1946 to 1947.
- They married again in 1965 and divorced in 1966.
- John and Georgia had one daughter, Cher.
- Cher’s birth name is Cherilyn Sarkisian.
- John was the grandfather of Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
- Reports say he struggled with drug use and gambling.
- He died in Fresno, California, on January 28, 1985.
- He was 58 years old when he died.
- His exact cause of death has not been publicly disclosed.
- He is reportedly buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
- His personal net worth is not reliably known.
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