The life of John Paul Sarkisian through addiction, distance, and legacy

The life of John Paul Sarkisian through addiction, distance, and legacy

John Paul Sarkisian was an American truck driver best known as Cher's father. Cher is an actress and singer famous for the hit single I Got You Babe alongside Sony Bono. John lived a private life and passed away in 1985 at the age of 58.

Georgia Holt, John Paul Sarkisian, and Cher posing for a photo
A black and white photo of Georgia Holt and John Paul Sarkisian (L). Cher posing for a photo (R). Photo: @trendifyr11, @thechernews on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • John Paul Sarkisian was born on 23 March 1926 in Oakland, California, United States.
  • He married Jackie Georgia Holt twice, in 1946 and 1965, but the marriage ended in divorce.
  • Sarkisian passed away on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, Fresno County, California, United States.
  • He was survived by his only child, Cher.

Profile summary

Real name

John Paul Sarkisian

Gender

Male

Date of birth

23 March 1926

Date of death

28 January 1985

Age

58 years old (as of 28 January 1985)

Zodiac sign

Aries

Place of birth

Oakland, California, United States

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

Mixed

Religion

Christianity

Sexuality

Straight

Mother

Siranousch Dilkian

Father

Ghiragos George Sarkisian

Siblings

7

Marital status

Divorced

Ex-spouse

Georgia Holt

Children

1

Profession

Truck driver

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John Paul Sarkisian: The untold story of Cher's father

John Paul Sarkisian was born in Oakland, California, on 23 March 1926. He was an American citizen and a Christian by religion. John's parents are Ghiragos "George" Sarkisian and Siranousch "Blanche" Dilkian.

Quick facts about John Paul Sarkisian
Top-5 facts about John Paul Sarkisian. Photo: @findagrave.com (modified by author)
Source: Original

John had two siblings, Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian and Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins. He also had half-siblings: Louise Voutsinas, Pearl Najimian, Harry Yegan, Dickson, and Elizabeth.

Paul Sarkisian passed away on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, California, United States, at 58. The cause of his death has not been disclosed.

Cher's father was of Armenian ethnicity. His parents migrated from Armenia after World War 1, after fleeing the Armenian Genocide and settling in America.

John Paul Sarkisian's personal life

Cher and her mother Georgia Holt seated in studio
Cher and her mother Georgia Holt during a commercial break on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on 30 April 2013. Photo: Margaret Norton
Source: UGC

Sarkisian married Georgia Holt in 1946. She was an American singer-songwriter, model, and occasional actress. John was a truck driver with drug and gambling problems. He spent most of his life away from his family, leading to their divorce in 1947.

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Cher's parents reunited 18 years later and got married in 1965. Their marriage was short-lived, and they parted ways in 1966. Holt passed away on 10 December 2022 at the age of 96.

A look at John Paul Sarkisian's daughter, Cher

Cher posing for a photo holding an award
Singer and songwriter Cher posing for a photo holding an award. Photo: @thechernews on Facebook (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Sarkisian had one daughter with Georgia Holt. Cheryl Sarkisian, best known as Cher, was born on 20 May 1946 in El Centro, California. She is a singer, actress and TV personality.

Cher is one of the most iconic pop singers, with a career spanning over six decades. She is known for hit singles such as Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves, and Dark Lady.

Cher was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame on 19 October 2024 by American actress and singer Zendaya. She has won numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, a Grammy Award, and three Golden Globe Awards.

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FAQs

  1. Who is John Sarkisian? He was an American truck driver and Cher's biological father.
  2. Who is Cher? She is a singer, songwriter, actress, and TV personality from the United States.
  3. Where was Cher's dad from? John Sarkisian was born in Oakland, California, United States.
  4. Who are John Paul Sarkisian's parents? His parents are George Sarkisian and Siranousch Dilkian.
  5. What is John Paul Sarkisian's nationality? He was an American national.
  6. What was John Paul Sarkisian's ethnicity? John was of Armenian ethnicity.
  7. Who is Cher's biological mother? Georgia Holt is Cher's biological mother.
  8. What happened to John Paul Sarkisian? He passed away on 28 January 1985 at 58. The cause of death has not been disclosed.
  9. What is John Paul Sarkisian's ethnicity? John Paul Sarkisian is of Armenian descent.

John Paul Sarkisian lived a life of privacy and addiction before he died in 1985. However, his legacy lives on through his daughter, singer and songwriter Cher.

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Gabim Moura was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She made her runway debut at the 2025 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Find out more about Gabim Moura's personal and career journey.

Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Naomi Karina avatar

Naomi Karina (Lifestyle writer) Naomi Karina has been a digital content writer for more than two years. She joined the Legit team in August 2022. She graduated Bachelor of Commerce from KCA University in 2012. She also holds a Higher Diploma in Human Resources from the IHRM and a Diploma in Marketing from Kenyatta University. She is a content creator who enjoys writing about various topics such as biographies, entertainment and business. In 2023, Naomi finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She expanded her skills in 2024 by undertaking the Google News Initiative course.

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