John Paul Sarkisian: Why Was Cher’s Father Absent—And Why Did He Sue Her?

Millions of people worldwide know Cher, the music and movie icon who’s been a superstar for decades. However, very few actually know about her biological father, John Paul Sarkisian. While his name might not ring a bell for you, his story is worth telling.

Sadly, John’s presence in his daughter’s life was mostly sporadic. Yet, his influence and connection to the “Goddess of Pop” make his life and history with Cher’s mother an intriguing part of the superstar’s journey.

To truly understand where Cher comes from and how her relationship with her biological father was, we need to look at John’s life. Who was he, and what role (if any) did he play in shaping one of the world’s biggest stars? That’s what we’re going to learn about in today’s article.

John Paul Sarkisian: Personal Profile

You can tell that John is of Armenian origin just by looking at his name, Sarkisian. His life in an immigrant family began far from the glamour of Hollywood. Before diving deeper into John’s major life events and how he became known, check out some of his basic facts:

• Full Name: John Paul Sarkisian

• Date of Birth: March 23, 1926

• Place of Birth: Oakland, California

• Education: N/A

• Profession: Truck driver

• Parents: Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian

• Siblings: Two sisters (Louise B. and Elizabeth Sarkisian)

• Marital Status: Divorced

• Ex-Spouse: Jackie Jean Crouch (Georgia Holt)

• Children: Cherilyn Sarkisian (Cher)

• Date of Death: January 28, 1985

• Age at Death: 58 years

• Place of Death: Fresno, California

Image source: Google

John Paul Sarkisian: Early Life and Childhood

John was born in 1926, in Oakland, California, to the Armenian immigrant couple, Ghiragos Sarkisian and Siranousch Dilkian. His parents worked hard to create a life for their family in America while trying to hold on to their Armenian traditions.

At the time, raising a child in an immigrant household was a tough challenge. John’s parents tried to surround him with his family’s rich cultural heritage. At the same time, they were making an effort to adapt to their life in a new country.

John Paul Sarkisian: Family

Principally, most of John’s childhood was during the Great Depression, a period that was incredibly hard for all people across the country. Like many others, John’s parents struggled to get by. Yet, the hard times helped John’s family grow a stronger bond.

Here are some details about his family members:

Father: Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian

Born in 1893, Ghiragos was an Armenian immigrant who came to the U.S. looking for a better life. Like hundreds of Armenians at the time, he had to flee his homeland due to the political instability in the early 20th century following the Armenian Genocide.

Eventually, Ghiragos settled in California, where he worked tirelessly to provide for his family and give them the best life he could. Life was especially difficult during the Great Depression, but Ghiragos stayed strong and worked to support his family.

Image source: Google

Mother: Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian

Siranousch Dilkian, John’s mother, was five years younger than her husband but just as resilient. Despite having to start over in a foreign country, she remained loyal to the rich values of Armenian culture.

Over the years, Siranousch tried to keep and pass on family traditions to her children. Together with her husband, Siranousch kept the family strong during the most challenging times.

Siblings: Louise B. and Elizabeth Sarkisian

John grew up in California with two older sisters named Louise B. and Elizabeth Sarkisian. The three were part of a tight-knit family environment that shaped their early years.

• Louise B. Sarkisian: Born in 1914, Louise was the oldest sibling in the family. She met John Yssaian in Los Angeles, California, and got married to him in 1934. She lived a long life, ultimately passing away in 2006 at the age of 92.
• Elizabeth Sarkisian: The youngest of the two sisters, Elizabeth was born in 1919. Just like her sister, she too passed away at a relatively old age in 2007 when she was 88 years old. That said, more details about the two sisters remain unknown to the public.

John Paul Sarkisian: Marriage to Georgia Holt

Image source: Facebook

John met the beautiful Georgia Holt back when she was only 18 years old. Before changing her name, she was known as Jackie Jean Crouch. Shortly after, the couple fell in love and decided to get married in 1946.

Georgia was a young lady with huge dreams of venturing into the world of Hollywood. Not long after tying the knot, the couple started to have major differences. Reportedly, John had a tough temperament and was often absent due to the nature of his work as a truck driver.

During her pregnancy with Cher, Georgia reached a breaking point. She realized she didn’t want to stay with John anymore. At one point, he forced her to have an abortion, but she changed her mind at the last moment, thinking, “I can’t do this. I don’t care what happens; I can’t do this.”

As Cher mentions in her published memoirs, “It was her body, her life, and her choice.” She also added, “Thank God she got off that table, though, or I wouldn’t be here to write these pages.”

Only two years into their marriage, John and Georgia separated. Their relationship was short and rocky, but it ultimately led to the birth of a daughter who would go on to change the entertainment world forever.

More About Georgia Holt

After parting ways with John, Georgia moved on with her life as a single mom. She faced several challenges, being a young, divorced woman during a time when society usually frowned upon such a type of independence.

Image source: Google

Georgia started pursuing an acting and modeling career at a young age. Although she was known for making many appearances in movies and TV, she was also famous for her multiple marriages.

Besides John Paul Sarkisian, Georgia got married to five other men over the course of 25 years. In fact, she and John got back together for a brief time in 1965. Nonetheless, they got a second divorce only one year later.

John Paul Sarkisian: Relationship With His Daughter

John’s relationship with his daughter, Cher, was complicated and distant for much of her life. After separating from Georgia Holt when Cher was just a baby, John wasn’t consistently present during her childhood.

Principally, his work as a truck driver and his involvement with gambling and substance abuse kept him away for long stretches. As such, Cher’s upbringing was primarily handled by Georgia and her subsequent partners.

Cher usually spoke about her father with a disappointed tone, mentioning his constant absence during her life. In fact, they didn’t meet in person until she was 11 years old.

Image source: Google

Cher recalls this moment in her memoirs, stating, “Although I had no burning desire to see him, there was a tiny part of me that had always been curious.”

She described how she felt at the time, mentioning, “There was a sense of recognition at the genetic link between us because in him I saw my own olive skin and heart-shaped mouth.”

Despite this, John’s minimal presence still remained a part of Cher’s story. Overall, their few interactions over the years, though not fruitful, helped shape Cher’s understanding of her identity and roots.

John Paul Sarkisian: Defamation Lawsuit Against His Daughter

In 1975, John filed a defamation lawsuit against his daughter, Cher, and two tabloids. The case arose after Cher publicly discussed her father in some magazine interviews. Reportedly, she made comments about his struggles with narcotics and his absence during her childhood.

John demanded $4 million in damages, claiming that Cher’s remarks had caused significant harm to his reputation.

During the lawsuit, John argued that these statements were false and portrayed him in an unfairly negative light. Although he admitted to serving time in prison for bad checks and drug abuse, he claimed to have led a straight life for several years afterward.

Back in the time, this lawsuit drew huge media attention. This further highlighted the strained relationship between the famous star and her father. Cher, on the other hand, defended herself by stating that her comments were truthful and based on her own experience growing up.

Interestingly, there’s no clear public record of how the lawsuit ultimately concluded. Regardless, it was more than enough evidence of how complicated and distant the relationship between John and his daughter was.

Image source: Oldshowbiz

John Paul Sarkisian: Death

After separating from Georgia Holt, John never remarried, nor did he have any more children. He lived much of his life away from the spotlight, working as a truck driver and dealing with personal struggles.

On January 20, 1985, John Paul Sarkisian passed away in Fresno, California. Unlike his two sisters, who lived a long life, he died at the age of just 58.

Sadly, John’s passing wasn’t a remarkable event in Cher’s life. By the time of his death, his relationship with his daughter remained complicated, with little opportunity for true reconciliation.

In general, not much is known about the exact circumstances of John’s passing. However, it marked the end of a heartbreaking story that could’ve had a much better ending if things had been different.

---

Featured image source: Tapatalk