How did John Paul Sarkisian die? Inside the tragic end of Cher's father
The exact cause of John Paul Sarkisian's death was never publicly disclosed, and details surrounding his passing remain private. He died on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, California, at the age of 58, and was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens in Fresno County. He lived a quiet and private life.
Source: UGC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- John Paul Sarkisian was of Armenian descent and was born in California in 1926.
- He married Georgia Holt and fathered Cher, but the marriage was unstable and ended early.
- He lived outside the limelight, choosing a quiet, working-class life even as his daughter became a superstar.
- He died on 28 January 1985, in Fresno, Fresno, California, United States, at the age of 58.
- Cher's dad was buried in Fresno Memorial Gardens, Fresno, Fresno, California, United States.
John Paul Sarkisian's profile summary
| Full name | John Paul Sarkisian |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 3 March 1926 |
| Date of death | 28 January 1985 |
| Age | 58 (at death) |
| Zodiac sign | Pisces |
| Place of birth | Berkeley, Alameda, California, United States |
| Place of death | Fresno, Fresno, California, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mixed |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Father | Ghiragos "George" Sarkisian |
| Mother | Siranousch "Blanche" Dilkian |
| Siblings | 7 |
| Relationship status | Divorced |
| Ex-Spouse | Georgia Holt |
| Children | 1 |
| Profession | Truck driver, bartender, auto mechanic |
How did John Paul Sarkisian die?
John Paul Sarkisian passed away on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, California, at the age of 58. The specific cause of his demise has not been publicly disclosed. Reports indicate that Cher was with him during his final days.
Cher's 2024 memoir shows that her father led a colourful and varied working life. Over the years, he took on numerous careers, including truck driver, bartender, auto mechanic, hairstylist, and horse breeder.
Though he explored many professions, he primarily identified as a truck driver. His father supported his entrepreneurial ambitions by purchasing five trucks to help him establish his own business.
Source: Getty Images
Where is John Paul Sarkisian from?
John Paul Sarkisian was born into a tight-knit Armenian-American family on 23rd March 1926 in Berkeley, Alameda County, California. He was the youngest of five children born to Ghiragos "George" Sarkisian and Siranousch "Blanche" Dilkian, Armenian immigrants who had fled hardship in search of a better life in the United States.
John had two siblings, Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian and Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins, from his mother's marriage to George. He also has half-siblings: Pearl Najimian, Louise Voutsinas, Harry Yegan and Elizabeth, Dick,
Who was John Paul Sarkisian's wife?
John Paul Sarkisian married Jackie Jean Crouch, better known as Georgia Holt, twice. Their first marriage occurred in 1946 but ended in divorce the following year. Nearly two decades later, they remarried in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1965; however, the reunion was short-lived, and they divorced again in September 1966.
Georgia Holt was an American singer-songwriter, model, and occasional actress known for her brief but memorable appearances in film and television. She passed away on 10th December 2022 at the age of 96.
Who are John Paul Sarkisian's kids?
John Paul Sarkisian's only child with Georgia Holt is Cheryl Sarkisian, famously known as Cher. She is a celebrated American singer, actress, and television personality, renowned for her distinctive contralto voice, bold visual style, and versatile career spanning over six decades.
Cher is considered one of the best-selling music artists, with over 100 million records sold worldwide. She is a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and remains the only solo artist with number-one singles on the US Billboard charts in seven consecutive decades — from the 1960s through the 2020s.
Beyond her musical and acting accomplishments, Cher is widely respected for her progressive activism, particularly in supporting LGBTQ rights and HIV/AIDS awareness. She is also a devoted mother to two children: Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
Source: Getty Images
FAQs
- Who was Cher's biological father? The singer's biological father was John Paul Sarkisian, an Armenian-American from California.
- What happened to Cher's father? John Paul Sarkisian lived a quiet, private life away from fame and died in 1985. The cause of his death was never publicly disclosed.
- How old was John Paul Sarkisian when he died? He was 58 years old when he died. He was born on 23 March 1926 and passed away on 28 January 1985.
- How many children did John Paul Sarkisian have? John Paul Sarkisian had one child, Cherilyn Sarkisian (Cher).
- Who was John Paul Sarkisian's wife? John Paul Sarkisian was married to Jackie Jean Crouch, also known as Georgia Holt. They were married twice and divorced twice.
- What did John Paul Sarkisian do for a living? He held various jobs throughout his life, including truck driver, bartender, auto mechanic, and hairstylist, and even worked in horse breeding.
- When did John Paul Sarkisian die? Cher's father died on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, California. He was buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens.
Wrapping up
How did John Paul Sarkisian die? John passed away on 28 January 1985 in Fresno, California, at the age of 58, with the cause of death never publicly disclosed. He was the father of the legendary singer Cher and a grandfather to Chaz Bono and Elijah Blue Allman.
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Proofreading by Masolo Mabonga, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
