Early Life and Heritage
The oldest son of Armenian immigrants Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian and Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian, John Paul Sarkisian was born in Oakland, California, on March 23, 1926. Economic hardship in Alameda County during the Great Depression influenced his blue-collar values. He finished primary and secondary school locally by 1944, showing mechanical skill and entrepreneurial drive as a teenager. His parents’ early-20th-century migration and California neighbourhood links shaped his Armenian ancestry throughout his life.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | March 23, 1926 |
| Birthplace | Oakland, Alameda County, California |
| Parents | Ghiragos “George” Sarkisian (father); Siranousch “Blanche” Dilkian (mother) |
| Heritage | Armenian-American |
| Education Completion | High school graduation, 1944 |
He started working at 18 with odd jobs like produce delivery and garage assistance. Despite not joining the military, his childhood coincided with World War II’s last stages. Instead, he stayed in California, where wartime industry introduced him to trucking and mechanical professions that shaped his future.
Marital and Parental Relationships
At 19, John Paul married 18-year-old Georgia Holt (née Jackie Jean Crouch) in June 1945. Their daughter Cherilyn Sarkisian was born on May 20, 1946. The marriage ended in 1947 after 13 months, with Georgia Holt keeping their daughter. Decades later, they briefly wedded in late 1965 but divorced mid-1966. John Paul was gone throughout Cher’s childhood, resulting in a damaged parental relationship that only saw modest reunion in the late 1960s before complete alienation.
| Event | Date | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| First Marriage | June 1945 | 13 months |
| Birth of Daughter | May 20, 1946 | — |
| First Divorce | August 1947 | — |
| Second Marriage | December 1965 | 6 months |
| Second Divorce | June 1966 | — |
John Paul hardly saw Cher after the second divorce, only meeting her sometimes in her early adulthood. Their 1968 reconnection lasted less than a year before he left again. His instability and personal issues strained father-daughter relationships.
Career and Personal Struggles
John Paul held various blue-collar jobs for 40 years. After delivering vegetables in 1944, he drove trucks by 1950 and worked as a barman and mechanic in the 1950s and 1960s. He started hairstyling in the 1960s and ended up breeding horses. His adaptability showed in each venture, yet none succeeded. The 1968 trucking firm he started failed within months, leaving him in debt.
Simultaneously, he grappled with substance abuse—primarily heroin—and compulsive gambling. He was arrested for possession and debt-related offences by 1970, including a brief stint in prison in 1972. These personal battles exacerbated family estrangement and undermined financial stability.
| Occupation | Approximate Years | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Produce Delivery | 1944–1950 | Foundation for trucking |
| Truck Driver | 1950–1960 | Modest income |
| Bartender | 1958–1965 | Supplementary earnings |
| Mechanic | 1960–1968 | Moderate stability |
| Hairstylist | 1964–1966 | Short-term side business |
| Horse Breeder | 1967–1969 | Financially unviable |
| Trucking Business Owner | 1968 | Bankruptcy within 6 months |
Successive setbacks established an unstable reputation. John Paul relied on intermittent and informal work by the mid-1970s as his network diminished. Relapses and hospital stints for addiction treatment plagued his later decades till his death.
Legal Disputes
John Paul sued his daughter and various newspapers for $4 million in slander in the 1970s. He said public tales of his addiction and legal issues had damaged his reputation and caused emotional suffering. After multiple hearings in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the 1974 lawsuit was dismissed in early 1977. Legal observers noted that his inability to produce verifiable evidence and his unstable financial standing weakened his claims.
| Legal Action | Filed | Claimed Amount | Resolution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defamation Suit vs. Cher & Tabloids | June 1974 | $4,000,000 | Dismissed January 1977 |
| Arrest for Possession | March 1971 | N/A | 30-day County Jail |
| Gambling Debt Charge | September 1972 | N/A | Fined $1,200; probation |
The failed case increased public scrutiny, straining his already strained relationship with Cher. Fragmented testimony and inconsistent versions showed his legal naiveté and psychological struggle in court.
Financial Status and Legacy
John Paul never reached financial security despite various manual trade revenue streams. He made between $18,000 and $24,000 per year during peak employment (adjusted for inflation, $160,000–$210,000 in today’s money), but failing projects, gambling losses over $50,000 in the early 1970s, and legal bills drained his resources. On January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California, he died without an estate and had a modest funeral with little fanfare.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Peak Annual Earnings | $18,000–$24,000 (1960s rates) |
| Major Losses | >$50,000 (gambling, 1970–1975) |
| Business Investments | 4 failed ventures (1944–1970) |
| Final Estate Value | <$5,000 at death |
| Funeral | January 30, 1985; private service |
The contrast between his father’s obscure, struggle-filled life and Cher’s meteoric success defines his legacy. Historians and biographers consider his story as typical of the immigrant-American narrative—marked by persistence, suffering, and the pursuit of the American Dream, even as it finally crumbled.
FAQ
When was John Paul Sarkisian born and died?
Born March 23, 1926, he died January 28, 1985.
His daughter’s name and birthdate?
Daughter Cherilyn Sarkisian (Cher) was born May 20, 1946.
He married Georgia Holt how many times?
He married Georgia Holt twice: June 1945–August 1947 and December 1965–June 1966.
The sum of his Cher lawsuit?
June 1974 saw his $4 million defamation lawsuit.
What were his primary occupations?
Truck driver, mechanic, barman, hairstylist and horse breeder were his main jobs.
