John Paul Sarkisian Once Sued Cher to Stop Her from Saying Negative Things about Him

John Paul Sarkisian was the father of the glamorous pop star Cher. They had a tumultuous relationship, with Cher eventually disowning him. John even went so far as to take legal action against his own daughter.

Cher is a talented musician born to an equally accomplished mother, Georgia Holt, an actress and model. Sadly, Georgia recently passed away after being hospitalized with pneumonia. Georgia was 96.

Georgia was well-known in Hollywood for several reasons, including her multiple marriages. She married a total of eight times, including twice to her late husband, John Paul Sarkisian, who would later become Cher's father.

John Sarkisian Has Changed Many Jobs

John was born in Oakland, Alameda County, California, on March 23, 1926, to Armenian father George P. Sarkisian and Turkish mother Blanch Dilkian, who were married from 1888 to 1965. John's parents later divorced, and Blanch married her second husband, Carl Yegan.

John had two siblings from his mother's marriage to George: Lucy Sarkisian Mirgian and Roxanne Sarkisian Hopkins. John also had half-siblings: Louise Voutsinas, Elizabeth, Dick, and Harry Yegan, and Pearl Najimian.

When John was younger, he worked as a bartender, auto mechanic, and hairstylist, among other things. He also delivered seasonal produce. Among other things, he made a living by breeding horses.

The family moved to El Centro, California, after John's father purchased five trucks. His father bought the trucks so that John could start his own business. Unfortunately, the plan did not go as expected.

Georgia Holt and John's First Marriage Was Short-Lived

Georgia Holt, born Jackie Jean Crouch on June 9, 1926, in Kensett, Arkansas, was John's first wife. Georgia was only 18 when she first met John at the donut shop where she used to work.

Although he had a farmer's attitude, John's suave looks and flamboyance captivated Georgia. She and John married in Reno, Nevada, on June 22, 1945, but it was short-lived.

The couple's relationship was fraught with difficulties. Georgia had noticed John's sudden mood swings and that he was no longer gentle with her.

Overwhelmed by John's unexpected behavior, which she couldn't understand, Georgia wanted to leave their marriage, but John reconciled with her and convinced her to stay with him for three months.

The couple eventually relocated to El Centro, where Georgia became pregnant with their first child. On May 20, 1946, they welcomed their daughter Cherilyn Sarkisian, popularly known as Cher.

Georgia's relationship with John, on the other hand, dwindled, and they divorced in 1947. Raising her daughter alone, Georgia began working as a saloon singer to earn a living.

John Remarried Georgia When He Got Out of Prison

Cher met John for the first time when she was 11 years old. John, who had an addiction problem, was already out of prison due to his substance abuse involvement.

Cher was only eight when she learned about her Armenian father through a news report that he was arrested. On December 15, 1965, John married Georgia for the second time.

Cher was initially pleased because she finally had both a mother and a father, but as time passed, she became frustrated with her father's actions. John reverted to his old patterns and "self-destructive" behavior.

Georgia and John began a complicated relationship in which they married and split up several times. Cher's relationship with her father lasted only six months before she ultimately disowned him.

However, Georgia believed that John had a major influence on Cher's life.

John Was Mostly Absent from His Daughter's Life

Cher and her father had a rocky relationship. Cher had cut ties with her father, saying he was absent from her life and caused problems when he was present.

However, John argued that he couldn't see Cher for a while after the divorce because he lost track of her as she and her mother moved around frequently.

The father-daughter feud reached a new level when John sued Cher and two tabloids for $4 million over statements attributed to his daughter regarding his past that he felt were hurtful and damaging to his reputation.

At that time, John admitted to being imprisoned for drugs and bad-check violations but claimed to have led an "exemplary, pious, and noble life" for the past several years. He explained that he became addicted to pain medication after suffering a medical condition.

He had made disparaging remarks about Cher, whom he claims would not have been successful if not for Sonny Bono, not the other way around. The rift deepened over a sold photo. Cher had a photograph taken with her father and granddaughter.

John later sold the photograph to a rug dealer to prove his relationship with Cher and have her cover a bad check. Cher vowed to have no further contact with her father. Even at her father's death, she had no strong sentiments for him.

However, Georgia believed that John had a major influence on Cher's life. She pointed out that Sonny and Cher's fathers had similar heights and build.

While Cher didn't initially see the similarities, Georgia suggested that Cher should marry Sonny, who was 12 years older than her, because he was like a father to her.

John Had No Children except Cher

After his turbulent marriage to Georgia, John never remarried. He also never had another child besides Cher. On January 28, 1985, he died in Fresno County, California, at 58.

Among his siblings, the late horse breeder appears to be the youngest to pass away. His sister Roxanne passed away in 2019 at the age of 95, while Elizabeth died in 2007 at 88.

Lucy, John's other sister, outlived them all, living from the age of 114 until 2021. Nothing is known about the lives of John's half-siblings. John's mom died at 80 in June 1979, while his mom's second husband, Carl, died in 1969. He was 75.