The Life and heritage of John Paul Sarkisian Cher’s Father and His Influence
Introduction:
John Paul Sarkisian, frequently honored as the father of the fabulous songster and actress Cher, led a life marked by particular struggles and artistic uproar. While he remained largely in the murk of his son’s monumental success, Sarkisian’s Armenian heritage and complex relationship with Cher played a significant part in shaping her identity. This composition explores the life, challenges, and heritage of John Paul Sarkisian, a man whose story intertwines with the roots of an entertainment icon.
Early Life and Heritage
John Paul Sarkisian was born on March 23, 1926, in Oakland, California, to George and Blanche Sarkisian. His parents were Armenian emigrants who survived the Armenian Genocide and fled to the United States for safety. This heritage instilled a sense of adaptability and artistic pride, which, despite his challenges, came to be a part of his heritage.
Sarkisian’s parenting reflected the struggles faced by numerous indigenous families at the time. His parents worked hard to make a life in America while conserving their Armenian traditions, a heritage that Cher would later embrace in her own way.
Marriage to Georgia Holt and the Birth of Cher
In 1946, Sarkisian married Georgia Holt( born Jackie Jean Crouch), a model and aspiring actress of Irish, English, German, and Cherokee descent. Their union was brief but significant, as it led to the birth of Cherilyn Sarkisian, more known as Cher, on May 20, 1946.
Sarkisian and Holt’s relationship was tumultuous, largely due to his struggles with dependence and gambling. These challenges contributed to their separation shortly after Cher’s birth, leaving Holt to raise their son largely on her own. Despite his absence, Sarkisian’s Armenian roots left an unforgettable mark on Cher’s artistic identity.
A worried Relationship with Cher
Sarkisian’s relationship with Cher was complicated, marked by long ages of disgruntlement. His struggles with medicine and gambling dependence created a rift between them, and his absence during her constructive times contributed to a simulated dynamic.
At one point, their relationship came so contentious that Sarkisian reportedly took legal action to help Cher from speaking about him intimately. This legal battle underlined the depth of their fractured bond. Despite these challenges, Cher has frequently conceded the part her father’s heritage played in shaping her sense of identity and belonging.
Sarkisian’s Career and Life Struggles
Professionally, John Paul Sarkisian worked as a truck motorist, a job that kept him down from home for extended ages. later in life, he ventured into steed parentage, working at Somerset granges. still, fiscal success escaped him, and he led a modest life.
Sarkisian’s particular challenges, including his battles with dependence , cast a shadow over his achievements. These struggles not only affected his particular life but also strained his connections with his family, particularly with Cher.
Cultural Influence on Cher
Despite his absence, Sarkisian’s Armenian heritage remained a significant part of Cher’s identity. She has frequently spoken about her Armenian roots with pride, crediting her father’s lineage for impacting her sense of tone. The adaptability and artistic uproariously that Sarkisian inherited from his parents were rates Cher drew upon throughout her life and career.
Cher’s connection to her Armenian heritage came particularly apparent when she used her platform to speak about issues affecting the Armenian community, reflecting a pride in her strain that traced back to her father.
Reflections on Fatherhood and Legacy
John Paul Sarkisian passed away on January 28, 1985, in Fresno, California, at the age of 58. His death marked the end of a life filled with struggles, but his heritage lives on through Cher, who continues to recognize her roots in her own way.
In her biographies and interviews, Cher has reflected on the impact of her parents on her life. While her relationship with Sarkisian was fraught with difficulties, it also contributed to her adaptability and drive to succeed. Her reflections punctuate the complications of domestic bonds and the continuing influence of artistic heritage.
Conclusion:
John Paul Sarkisian’s life story is one of perseverance, artistic pride, and particular challenges. While he may be best known as Cher’s father, his Armenian heritage and struggles with dependence form a narrative of adaptability and complexity. His influence, though circular, played a part in shaping one of the world’s most iconic impersonators.
Cher’s acknowledgment of her Armenian roots serves as a testament to her father’s enduring heritage. John Paul Sarkisian’s life reminds us of the profound impact parents have on their children, indeed amidst challenges and adversity.