Guide Note

Cher has had an extraordinary career as a Grammy award winning musician and actress. She has sold over 200 million solo records worldwide. She rose to fame as half of the duo Sonny & Cher in the 1960s. Cher won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role in the 1987 romantic comedy film Moonstruck.

Fast Facts

1. Name: born Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere, legally changed it to "Cher"
2. Born: May 20, 1946
3. Academy Awards: Best Actress 1988
4. Grammy Awards: 1
5. Emmy Awards: 1
6. Golden Globe Awards: 3
7. Mother of Chastity Bono and Elijah Allman
8. Was married to Gregg Allman founding member of Allman Brothers Band from 1975-1977.

Cher met Sonny Bono in a coffee shop when she was just 16 years old, in November of 1962. At the time he was 27 years old, and worked as a record producer for Phil Spector. They became friends and were later married. Between 1971 and 1974 they had their own show, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour. Sonny and Cher divorced and parted ways in 1975. Sonny later entered politics and Cher went on to have a successful solo career.

Cher legally changed her name from Cheryl Sarkisian LaPiere, to "Cher" following the breakup of her second marriage in 1979. In the late 1970s and early 1980s she tried capitalizing on the disco craze with only mediocre success.

Cher decided to venture into acting. In 1983 she starred in the critically acclaimed drama Silkwood with Kurt Russell and Meryl Streep. She was nominated for an Academy Award. The success led to her being cast in a number of other dramatic roles, including the film Mask co-starring a young Eric Stolz.