Jack Sahakian
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Jack Sahakian (July 17, 1931 – October 23, 1995) was an American hairdresser and actor.
He was born in Oakland, California, the son of Karnic "Jack" Sahakian (July 27, 1907-November 5, 1945) and Evelyn L. Reese (April 3, 1914-December 2, 1973). His father was born in Armenia and his mother in Indiana. His father emigrated to the United States in 1914, joining his father, Dicran Sahakian (1867-1929), who had emigrated in 1910.
The family lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, where Dicran was a grocery retail merchant, before moving to California. Dicran, who became an Oriental rug importer, wanted his surname to be perpetuated in the land of liberty. After moving to Oakland, he died there October 30, 1929. He stipulated in his will that the first boy born to the eldest of his five sons was to receive approximately $2,500. In the event the eldest son had no male progeny, then the next eldest and on down to his youngest son would be eligible for the "premium" in the event he had a male child within five years.
The chances of the youngest son, Karnic, winning the trust fund for his son seemed highly remote, but it came true. Jack Sahakian became the first born grandson and, when he was age 4 in 1935, was awarded the money. His mother said she wanted to keep it intact for when he went to college.
Sahakian became a hairdresser for the rich and famous in Los Angeles, and owned his own salon. He counts among the men speculated to be the inspiration for Warren Beatty's character in the movie Shampoo.
He met burlesque stripper Candy Barr when she was with Mickey Cohen in 1959. She was appearing in Los Angeles while awaiting her appeal on a conviction and prison sentence in Texas for possession of marijuana.
On November 25, 1959, Sahakian and Barr were married in Las Vegas, while she was appearing there. He kept her daughter when she entered prison.
He became a character actor and made some guest appearances in top TV shows, playing the heavy in episodes of The Untouchables, Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Ben Casey.
Being a hairdresser to the stars, such as Shirley MacLaine and Warren Beatty, this led to small roles in a couple movies, Billy Wilder's Irma la Douce starring Jack Lemmon and MacLaine for United Artists and Move Over, Darling starring Doris Day and James Garner for 20th Century Fox, both released in 1963.
On February 5, 1968, Sahakian was featured speaker at a David Wilkerson Youth Rally at Melodyland, run by the author of The Cross And The Switchblade. The ad in the L.A. Times for the "Great Teen Program" referred to Sahakian as "TV Personality And Former Drug Addict."
Sahakian also appeared in the made-for-TV movie Knuckle (1975), starring Eileen Brennan and Jack Cassidy.
Jack Sahakian died at age 64 of liver disease at the Veterans Hospital in West Los Angeles. He is interred in Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery, Los Angeles, overlooking Burbank.
Jack Sahakian was survived by his son, John Michael Sahakian, a yoga teacher & stress management consultant in Venice, California.
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For clarification: Jack Leon Sahakian was also survived by his first born son, Jack Anthony Sahakian, an aerospace executive in El Segundo, California, as well as, Linda Gomez, his daughter, a home maker in Fontana, California.
Barbara Ann Evans, was Jack's fourth wife, whom he met and married while they were attending Life Bible College during the middle sixties. In 1967, the couple had Jack's third child, John Michael Sahakian.
