Chaz Bono: Cher and Sonny’s Child, Actor, and Partner

If you know Chaz Bono as Cher and Sonny Bono’s only child, you’re not alone — but the actor, writer, and activist has built a career that reaches far beyond his famous parents. Born March 4, 1969, in Los Angeles as Chastity Sun Bono, he has become a well-known figure on screen, in publishing, and in LGBTQ+ advocacy, and this article separates the verified milestones — from his transition and acting roles to his marriage and family ties — from the celebrity rumors that still circulate online.

Born: March 4, 1969 ·
Birth name: Chastity Sun Bono ·
Parents: Sonny Bono and Cher ·
Known for: American Horror Story, Curb Your Enthusiasm ·
Current project: Big Baby (actor and executive producer)

Key facts at a glance

Seven biographical data points, one pattern: every officially recorded detail confirms Chaz Bono’s identity and family origin, while the gaps left open by celebrity gossip remain.

The pattern: each table row traces back to at least one reference work, while none of the gossip topics appear in any of those rows.

What happened to Cher’s daughter Chastity?

From Chastity to Chaz

Chaz Bono was born as Chastity Sun Bono on March 4, 1969, in Los Angeles — the only child of entertainers Sonny Bono and Cher (Wikipedia). He appeared on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour as a child and later tried a singing career in the late 1980s (Britannica). In 1995, he publicly came out as a lesbian, and in 2009 he announced his transition from female to male. His legal name and gender were changed in May 2010 (Business Insider).

Writing, music, and acting career

Bono published the memoir Family Outing in 1998 (IMDb) and The End of Innocence in 2003 (Wikipedia). He formed the rock band Ceremony, which released Hang Out Your Poetry in 1993 (Britannica). On screen, he is known for recurring roles in American Horror Story and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and he currently stars as an executive producer and actor in the project Big Baby (Facebook (Chaz Bono official page)).

The implication: even the most searched family questions rarely change the underlying biographical record.

Is Chaz Bono Cher’s biological child?

Birth records and biographies

Yes — Chaz Bono is the biological child of Cher and Sonny Bono. All biographical reference works — including Britannica, Wikipedia, and Rotten Tomatoes — consistently list Cher and Sonny Bono as his parents. He was named Chastity after the film Chastity, which starred Cher and was produced by Sonny Bono.

Sonny and Cher as parents

Sonny Bono and Cher were performing as the singing duo Sonny & Cher at the time of his birth. Chaz is the only child born to the couple. After their divorce, Sonny Bono died in a skiing accident in January 1998 (Rotten Tomatoes). Cher attended his funeral, a fact that is confirmed across multiple news reports.

What this means: the biological link is settled; the search noise is about legacy, not uncertainty.

Does Chaz Bono have a good relationship with Cher?

Evidence from family events

The most substantial public indicator of the relationship is Cher’s attendance at Chaz Bono’s wedding to Shara Blue Mathes in 2022. People magazine reported that Cher was present for the ceremony, which signaled support. However, neither Chaz nor Cher has issued a detailed public statement about the quality of their day-to-day relationship.

What Cher’s wedding attendance suggests

Wedding attendance by a parent is often interpreted as acceptance and closeness. But the lack of joint interviews or sustained public appearances together leaves room for speculation. In a 2011 ABC News interview, Chaz described an “emotional toll” during his transition, mentioning that his family — including Cher — went through difficult times.

What remains unconfirmed

Whether the relationship is warm or strained on a daily basis remains private. The wedding attendance is a strong signal, but it is not a full relationship inventory. Rumors about Cher’s disapproval or estrangement have not been substantiated.

The takeaway: public gestures offer signals, but they do not settle the full emotional picture.

Who is Chaz Bono’s partner today?

Marriage to Shara Blue Mathes

Chaz Bono married Shara Blue Mathes in 2022 in Los Angeles (People). They first met as teenagers at the Lee Strasberg Theatre & Film Institute (People).

Wedding coverage and Cher’s attendance

The wedding was attended by Cher, which People described as a glamorous Hollywood affair. Prior to this relationship, Chaz was engaged to Jennifer Elia, whom he met in 2005 (ABC News). That engagement ended in 2011 (Nicki Swift (celebrity news site)).

Everyone who searches for “Chaz Bono partner” is looking for a current name, and the answer is Shara Blue Mathes — a fact that has been confirmed in reliable celebrity press but is missing from many top search snippets.

How old was Cher when she gave birth to Chastity?

Cher’s birth year

Cher was born in 1946. Multiple biographical sources — including Britannica and Wikipedia — confirm her birth year.

Chastity’s birth year

Chastity Sun Bono (now Chaz) was born on March 4, 1969 (Wikipedia).

Age calculation

Subtracting 1946 from 1969 gives a simple answer: Cher was 22 years old when she gave birth. This is a straightforward historical fact, yet no top search result explicitly states the number. The implication is clear: Cher became a mother in her early twenties, at the height of the Sonny & Cher fame.

Timeline

• March 4, 1969 — Chastity Sun Bono born to Sonny Bono and Cher in Los Angeles (Wikipedia)
• 1960s–1970s — Sonny and Cher perform as Sonny & Cher (Britannica)
• 1995 — Bono comes out as lesbian (Rotten Tomatoes)
• January 1998 — Sonny Bono dies; Cher attends funeral (Rotten Tomatoes)
• 2009 — Bono announces transition (Britannica)
• May 2010 — Legal name and gender change (Business Insider)
• 2011 — Competes on Dancing with the Stars (Business Insider)
• 2022 — Marries Shara Blue Mathes; Cher attends (People)
• ongoing — Active as actor and producer, including Big Baby (Instagram)

The pattern: each documented milestone is tied to a named source, while none of the rumored money or infidelity stories appears in this sequence.

Clarity: What is confirmed vs what remains unclear

Confirmed facts

• Chaz Salvatore Bono was born March 4, 1969, as Chastity Sun Bono (Wikipedia).
• Sonny Bono and Cher are his parents (Britannica).
• Chaz Bono is an American writer, musician, and actor (Britannica).
• He is known for American Horror Story and Curb Your Enthusiasm (Rotten Tomatoes).
• He is married to Shara Blue Mathes (2022) (People).
• Cher attended Chaz Bono’s wedding (People).

What remains unclear

• The full emotional state of the Chaz-Cher relationship beyond public events.
• Whether claims about Sonny Bono’s infidelity are accurate.
• Which person was the “love of Sonny Bono’s life.”
• If anyone “took all of Cher’s money,” and what that claim refers to.
• The precise reason Chaz Bono and Jennifer Elia ended their engagement is not publicly documented.
• Net worth figures circulating online are not backed by verified financial records.

The catch: the confirmed list is built on named references, while the unclear list is built on search queries and tabloid phrasing—and that distinction is the real story.

In their own words

“I’m really excited about this new chapter in my life as an actor and producer. I hope everyone enjoys Big Baby.”

Chaz Bono, via Instagram (official account)

“My latest film is available on VOD and streaming while I’m in Maui. Grateful for the support.”

Chaz Bono, via Facebook (official page)

“Sonny was one of the great loves of my life. We had something that can’t be replicated.”

Cher, in multiple interviews (Britannica (reference publisher))

The through-line: even Cher’s public comments about Sonny reinforce the family bond that continues to shape Chaz Bono’s public narrative.

What this means going forward

The documented milestones of Chaz Bono’s life — from his birth in 1969 to his marriage in 2022 — are well-sourced and consistent across credible references. What remains in the rumor zone are narratives about money fights and extramarital affairs that never appear in verified reporting. For anyone searching for Chaz Bono today, the takeaway is clear: the record is solid on the family, the career, and the partner; the gossip is just noise. For readers who came looking for Cher’s daughter Chastity, the answer is simple: she grew up, transitioned, and is now living as Chaz — a man with a full life of his own.

Frequently asked questions