Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (born February 20, 1924) is an American artist, author, actress, heiress, and socialite. Her bio shows during the 1930s, she was the subject of a high-profile child custody trial in which her mother, Gloria morgan Vanderbilt, and her paternal aunt, Gertrude vanderbilt whitney, both sought custody of the child Gloria and control over her $5 million trust fund. The trial, called the "trial of the century" by the press, was the subject of wide and sensational press coverage due to the wealth and notoriety of the involved parties and the scandalous evidence presented to support Whitney's claim that Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt was an unfit parent.
As an adult in the 1970s, Gloria Laura Vanderbilt became known in connection with a line of fashions, perfumes and household goods bearing her name. She was particularly noted as an early developer of designer blue jeans.
She is a member of the Vanderbilt family of new york and the mother of CNN television anchor Anderson cooper.
Gloria was raised roman catholic and as a child was particularly fascinated with st. theresa. Although religious in her youth, she no longer practices Catholicism and identifies more with a zen Buddhism ideology.
At 17 years old, Vanderbilt went to Hollywood where she married agent pat DiCicco in 1941; they divorced in 1945. DiCicco proved to be temperamental and an abusive husband who called her 'Fantasy Roo' and beat her. 'He would take my head and bang it against the wall,' Vanderbilt said. 'I had black eyes.'
Her second marriage, to conductor Leopold Stokowski in April 1945, produced two sons before their divorce in October 1955: Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski (born August 22, 1950) and Christopher Stokowski (born January 31, 1952).
On August 28, 1956, she married director Sidney Lumet; they divorced in August 1963.
She married her fourth husband, author Wyatt Emory cooper on December 24, 1963. They had two sons: Carter Vanderbilt Cooper (January 27, 1965 – July 22, 1988) and Anderson hays cooper (born June 3, 1967), CNN news anchor.
Wyatt Cooper died in 1978 during open heart surgery in New York City. Carter Cooper committed suicide at the age of 23 by jumping from the family's 14th-floor apartment.
She maintained a romantic relationship with photographer and filmmaker boyfriend Gordon parks for many years until his death in 2006. Other notable lovers have included Marlon Brando, frank Sinatra,Howard Hughes, and Roald dahl. Truman capote was said to have modeled the character of Holly Golightly in breakfast at tiffany's on her, but others say it was based on her friend carol grace.
She is very close friends with fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg and comedian Kathy griffin. While appearing as a guest on her son Anderson cooper's television talk show, Anderson on September 19, 2011, Vanderbilt referred to Griffin as her "fantasy daughter".
When Gloria celebrated her 90th birthday on February 20, 2014, her collections of many drawings, paintings and collectibles were placed on display in the 1stdibs Gallery at new york design center in New York City.
Vanderbilt had many affairs and four spouses and four children in total. Gloria had many professions, she was an artist, actress, fashion designer, socialite. her net worth is $200 million with no particular salary was given.
