Gloria Vanderbilt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gloria Vanderbilt
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Vanderbilt in 1959
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| Born |
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt
February 20, 1924 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | June 17, 2019 (aged 95) New York City, U.S.
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| Burial place | Vanderbilt Family Cemetery and Mausoleum, Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
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| Spouse(s) |
Pat DiCicco
(m. 1941; div. 1945)Wyatt Emory Cooper
(m. 1963; died 1978) |
| Children | 4, including Anderson Cooper |
| Parent(s) |
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| Family | Vanderbilt family |
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (born February 20, 1924 – died June 17, 2019) was a famous American artist, writer, actress, and fashion designer. She was also known as a socialite, meaning she was a well-known person in high society.
In the 1970s, Gloria Vanderbilt became very famous for her own line of clothing, perfumes, and home items. She was especially known for being one of the first to create popular designer jeans.
Gloria Vanderbilt's Early Life
Gloria Vanderbilt was born on February 20, 1924, in Manhattan, New York City. She was the only child of Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, whose family was very wealthy from railroads, and his second wife, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt. She also had an older half-sister named Cathleen Vanderbilt from her father's first marriage.
Childhood and Inheritance
When Gloria was only 18 months old, her father passed away. She and her half-sister inherited a large trust fund of $5 million. This was a huge amount of money at the time.
While Gloria was a child, her mother managed her share of the money. Her mother often traveled to Paris, taking young Gloria and her beloved nanny, Emma Sullivan Kieslich, with her.
Custody Battle and Growing Up
Gloria's paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, became concerned about her mother's spending habits. Gertrude was a sculptor and wanted to become Gloria's guardian. This led to a very public and scandalous court trial.
The judge sometimes asked everyone to leave the room so he could listen to young Gloria speak without anyone influencing her. In the end, Gloria's mother lost the case. Gloria then went to live with her aunt Gertrude.
Gloria grew up in luxury at her aunt Gertrude's mansion in Old Westbury, Long Island. She was surrounded by cousins her age. She also spent time in New York City.
Education and Independence
Gloria attended several schools, including the Greenvale School, Miss Porter's School, and the Wheeler School. She also studied art at the Art Students League in New York City. This helped her develop her artistic talent.
When Gloria became an adult, she took control of her trust fund. She later became friends with her mother again. Her mother passed away in Los Angeles in 1965.
Gloria Vanderbilt's Career and Achievements
Gloria Vanderbilt had a very diverse career. She was involved in theater, fashion, art, and writing.
Acting and Television Appearances
From 1954 to 1963, Gloria Vanderbilt worked as an actress. She studied acting and made her first stage appearance in 1954. In 1955, she acted on Broadway in a play called The Time of Your Life.
She also appeared in many television shows. These included Playhouse 90, Studio One in Hollywood, and The Dick Powell Show. Later, she was on The Love Boat in 1981. She also appeared on talk shows like The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
Fashion Design Success
Gloria Vanderbilt started her career in fashion as a model at age 15. She appeared in Harper's Bazaar magazine.
In the 1970s, she entered the fashion business herself. She first licensed her name for a line of scarves. In 1976, a company called Murjani Corporation suggested creating a line of designer jeans with her signature and swan logo.
Her jeans were designed to fit more closely than other jeans at the time. They became very popular right away. In 1978, she sold the rights to her name to the Murjani Group. She then started her own company, GV Ltd. Through this company, she launched dresses, blouses, shoes, and other items. From 1982 to 2002, a company called L'Oreal released eight perfumes under the Gloria Vanderbilt brand.
Artistic Talent
Gloria Vanderbilt studied art at the Art Students League of New York. She became well-known for her artwork, including oil paintings, watercolors, and pastels. She had her first art exhibition in 1948.
In 2001, she returned to art and opened a new exhibition called "Dream Boxes." This show was very successful. She had another exhibition of 35 paintings in 2007.
To celebrate her 90th birthday in 2014, a collection of her drawings, paintings, and collages was displayed in New York City. The exhibit was called "The Left Hand Is The Dreamer."
Writing Career
Gloria Vanderbilt was also a talented writer. She wrote two books about art and home decor. She also wrote four books about her own life, called memoirs. She published three novels and a collection of short stories.
She regularly wrote for magazines like The New York Times, Vanity Fair, and Elle. In 2010, a book about her life called The World of Gloria Vanderbilt was published. It included many photos that had never been seen before.
In 2017, she co-wrote a book with her son, Anderson Cooper. It was called The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss. The book shared their personal thoughts and experiences.
Gloria Vanderbilt's Family Life
Gloria Vanderbilt was married four times and had four sons.
Marriages and Children
In 1941, when she was 17, Gloria married Pat DiCicco. He was an agent for actors. They divorced in 1945 and did not have any children together.
Soon after, in April 1945, she married Leopold Stokowski. He was a famous conductor and 42 years older than her. They had two sons: Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski (born 1950) and Christopher Stokowski (born 1952). They divorced in 1955.
Her third husband was the director Sidney Lumet. They were married from 1956 to 1963 and did not have children.
Gloria's fourth marriage was to author Wyatt Emory Cooper on December 24, 1963. This marriage lasted 15 years. They had two sons: Carter Vanderbilt Cooper (born 1965) and Anderson Cooper (born 1967). Anderson Cooper is now a well-known news anchor for CNN. Wyatt Cooper passed away in 1978.
Later Life and Passing
Gloria Vanderbilt passed away at her home in Manhattan on June 17, 2019, at the age of 95. She died from stomach cancer.
She is buried next to her son Carter and her late husband Wyatt. Their graves are in the Vanderbilt Family Cemetery and Mausoleum on Staten Island, New York. When she passed away, Gloria Vanderbilt left almost her entire estate to her son, Anderson Cooper.
Images for kids
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Vanderbilt in 1959
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Vanderbilt at age four with her mother in 1928
See also
In Spanish: Gloria Vanderbilt para niños
