01of 261935Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/GettyVanderbilt was born in New York City on February 20, 1924 to one of the wealthiest families in America.Her father was railroad heir Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt who built the New York Central Railroad, who died when she was 18 months old. Her mother was his second wife, 19-year-old Gloria Morgan.
01of 26
1935
Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/Getty
Vanderbilt was born in New York City on February 20, 1924 to one of the wealthiest families in America.
Her father was railroad heir Reginald Claypoole Vanderbilt, the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt who built the New York Central Railroad, who died when she was 18 months old. Her mother was his second wife, 19-year-old Gloria Morgan.
02of 261934GettyWhen Vanderbilt was 10 years old, she found herself in the center of the “custody battle of the century” between her aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (founder of New York City’s Whitney Museum) and her mother. The trial became a media sensation, earning her the nickname “poor little rich girl.“Her aunt eventually won custody after revealing in the case that Vanderbilt’s mother was a lesbian and painted her as an unfit mother.
02of 26
1934
Getty
When Vanderbilt was 10 years old, she found herself in the center of the “custody battle of the century” between her aunt Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (founder of New York City’s Whitney Museum) and her mother. The trial became a media sensation, earning her the nickname “poor little rich girl.”
Her aunt eventually won custody after revealing in the case that Vanderbilt’s mother was a lesbian and painted her as an unfit mother.
03of 261935Vanderbilt is pictured being escorted home from Palm Sunday services at Church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City.
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Vanderbilt is pictured being escorted home from Palm Sunday services at Church of St. Francis of Assisi in New York City.
04of 26
1937
05of 261939Keystone-France/Gamma-Keystone/GettyGloria Vanderbilt pictured with her mother in Los Angeles.As a teen, Vanderbilt traveled to Beverly Hills to reconnect with her mother for a visit that was supposed to last only two weeks. But two weeks in Los Angeles turned into months – and the trip eventually led her to meeting her first husband.
05of 26
1939
Gloria Vanderbilt pictured with her mother in Los Angeles.
As a teen, Vanderbilt traveled to Beverly Hills to reconnect with her mother for a visit that was supposed to last only two weeks. But two weeks in Los Angeles turned into months – and the trip eventually led her to meeting her first husband.
06of 261941GettyAfter dating Hollywood’s leading men throughout her high school years, she married agent (and rumored mobster) Pasquale “Pat” DeCicco in Santa Barbara, California at age 17.“I was mesmerized,” she says. “He was forceful, domineering, and supremely sure of himself. When you have low self-esteem, as I did, those qualities are attractive.”They divorced four years later.
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1941
After dating Hollywood’s leading men throughout her high school years, she married agent (and rumored mobster) Pasquale “Pat” DeCicco in Santa Barbara, California at age 17.
“I was mesmerized,” she says. “He was forceful, domineering, and supremely sure of himself. When you have low self-esteem, as I did, those qualities are attractive.”
They divorced four years later.
07of 261954GettyFrank Sinatra was among the many famous men Gloria Vanderbilt was linked to. Here, they’re pictured at the Ambassador Hotel on New Years Eve 1954.
07of 26
1954
Frank Sinatra was among the many famous men Gloria Vanderbilt was linked to. Here, they’re pictured at the Ambassador Hotel on New Years Eve 1954.
08of 261956GettyVanderbilt married her second husband, orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowski in 1945; they were married for 10 years.In 1956 she married for a third time, to Academy Award-winning director Sidney Lumet, pictured on their wedding day. They divorced in August 1963.
08of 26
1956
Vanderbilt married her second husband, orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowski in 1945; they were married for 10 years.
In 1956 she married for a third time, to Academy Award-winning director Sidney Lumet, pictured on their wedding day. They divorced in August 1963.
09of 261954Gloria Vanderbilt.Gordon Parks/The LIFE Picture Collection/GettyAmong her many career endeavours, which included artist, fashion model, designer, poet and playwright, she appeared on stage, screen and television, seen here in costume for Ferenc Molnar’s play,The Swan.
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Gloria Vanderbilt.Gordon Parks/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty
Among her many career endeavours, which included artist, fashion model, designer, poet and playwright, she appeared on stage, screen and television, seen here in costume for Ferenc Molnar’s play,The Swan.
10of 261957CBS Photo Archive/GettyIn character alongside William Shatner on set an episode of the CBS seriesStudio One.
10of 26
1957
CBS Photo Archive/Getty
In character alongside William Shatner on set an episode of the CBS seriesStudio One.
11of 261968Jack Robinson/Hulton Archive/GettyVanderbilt poses with one of her paintings in New York City, in a dress matching the artwork.
11of 26
1968
Jack Robinson/Hulton Archive/Getty
Vanderbilt poses with one of her paintings in New York City, in a dress matching the artwork.
12of 261972Ron Galella/GettyFour months after divorcing her third husband, Sidney Lumet, Vanderbilt said “I do” to author and screenwriter Wyatt Emory Cooper, pictured.
12of 26
1972
Ron Galella/Getty
Four months after divorcing her third husband, Sidney Lumet, Vanderbilt said “I do” to author and screenwriter Wyatt Emory Cooper, pictured.
13of 261969Jack Robinson/Hulton Archive/GettyShe and Cooper welcomed two sons, Carter (right) in 1965 and Anderson (left) in 1967, pictured together in their New York City apartment.
13of 26
1969
She and Cooper welcomed two sons, Carter (right) in 1965 and Anderson (left) in 1967, pictured together in their New York City apartment.
14of 261972Jack Robinson/Condé Nast/GettyAndersontold PEOPLE in a 2016 interviewthat his mom “was much more creative and interesting and unconventional” than other moms he knew of growing up. Both of his parents helped him realize the “possibilities of one’s imagination” at a young age.
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Jack Robinson/Condé Nast/Getty
Andersontold PEOPLE in a 2016 interviewthat his mom “was much more creative and interesting and unconventional” than other moms he knew of growing up. Both of his parents helped him realize the “possibilities of one’s imagination” at a young age.
15of 261976Susan Wood/Getty“If famous people were coming over to the house, like Charlie Chaplin or Truman Capote, we would be sitting at the table next to them,” Andersontold PEOPLEabout his unconventional upbringing, which Vanderbilt led alone after her husband died during open heart surgery in 1978. “There wasn’t a kids’ table. We weren’t sort of shunted off somewhere. We would be expected to kind of learn about who was coming and watch their movies and be able to converse with them.”
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1976
Susan Wood/Getty
“If famous people were coming over to the house, like Charlie Chaplin or Truman Capote, we would be sitting at the table next to them,” Andersontold PEOPLEabout his unconventional upbringing, which Vanderbilt led alone after her husband died during open heart surgery in 1978. “There wasn’t a kids’ table. We weren’t sort of shunted off somewhere. We would be expected to kind of learn about who was coming and watch their movies and be able to converse with them.”
16of 261979Chan Yuen-man/South China Morning Post/GettyVanderbilt became a household name in the ’70s thanks to the creationof her “Perfect Fit” denim jeans.She’s pictured at Murjani, a garment company with whom she collaborated on her first collection.
16of 26
1979
Chan Yuen-man/South China Morning Post/Getty
Vanderbilt became a household name in the ’70s thanks to the creationof her “Perfect Fit” denim jeans.She’s pictured at Murjani, a garment company with whom she collaborated on her first collection.
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Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty
18of 261979Rose Hartman/GettyAnderson and Carter obviously had front-row seats to their mother’s fashion show in N.Y.C.
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Rose Hartman/Getty
Anderson and Carter obviously had front-row seats to their mother’s fashion show in N.Y.C.
19of 261980sHorst P. Horst/Condé Nast via GettyIn an undated image from the boys' earlier days, Vanderbilt and her sons posed for a Condé Nast photo shoot.
19of 26
1980s
Horst P. Horst/Condé Nast via Getty
In an undated image from the boys' earlier days, Vanderbilt and her sons posed for a Condé Nast photo shoot.
20of 261980PL Gould/IMAGES/GettyThe doting mom often took her sons out to events in New York City.
20of 26
1980
PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty
The doting mom often took her sons out to events in New York City.
21of 26
1981
Photo Archives/Walt Disney/Getty
22of 261988PL Gould/IMAGES/GettyA casual shot of Vanderbilt and her beloved sons.
22of 26
1988
A casual shot of Vanderbilt and her beloved sons.
23of 261990sThe happy family in an undated photo, out in New York City.
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1990s
The happy family in an undated photo, out in New York City.
24of 262010Dimitrios Kambouris/GettyPoses with designer Ralph Lauren at the launch party for her book,The World Of Gloria Vanderbilt.
24of 26
2010
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty
Poses with designer Ralph Lauren at the launch party for her book,The World Of Gloria Vanderbilt.
25of 262014Steve Russell/Toronto Star/GettySeated in front of a piece of her artwork at her art exhibit at the Spoke Club in Toronto.
25of 26
2014
Steve Russell/Toronto Star/Getty
Seated in front of a piece of her artwork at her art exhibit at the Spoke Club in Toronto.
26of 262016Andy Cohen (L), Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU/GettyVanderbilt pictured with Anderson andAndy Cohenon an episode ofWatch What Happens Liveto promote the memoir she and Anderson wrote together,The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son Talk About Life, Love, and Loss, which offers a rare glimpse into their special relationship via a collection of intimate email exchanges.Cohen, who is also Cooper’s close friend, wrote a touching tribute to Vanderbilton Instagram.“Gloria Vanderbilt was an amazing woman who lived a life filled with incredible peaks and impossible obstacles,” Cohen began.“Through it all she remained eternally optimistic with a wicked sense of humor. In fact, Anderson’s iconic and infectious giggle comes from his mom.”
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2016
Andy Cohen (L), Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper.Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU/Getty
Vanderbilt pictured with Anderson andAndy Cohenon an episode ofWatch What Happens Liveto promote the memoir she and Anderson wrote together,The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son Talk About Life, Love, and Loss, which offers a rare glimpse into their special relationship via a collection of intimate email exchanges.
Cohen, who is also Cooper’s close friend, wrote a touching tribute to Vanderbilton Instagram.“Gloria Vanderbilt was an amazing woman who lived a life filled with incredible peaks and impossible obstacles,” Cohen began.
“Through it all she remained eternally optimistic with a wicked sense of humor. In fact, Anderson’s iconic and infectious giggle comes from his mom.”
source: people.com
