Anderson Cooper.

Anderson Hays Cooper

Born 3 Jun 1967 New York City, United States

Citizenship United States

Age 59 yr Today

16 min read

Reading time

3,197

Words

Oct 3, 2026

Published

Awards

TL;DR

Anderson Cooper is a journalist, producer, and writer best known for hosting CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360° since 2003. He has reported from war zones and disaster areas, winning multiple Emmy and Peabody awards. Cooper is also a New York Times bestselling author for his memoir Dispatches from the Edge 2006.

Identity & family.

KIN · 5

Names, aliases, and relatives of Anderson Cooper — birth name, kin, and personal ties.

Birth Name Anderson Hays Cooper

Nicknames Andy, Coop

Parents: Gloria Vanderbilt Wyatt Emory Cooper
Siblings: Carter Vanderbilt Cooper Leopold Stanislaus Stokowski Christopher Stokowski

At a glance.

STATS

Anderson Cooper by the numbers — life, work, and family.

59 Age

8 Awards

Who is Anderson Cooper?

BIOGRAPHY

Anderson Cooper — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.

Early life

On June 3, 1967, Anderson Cooper arrived in New York City as the son of socialite Gloria Vanderbilt and writer Wyatt Cooper. He grew up with three siblings, including older brother Carter who died by suicide in 1988. At age 10, he began modeling for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Macy’s through Ford Models, continuing until 13. He attended the Dalton School, graduating in 1985, and during his senior year drove across South Africa in a truck, contracting malaria that required hospitalization. He interned for two summers at the CIA and studied Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi in the 1990s. He graduated from Yale University in 1989 with a BA in political science.

Career

Anderson Cooper started as a fact-checker for Channel One before joining ABC News as a correspondent from 1995 to 2000. In 2001, he moved to CNN and launched Anderson Cooper 360° in 2003. The show covered Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Haiti earthquake in 2010. He contributed to 60 Minutes starting in 2006 and signed a multi-year CNN deal in 2007, doubling his salary to $4 million annually. He appeared as himself in Chappie 2015 and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016 and voiced himself on The Simpsons. In 2006, his memoir Dispatches from the Edge hit number one on the New York Times bestseller list. He has guest-hosted Live with Kelly and Mark and wrote a monthly column for Details magazine.

Personal life

In July 2012, Anderson Cooper came out as gay via an email to blogger Andrew Sullivan. He had been in a long-term relationship with French nightclub mogul Benjamin Maisani; they separated as boyfriends in March 2018 but remain close friends. In 2020, he welcomed a son named Wyatt Morgan Cooper, honoring his father Wyatt and his mother’s middle name Morgan. His older brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, died by suicide in 1988. Cooper has described himself as a news junkie and owns a Welsh Springer Spaniel named Molly. He has English, Chilean, Dutch, and other ancestries, and is a second cousin once removed of screenwriter James Vanderbilt and third cousin once removed of actor Timothy Olyphant.

Legacy

Anderson Cooper has won the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award, several News and Documentary Emmys, and a Peabody Award. In 2007, he received the GLAAD Vito Russo Award and ranked #2 on Out Magazine’s list of the most powerful gay Americans. He also received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism and was named one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive in 2005. His reporting from conflict zones and natural disasters set a standard for immersive journalism, inspiring a new generation of correspondents. His memoir offered an account of covering war and disaster. He remains a trusted voice in news, combining rigorous reporting with personal vulnerability.

Awards & honors.

AWARDS · 8

Every award, honor, and recognition received by Anderson Cooper — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.

GLAAD Vito Russo Award
News and Documentary Emmy Awards
Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award
Peabody Awards
National Order of Honour and Merit
Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism
Order of Merit Ukraine, 3rd class
The Sidney Award

Notable quotes.

QUOTES · 16

A wall of memorable lines from Anderson Cooper — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.

We Do Things with a Wink and a Nod. If You Don’t Include Yourself in the Critique, You Have No Business Doing It.
Going Gray Is Like Ejaculating: You Know It Can Happen Prematurely, but When It Does It Comes as a Total Shock.
I’ve Always Loved Reporting from the Field Most of All. There’s Something About Doing Live TV and Being There as It Happens That’s Always Appealed to Me. I Think There’s Great Value to Bearing Witness to These Events as They’re Actually Happening.
When the War in Iraq Began I Was Anchoring the Overnight Coverage for CNN. Your Teleprompter Is Blank and You Have Four Hours to Fill, and It Can Be a Very Long Night If You Don’t Know Your Stuff. I Like That Challenge.
I Am Sort of Drawn Toward Places in the World Where There Is Struggle and Conflict.
Anyone Who Has Experienced a Certain Amount of Loss in Their Life Has Empathy for Those Who Have Experienced Loss.
Obviously I Was Well Aware That I Had What People Consider a Privileged Upbringing. My Mom Was Never a Bake-cookies Sort of Mom. I Really Had No Reins Whatsoever.
If I’m Hip, We’ve Got a Problem in This Country. I Really Shouldn’t Be Held up as Any Model of Hipness. If Anything I Think I’m Sort of Old School in My Approach to Objective Reporting and Not Wearing My Opinion on My Sleeve. There’s a Lot of That in American TV News These Days. Too Much, in Fact.
When I Was Younger, I Talked to the Adults Around Me That I Respected Most About How They Got Where They Were, and None of Them Plotted a Course They Could Have Predicted, so It Seemed a Waste of Time to Plan Too Long-term. Since Then I’ve Always Gone on My Instincts.
Regarding His Appearance on Celebrity Jeopardy: It Was Called the Power Players Edition, Though I’m Not Sure Why I Was in It Because I’m Neither a Playa nor a Person of Power. the Experience Really Made Me Realize How Much of a Loser I Am, Because of How Much I Got into It. I Mean, It’s Kind of a No-win Proposition. in What I Do You’re Supposed to Know a Certain Amount of Things, and There You Are Exposing Yourself to Ridicule for Not Knowing Stuff. I Didn’t Consider It That Much in Advance, but That Morning I Woke up and Was Like ‘What Have I Got Myself Into?’ but I Feel OK About It Now.
When a Big Event Happens People Turn on to CNN, Not Only Because They Know There Will Be People There Covering an Event on the Ground, but Because They Know We’re Going to Cover It in a Way That’s Non-partisan, That’s Not Left or Right.
I Haven’t Reached the Level of Ego yet Where I Can Talk About Myself in the Third Person, but I’m so Hoping I Reach That Stage.
I Started Going to Wars by Myself Because I Was Interested in the Issues of Survival. I Wanted to Be Around People Who Spoke the Language of Loss.
I Think I Was Really Shaped by Loss, by the Loss of My Dad When I Was Ten, and the Suicide of My Brother When I Was Twenty-one and He Was Twenty-three. Both Those Things Motivated Me to Be Independent and Self-reliant, to Set Out on My Own and Figure Out My Way in the World in a Way That I Thought Would Lead to a Healthy, Happier Life.
As a Child, I Used to Spend Summers at the Beach, and I Loved to Run Along the Edge of the Sand Cliffs Made by the Retreating Tide. as I Ran, I Could Feel the Sand Collapse Beneath Me, but as Long as I Kept Moving Forward, Kept Running Fast, I Could Stay One Step Ahead of the Falling Cliff. That’s What Anchoring the News Is Like. You Can Easily Falter, Easily Destroy Your Career in a Sentence or Two. the Key Is to Keep Going, Keep Moving, Never Forget You’re Running on Sand.
It’s Become Clear to Me That by Remaining Silent on Certain Aspects of My Personal Life for so Long, I Have Given Some the Mistaken Impression That I Am Trying to Hide Something – Something That Makes Me Uncomfortable, Ashamed, or Even Afraid. This Is Distressing Because It Is Simply Not True. the Fact Is, I’m Gay, Always Have Been, Always Will Be, and I Couldn’t Be Any More Happy, Comfortable with Myself, and Proud.

Did you know?

FACTS · 40

Little-known facts about Anderson Cooper — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.

Anderson is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Cooper. His mother was a socialite and artist from New York, and his father was a writer from Quitman, Clarke, Mississippi.
He spent two summers as an intern at the CIA.
Cooper started getting gray hair at age 20 and was completely gray by 35.
During his senior year at Dalton, he drove across South Africa in a truck, contracted malaria, and was hospitalized.
His son Wyatt Morgan Cooper is named in honor of both his parents: his father Wyatt and his mother Gloria Vanderbilt’s middle name Morgan.
His older brother Carter Vanderbilt Cooper born January 27, 1965 committed suicide by jumping from the 14th floor of their mother’s Manhattan penthouse on July 22, 1988.
He studied Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi in the 1990s.
Modeled with Ford Models for Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Macy’s from age 10 to 13.
Graduated from Yale in 1989 with a BA in political science.
As a child, his mother showed him the statue of Cornelius Vanderbilt at Grand Central Station, leading him to believe relatives turn into statues when they die.
Ranked #2 on Out Magazine’s 2007 list of the Most Powerful Gay Men and Women in America; publicly came out in July 2012.
Signed a multi-year CNN deal allowing continued contributions to 60 Minutes and doubling his salary from $2 million to $4 million annually.
A self-described news junkie since in the womb.
At age 3, appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson with his mother Gloria on September 17, 1970.
He waited tables at Mortimer’s while growing up and said he was a terrible waiter, working anonymously despite his family name.
Second cousin once removed of James Vanderbilt and third cousin once removed of Timothy Olyphant.
Has English, smaller amounts of Chilean, Dutch, Scots-Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish ancestry; maternal grandmother born in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Named one of People’s Sexiest Men Alive in 2005.
Photographed as a baby by Diane Arbus for Harper’s Bazaar.
Has two half-brothers from his mother’s marriage to Leopold Stokowski: Stan Stokowski born 1950 and Christopher Stokowski born 1952.
One of the Top 10 men on Vanity Fair’s international best-dressed list in 2004 and again in 2006.
Interviewed Walter Cronkite at the Gibson Amphitheatre on February 26, 2007.
Graduated from Dalton School in Manhattan in 1985.
Has been a guest co-host of Live with Kelly and Mark, filling in for Regis Philbin since 2006.
His partner Benjamin Maisani ran New York nightclubs Eastern Bloc, Bedlam, Atlas Social Club, and LOVEGUN.
Has a pet Welsh Springer Spaniel named Molly.
In March 2018, told People that he and Benjamin Maisani had separated as boyfriends but remain family and love each other.
Signed a $1 million contract in October 2005 with Harper Collins for his memoir Dispatches from the Edge, released May 23, 2006, and donated some proceeds to charity.
Commencement speaker at Kean University in 2005 and Yale University in 2006.
Returned to broadcast news at CNN in 2001.
Freelance writer with articles in Details magazine.
A huge fan of the Scissor Sisters.
ABC News correspondent from 1995 to 2000.
Number 3 on Playgirl’s Sexiest Newscasters List in 2004.
Wrote a monthly column for Details magazine.
Close friend of Andy Cohen.
His memoir Dispatches from the Edge was released.
Has two half-nieces and one half-nephew by his half-brother Stan Stokowski: Aurora born 1983, Abra born 1985, and Myles born 1998.
Great nephew of Thelma Morgan.
A head shot of him as an infant by Diane Arbus hangs in his mother’s Manhattan apartment.

You wanted to know.

FAQ · 47

Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Anderson Cooper.

When was Anderson Cooper born?

Anderson Cooper was born on June 3, 1967. He is currently 58 years old.
Where was Anderson Cooper born?

He was born in New York City, New York, USA. He grew up in Manhattan.
What is Anderson Cooper's real name?

His full birth name is Anderson Hays Cooper. He is often called Andy or Coop by friends.
How tall is Anderson Cooper?

Anderson Cooper is 5 feet 11 inches 1.79 meters tall. This is noted in his professional biography.
What is Anderson Cooper known for?

He is best known as the anchor of Anderson Cooper 360° on CNN, a nightly news program that started in 2003. He also contributes to 60 Minutes and has appeared in films like Chappie and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Does Anderson Cooper have siblings?

Yes, he has three siblings: older brother Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, who died in 1988, and half-brothers Leopold Stanislaus Stokowski and Christopher Stokowski from his mother’s marriage to Leopold Stokowski.
Who are Anderson Cooper's parents?

His mother is Gloria Vanderbilt, a socialite and artist, and his father was Wyatt Emory Cooper, a writer from Mississippi. His father died when Anderson was 10.
Who are Anderson Cooper's relatives?

He is a second cousin once removed of screenwriter James Vanderbilt and third cousin once removed of actor Timothy Olyphant. He is also a great nephew of Thelma Morgan.
How many awards has Anderson Cooper won?

He has won eight major awards including multiple News and Documentary Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and the GLAAD Vito Russo Award. He also received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism.
Where did Anderson Cooper go to college?

He attended Yale University and graduated in 1989 with a BA in political science. He also studied Vietnamese at Vietnam National University in Hanoi during the 1990s.
Did Anderson Cooper work for the CIA?

Yes, he spent two summers as an intern at the Central Intelligence Agency CIA during his youth. This gave him early exposure to intelligence work.
Was Anderson Cooper a child model?

Yes, he modeled with Ford Models for brands like Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Macy’s from the ages of 10 to 13. He was photographed as a baby by Diane Arbus for Harper’s Bazaar.
Is Anderson Cooper married?

No, he is not married. He was in a long-term relationship with Benjamin Maisani, but they separated as boyfriends in 2018 and remain close friends. He has a son named Wyatt Morgan Cooper.
Does Anderson Cooper have children?

Yes, he has a son named Wyatt Morgan Cooper, born in 2020. The name honors both his father Wyatt and his mother’s middle name Morgan.
When did Anderson Cooper come out?

He publicly acknowledged his homosexuality in July 2012 via an email to blogger Andrew Sullivan. Before that, he was ranked #2 on Out Magazine‘s list of the most powerful gay Americans in 2007.
What is Anderson Cooper's net worth?

His net worth is estimated at $50 million from his CNN salary, book deals, and other ventures. He signed a multi-year CNN deal reportedly worth $4 million annually.
What memoir did Anderson Cooper write?

He wrote Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival, published in 2006. It topped the New York Times bestseller list and he donated some proceeds to charity.
Did Anderson Cooper appear on The Simpsons?

Yes, he voiced himself on an episode of The Simpsons. The episode aired in 2015 as part of the show’s long-running series.
What happened to Anderson Cooper's brother?

His older brother Carter Vanderbilt Cooper died by suicide on July 22, 1988, jumping from the 14th floor of their mother’s Manhattan penthouse. Anderson was 21 at the time.
How did Anderson Cooper start his career?

He worked as a fact-checker for Channel One before becoming an ABC News correspondent from 1995 to 2000. He joined CNN in 2001 and launched Anderson Cooper 360° in 2003.
What languages does Anderson Cooper speak?

His native language is English, but he studied Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi. He also has some knowledge of French from his relationship with Benjamin Maisani.
Is Anderson Cooper on social media?

Yes, he is active on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook with the handle @AndersonCooper. He often shares behind-the-scenes content and personal updates.
What is Anderson Cooper's educational background?

He graduated from Dalton School in Manhattan in 1985, then earned a BA in political science from Yale University in 1989. He also attended Trumbull College.
Has Anderson Cooper won a Peabody Award?

Yes, he has won a Peabody Award for his journalism. It is one of the most prestigious honors in broadcasting.
Does Anderson Cooper have any pets?

Yes, he has a pet Welsh Springer Spaniel named Molly. He often mentions her on his show and social media.
What is Anderson Cooper's height in feet?

He is 5 feet 11 inches tall. This is listed in his official biography.
Did Anderson Cooper contract malaria?

Yes, during his senior year at Dalton, he drove across South Africa and contracted malaria, requiring hospitalization. This experience is recounted in his memoir.
What is Anderson Cooper's ancestry?

He has English, Chilean, Dutch, Scots-Irish, Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish ancestry. His maternal grandmother was born in Switzerland to an American father and Chilean mother.
Who is Anderson Cooper's son named after?

His son Wyatt Morgan Cooper is named after his father Wyatt and his mother’s middle name Morgan, which was also Gloria Vanderbilt’s mother’s maiden name.
Has Anderson Cooper acted in movies?

Yes, he has cameo roles in films such as Chappie 2015 and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice 2016, playing himself.
What is Anderson Cooper's nickname?

He is known by the nicknames Andy and Coop. He sometimes uses these informally in personal settings.
Did Anderson Cooper appear on The Tonight Show as a child?

Yes, at age 3, he appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on September 17, 1970, with his mother Gloria Vanderbilt.
What is Anderson Cooper's salary at CNN?

He signed a multi-year deal that increased his salary to a reported $4 million annually, doubling his previous $2 million salary, while continuing to contribute to 60 Minutes.
Is Anderson Cooper related to the Vanderbilt family?

Yes, he is the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, who was a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family. He is a descendant of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad tycoon.
What causes does Anderson Cooper support?

He supports LGBTQ+ rights and donated proceeds from his memoir to charity. He has also advocated for disaster relief and mental health awareness.
Has Anderson Cooper been on 60 Minutes?

Yes, he has been a contributor to 60 Minutes since 2006, reporting segments for the long-running CBS newsmagazine.
What is Anderson Cooper's shoe size?

His shoe size is not publicly available from the source record. He is known for his fashion sense and was on Vanity Fair’s best-dressed list.
Did Anderson Cooper study abroad?

Yes, he studied Vietnamese at the University of Hanoi in the 1990s. He also traveled through South Africa during high school.
What is Anderson Cooper's favorite book?

The source does not list his favorite book, but his own memoir Dispatches from the Edge is a New York Times bestseller.
How did Anderson Cooper meet Benjamin Maisani?

The source does not specify how they met, but they were longtime partners until their separation in 2018. Maisani is a French nightclub mogul.
Does Anderson Cooper have any tattoos?

The source does not mention any tattoos. He is generally clean-cut in appearance.
What is Anderson Cooper's political affiliation?

The source does not state his political affiliation directly. He is known for objective journalism, though he has expressed moderate views on some issues.
How did Anderson Cooper cope with his brother's suicide?

The source does not detail his coping mechanisms, but he has spoken about the event in interviews and in his memoir Dispatches from the Edge.
What is Anderson Cooper's favorite food?

The source does not mention his favorite food. He has joked about being a bad waiter.
Has Anderson Cooper ever been arrested?

No, there is no record of him being arrested. He has maintained a clean public image.
What is Anderson Cooper's daily routine?

The source does not provide his daily routine, but he anchors a nightly news show and often reports from the field.
Does Anderson Cooper have a podcast?

The source does not mention a podcast. He hosts a TV show and makes occasional appearances on other media.

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Audited & updated by

Michael is the last person to read a profile before it goes live, which makes him the one who catches what everyone else missed. 5 years as a copy editor has given him a sharp sense for what's off. A wrong year, a vague credit, a sentence that almost makes sense but doesn't quite. He's especially thorough with filmographies. He'll tell you that's where most of the errors hide. He's right.

Published on October 3, 2026

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