Gloria Vanderbilt
Gloria Vanderbilt | |
---|---|
Born | Gloria Laura Vanderbilt February 20, 1924 New York City, U.S. |
Died | June 17, 2019 New York City, U.S. | (aged 95)
Burial place | Vanderbilt Family Cemetery and Mausoleum, Staten Island, New York, U.S. |
Occupations |
|
Spouses | |
Children | 4, including Anderson Cooper |
Parents | |
Family | Vanderbilt family |
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt (February 20, 1924 – June 17, 2019) was an American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress, and socialite.
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, each sought custody of her and control over her trust fund. Called the "trial of the century" by the press, the court proceedings were the subject of wide and sensational press coverage due to the wealth and prominence of the involved parties, and the scandalous evidence presented to support Whitney's claim that Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt was an unfit parent.[1]
In the 1970s, Vanderbilt launched a line of fashions, perfumes, and household goods bearing her name. She was particularly noted as an early developer of designer blue jeans.[2]
Early life
Vanderbilt was born on February 20, 1924, in
Upon their father's death from
Litigation continued, however. Vanderbilt's mother was forced to live on a drastically reduced portion of her daughter's trust, which was worth more than $4 million at the end of 1937,[17] equivalent to $81 million in 2022 value. Visitation was also closely watched to ensure that Vanderbilt's mother did not exert any undue influence upon her daughter with her supposedly "raucous" lifestyle. Vanderbilt was raised amidst luxury at her aunt Gertrude's mansion in Old Westbury, Long Island, surrounded by cousins her age who lived in houses circling the vast estate, and in New York City.[18]
The story of the trial was told in the 1980
Vanderbilt attended the Greenvale School on
Career
Theater arts
From 1954 to 1963, Vanderbilt applied herself to acting. She studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse with teacher
Fashion
Vanderbilt began her career as a fashion model when she was 15 years old, appearing in Harper's Bazaar.[27]
During the 1970s, Vanderbilt ventured into the fashion business itself, first with Glentex, licensing her name and a collection of her paintings for a line of scarves.
In 1978, Vanderbilt sold the rights to her name to the Murjani Group
Fraud trial
In the 1980s, Vanderbilt accused her former partners in GV Ltd. and her lawyer of fraud. After a lengthy trial (during which time the lawyer died), Vanderbilt won and was awarded nearly $1.7 million, but the money was never recovered. She was also awarded $300,000 by the
Art
Vanderbilt studied art at the Art Students League of New York.[25] She became known for her artwork, with one-woman exhibitions held of her oil paintings, watercolors, and pastels. Her first exhibition was held in 1948.[36] This artwork was adapted and licensed, starting about 1968, by Hallmark Cards and by Bloomcraft (a textile manufacturer), and Vanderbilt began designing specifically for linen, pottery, and glassware.[37]
In 2001, Vanderbilt returned to art and opened her first art exhibition, "Dream Boxes", at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in Manchester; it was a critical success.[25] She launched another exhibition of 35 paintings at the Arts Center in 2007.[38] Two years later, Vanderbilt returned to the Arts Center as a panelist at its Annual Fall Show Exhibition, signing copies of her latest novel, Obsession: An Erotic Tale.[38]
When Vanderbilt celebrated her 90th birthday on February 20, 2014, a collection of her drawings, paintings and collages was placed on display in the 1stdibs Gallery at New York Design Center in New York City, in an exhibit called "The Left Hand Is The Dreamer".[39]
Writings
Vanderbilt wrote two books on art and home decor, four volumes of memoirs, three novels, and a singular collection of short stories The Things We Fear Most. She was also a regular contributor to The New York Times, Vanity Fair and Elle.[40] In November 2010, Vanderbilt was the subject of a new book chronicling her life, The World of Gloria Vanderbilt,[41] written by Wendy Goodman, New York magazine's design editor. The book, published by Abrams Books, featured many previously unreleased photographs.[42]
In January 2017,
Nothing Left Unsaid documentary
On April 9, 2016, HBO premiered Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper, a two-hour documentary, produced and directed by Liz Garbus. It features a series of conversations between the mother and son, covering her life and family history in the public eye.[45]
Personal life
Vanderbilt was married four times, divorced three times, and gave birth to four sons, in all. She also had other relationships.[18]
Marriages
In 1941, aged 17, Vanderbilt went to Hollywood, where she became the second wife of Pat DiCicco, an agent for actors and an alleged mobster.[46] They divorced in 1945 and had no children together.[47] She later alleged that DiCicco was an abusive husband who called her "Fatsy Roo" and beat her. "He would take my head and bang it against the wall," Vanderbilt said, "I had black eyes."[48]
In April 1945, within weeks of divorcing DiCicco, Vanderbilt married conductor Leopold Stokowski, who was 42 years her senior. He had three daughters by his previous marriages to Olga Samaroff, an American concert pianist, and Evangeline Love Brewster Johnson, a Johnson & Johnson heiress. She was his third and last wife.[49] The marriage ended in divorce in October 1955 and produced two sons:[25] Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski (born August 22, 1950), and Christopher Stokowski (born January 31, 1952).
Vanderbilt's third husband was the director Sidney Lumet. She was the second of his four wives. They were married on August 28, 1956, and divorced in August 1963. They had no children together.[25]
Vanderbilt's fourth marriage was to author Wyatt Emory Cooper, on December 24, 1963. The marriage, which lasted 15 years, ended with his death in 1978 while he was undergoing open-heart surgery. They had two sons: Carter Vanderbilt Cooper (January 27, 1965 – July 22, 1988), who died by suicide at age 23 by jumping to his death from the family's 14th-floor apartment,[35][50][51] and Anderson Hays Cooper (born June 3, 1967), a CNN news anchor.[25]
Relationships
Vanderbilt maintained a romantic relationship with photographer and filmmaker Gordon Parks for many years until his death in 2006.[52] Other relationships included Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra,[25] Howard Hughes and Roald Dahl.[53][54]
Vanderbilt was very close friends with fashion designer
Truman Capote was speculated to have modeled the character of Holly Golightly in Breakfast at Tiffany's on Vanderbilt, but others say it was based on her friend Carol Grace.[56][57]
Religious beliefs
Vanderbilt was baptized into the
Death and burial
Vanderbilt died at her home in Manhattan on June 17, 2019, aged 95, of stomach cancer.
Upon her death, Vanderbilt left her son, Anderson Cooper, almost her entire estate, which was valued at $1.5 million.[59]
Works
Art and home decor
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1970). Gloria Vanderbilt Book of Collage. New York City: Galahad Books. OCLC 1143871.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria; Roderick, Phyllis Hingston (1977). Gloria Vanderbilt Designs for Your Home. New York: ISBN 978-0-671-22637-4.
Memoirs
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1979). Woman to Woman. Garden City, New York: ISBN 978-0-385-13645-7.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1985). Once Upon a Time: A True Story. New York: ISBN 978-0-394-54112-9.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1987). Black Knight, White Knight. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-394-54412-0.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1995). A Mother's Story. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-679-45052-8.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (2004). It Seemed Important at the Time: A Romance Memoir. New York: Simon & Schuster. ISBN 978-0-743-26480-8.
- Cooper, Anderson and Gloria Vanderbilt (2016). The Rainbow Comes and Goes. Harper-Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-245494-2.
Novels
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1989). Never Say Good-Bye: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-394-57155-3.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (1994). The Memory Book of Starr Faithfull: A Novel. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-394-58775-2.
- Vanderbilt, Gloria (2009). Obsession: An Erotic Tale. New York: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-061-73489-2.[60]
References
Citations
- ^ Brockell, Gillian (June 17, 2019). "'Poor little rich girl': Gloria Vanderbilt was caught between a neglectful mother and an oppressive aunt". The Washington Post.
- ^ Lam, Katherine (June 17, 2019). "How Gloria Vanderbilt became a designer jeans pioneer, fashion industry leader". Fox Business. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-679-45052-8.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Dead After Hemorrhage Last Night". Evening Independent. September 4, 1925. Retrieved August 6, 2013 – via Google News.
- ISBN 978-0-679-45052-8.
- ^ "Reginald C. Vanderbilt and Gloria Morgan to Wed Tomorrow". Providence News. March 5, 1923. Retrieved August 6, 2013 – via Google News.
- ^ Vanderbilt II, Arthur T., "Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt". Morrow: 1989, 340.
- ^ Vanderbilt, Gloria Morgan; Wayne, Palma (1936). Without Prejudice. New York: E. P. Dutton. p. 118.
Reggie was anxious to have his child baptized a Protestant. [His elder daughter] Cathleen had been christened in the Catholic faith; he wanted this baby christened in his own, and I consented. This ceremony was performed by Bishop Herbert Shipman in our large, formal, seldom-used drawing room. ... She was named Gloria after myself and Laura after my mother. ... James Deering was the baby's godfather and Gertrude Whitney was made her godmother ....
- ^ "Reginald Vanderbilt Dies Suddenly Today". The Meriden Daily Journal. September 4, 1925. Retrieved August 6, 2013 – via Google News.
- ISBN 978-0-679-45052-8.
- ^ Vanderbilt II, Arthur T., 346.
- ^ "Mrs. Vanderbilt's Paris Life Exposed". Lewiston Daily Sun. October 2, 1934. Retrieved August 13, 2010 – via Google News.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-440-15120-3. Retrieved August 13, 2010 – via Internet Archive.
- ISBN 0-7432-6480-0.
- ^ "Gloria Vanderbilt Is Ward of Court". Lewiston Daily Sun. November 21, 1934. Retrieved August 13, 2010 – via Google News.
- ^ a b Ilnytzky, Ula (June 17, 2019). "Gloria Vanderbilt, heiress, jeans queen, dies at 95". San Francisco Chronicle. Associated Press. Archived from the original on June 17, 2019.
- ^ "Life on the American Newsfront: 1938 Comes to Thousands in Times Square and ... to Gloria Vanderbilt at the Ritz". Life. Vol. 4, no. 3. January 17, 1938. pp. 16–17. Retrieved November 24, 2011 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b "Gloria Vanderbilt dead at age 95: 'What an extraordinary woman,' son Anderson Cooper says". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
- ^ "Gloria Vanderbilt dead at age 95: 'What an extraordinary woman,' son Anderson Cooper says". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
- ^ Maroni, Gloria (May 26, 1985). "Social Side Vanderbilt at home at Wheeler, her happy place". Providence Journal – via ProQuest.
- ^ "Vanderbilt Chooses Work Instead of Being Idle Rich". Times Daily. October 1, 1979 – via Google News.
- ISBN 0-7432-6480-0.
- ^ a b "Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, Socialite, Dies of Cancer". Meredien Journal. February 15, 1965. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Chris Koseluk (June 17, 2019). "Gloria Vanderbilt, Heiress With a Knack for Reinvention, Dies at 95". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Szabo, Julia (February 25, 2001). "Inside Epiphany; All Hams On Deck". The New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved June 19, 2019.
- ^ Harper, Marques (June 17, 2019). "How Gloria Vanderbilt used her authenticity and 'great taste' to build her denim line". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Murjani Group—Powering International Lifestyle Brands". Murjani Group.
- ^ "Gloria Vanderbilt Fragrances". Fragrantica.
- ^ "Gitano Group the Target of a Trademark Lawsuit". The New York Times. December 8, 1993.
Gloria Vanderbilt Apparel is owned by the Dabah family, whose patriarch, Morris Dabah, founded Gitano
- ^ "The Gitano Group, Inc". encyclopedia.com.
In December of 1988 Gitano bought the rights to the Gloria Vanderbilt trademarks
- ^ "Jones to buy Gloria Vanderbilt Apparel". Houston Chronicle. Houston: Hearst Communications. March 19, 2002. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "COMPANY NEWS; JOHNS APPAREL TO ACQUIRE GLORIA VANDERBILT". The New York Times. New York. Reuters. March 20, 2002. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Horwell, Veronica (June 17, 2019). "Gloria Vanderbilt obituary". The Guardian. Kings Place, London. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ McLaughlin, Eliott C. (June 17, 2019). "Fashion icon and artist Gloria Vanderbilt dies at 95". CNN. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
- ^ "PHOTOS: The Reinventions Of Gloria Vanderbilt". HuffPost. November 9, 2010. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ a b Petski, Denise (June 17, 2019). "Gloria Vanderbilt Dies: Actress, Fashion Designer, Mother Of CNN's Anderson Cooper Was 95". Deadline Hollywood. United States: Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ "Gloria Vanderbilt Exhibit: The Left Hand Is The Dreamer". Downtown Magazine NYC. March 2014.
- ^ "Gloria Vanderbilt (Author of It Seemed Important at the Time)". Goodreads.com. January 3, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2013.
- ISBN 978-0810995925.
- ^ Srivastava, Anushika (June 18, 2019). "Fashion Icon Of 70s, Gloria Vanderbilt Dies At The Age Of 95". SheThePeople TV. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
- ^ The Rainbow Comes and Goes. HarperCollins US.
- ^ "The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss|Paperback". Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ "Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper". HBO.com.
- ISBN 0-7432-6480-0.
- ISBN 0-7432-6480-0.
- ^ Higginbotham, Adam (November 23, 2004). "Last of the Big Spenders". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- ^ "Leopold Stokowski Biography—A Brief Biography of the Eventful Career of Leopold Stokowski". stokowski.org. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
- ^ "Mrs. Vanderbilt's Son Plunges to his Death". The New York Times. July 23, 1988. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ James, Susan Donaldson (September 21, 2011). "Anderson Cooper on Brother's Suicide: Grief Never Ends". ABC News. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
- ^ VanMeter, Jonathan (July 16, 2000). "Gloria Vanderbilt + Gordon Parks". How Race Is Lived in America. The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 11, 2011. Retrieved April 2, 2010.
- ^ O'Malley, Katie; Hall, Harriet (June 18, 2019). "GLORIA VANDERBILT DEATH: FASHION DESIGNER, ACTOR AND MOTHER OF ANDERSON COOPER DIES, AGED 95". The Independent. London: Independent Print Limited. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ Sager, Jessica (June 17, 2019). "Gloria Vanderbilt, model, fashion designer and mother to Anderson Cooper, dead at 95". Fox News. New York City: Fox Corporation. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
- ^ Sarah Anne Hughes (September 20, 2011). "Anderson Cooper talks to mom Gloria Vanderbilt about brother's suicide (Video)". Washington Post.
- ^ "Big City Book Club: 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'." November 29, 2011. Web. ProQuest. June 17, 2019.
- ^ "Holly Golightly inspiration"". The New York Times. August 2, 1992. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
- ^ David Foxley (October 23, 2009). "Psychoanalyzing Gloria Vanderbilt". Vanity Fair.
- ^ Hallemann, Caroline (July 9, 2019). "Gloria Vanderbilt Leaves Her Son Anderson Cooper $1.5 Million in Her Will". Town & Country. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
- ^ Harris, Paul (April 11, 2009). "Socialite, 85, Shocks New York with Sex Novel". The Observer. London. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
Sources
- Stasz, Clarice (1991). The Vanderbilt Women: Dynasty of Wealth, Glamour and Power. New York: St. Martin's Press.
- Saroyan, Aram (1985). Trio: Oona Chaplin, Carol Matthau, Gloria Vanderbilt: Portrait of an Intimate Friendship. New York: Linden Press/Simon & Schuster. ISBN 9780671509194.
- Van Rensselaer, Philip (1978). That Vanderbilt Woman. Chicago: Playboy Press.
External links
- Gloria Vanderbilt at IMDb
- Gloria Vanderbilt at Find a Grave
- Gloria Vanderbilt on Charlie Rose
- "Gloria Vanderbilt's Many Loves". CBS News. July 31, 2005
- "CBC's Q with Jian Ghomeshi", July 30, 2012