Anderson Cooper

Anderson Cooper
Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America · CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
Name	Anderson Cooper
Caption	Cooper in 2011
Birth date	3 June 1967
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	Yale University
Occupation	Journalist, News presenter, Author
Employer	CNN
Known for	Anderson Cooper 360°, 60 Minutes
Partner	Benjamin Maisani (2012–2018)

Anderson Cooper is an American broadcast journalist and author best known as the primary anchor of the CNN news program Anderson Cooper 360°. The son of heiress and artist Gloria Vanderbilt, he began his career as a fact-checker for Channel One News before becoming a freelance correspondent in conflict zones. Cooper's reporting has covered major global events, earning him multiple Emmy Awards and a reputation as a leading figure in cable news.

Early Life and Education

Anderson Hays Cooper was born in Manhattan to writer Wyatt Emory Cooper and Gloria Vanderbilt, a member of the prominent Vanderbilt family. His father died during heart surgery when Cooper was ten, and his older brother, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, died by suicide in 1988. He attended the Dalton School in New York City before graduating from Yale University in 1989 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. During his time at Yale, he also studied Vietnamese language at the University of Hanoi and interned at the Central Intelligence Agency.

Career

Cooper began his journalism career as a fact-checker for Channel One News, later venturing overseas to create his own news stories. He filmed reports from Burma, Vietnam, and Rwanda, selling them to networks like Channel One and ABC News. His breakthrough came with his coverage of the Somali famine for ABC News. In 1995, he became a correspondent for ABC News, eventually co-anchoring the network's overnight news program World News Now. He joined CNN in 2001, where he gained prominence for his live coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. In 2003, he launched his flagship program, Anderson Cooper 360°, a nightly news show on CNN that blends breaking news reports and in-depth interviews. Cooper has also served as a correspondent for the CBS News program 60 Minutes since 2007, contributing major reports from locations like Haiti following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and Ukraine during the Russo-Ukrainian War. His reporting has spanned pivotal events including the Arab Spring, the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), and multiple United States presidential election cycles.

Personal Life

Cooper has been open about his sexual orientation, publicly coming out as gay in 2012. He was in a long-term relationship with nightclub owner Benjamin Maisani; the couple separated amicably in 2018 but remain co-parents. In 2020, Cooper announced via his show on CNN the birth of his son, Wyatt Morgan Cooper, via surrogacy; a second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, was born in 2022. He resides in New York City and has a home in Bridgehampton, New York. Cooper has spoken extensively about the impact of his family's tragedies, including the deaths of his father and brother, on his life and career. He authored the book The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss with his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his career, Cooper has received numerous accolades for his journalism. He is a multiple Emmy Award winner, including awards for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina and the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. He has also received a National Headliner Award and a GLAAD Media Award for his fair and accurate representations of the LGBT community. In 2005, he was named a "Person of the Year" by the Advocate. His work on 60 Minutes has contributed to several Edward R. Murrow Awards for CBS News. Cooper was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2023, recognizing his significant contributions to broadcast journalism.

Philanthropy and Activism

Cooper is actively involved in philanthropic and advocacy work, particularly concerning LGBT rights, HIV/AIDS awareness, and disaster relief. He has served as a board member for the Elton John AIDS Foundation and has been a prominent supporter of the Human Rights Campaign. Following natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina and the 2010 Haiti earthquake, he has used his platform on CNN to raise funds and awareness for recovery efforts. Cooper has also been a vocal advocate for mental health awareness, often discussing the topic in relation to his family's history. He participates in fundraising events for institutions like the Museum of Modern Art and has contributed to various charitable initiatives supporting journalism education and freedom of the press organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Category:American television journalists Category:CNN people Category:LGBTQ+ journalists