Gloria Laura Vanderbilt was a multi-talented American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress, and socialite. She gained notoriety during the 1930s as the subject of a highly publicized child custody battle. Her mother, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, and paternal aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, fought for custody of Gloria and control over her trust fund. Dubbed the "trial of the century," the case captivated the press and public due to the immense wealth and social standing of the parties involved, along with the scandalous allegations presented against Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt's parenting. The intense media scrutiny surrounding the trial made Gloria Laura Vanderbilt a household name.
February 20, 1924: Birth of Gloria Laura Vanderbilt
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt was born on February 20, 1924.
1941: Marriage to Pat DiCicco
In 1941, at age 17, Gloria Vanderbilt married Pat DiCicco, her first husband, in Hollywood.
April 1945: Marriage to Leopold Stokowski
Shortly after her divorce from Pat DiCicco, Gloria Vanderbilt married conductor Leopold Stokowski in April 1945. This was Stokowski's third marriage.
1945: Divorce from Pat DiCicco
Gloria Vanderbilt divorced her allegedly abusive husband, Pat DiCicco, in 1945.
1948: First Art Exhibition
Gloria Vanderbilt held her first art exhibition in 1948.
August 22, 1950: Birth of Leopold Stanislaus Stokowski
Gloria Vanderbilt's first child, Leopold Stanislaus "Stan" Stokowski, was born on August 22, 1950.
January 31, 1952: Birth of Christopher Stokowski
Gloria Vanderbilt's second child, Christopher Stokowski, was born on January 31, 1952.
1954: Acting Debut
Gloria Vanderbilt began her acting career in 1954, debuting in "The Swan" at the Pocono Playhouse.
October 1955: Divorce from Leopold Stokowski
In October 1955, Gloria Vanderbilt and Leopold Stokowski divorced.
1955: Broadway Debut
In 1955, Vanderbilt appeared on Broadway in a revival of "The Time of Your Life".
August 28, 1956: Marriage to Sidney Lumet
Gloria Vanderbilt married director Sidney Lumet, her third husband, on August 28, 1956.
August 1963: Divorce from Sidney Lumet
Gloria Vanderbilt and Sidney Lumet divorced in August 1963.
December 24, 1963: Marriage to Wyatt Emory Cooper
Gloria Vanderbilt married author Wyatt Emory Cooper on December 24, 1963.
January 27, 1965: Birth of Carter Vanderbilt Cooper
Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Emory Cooper, was born on January 27, 1965.
1965: Death of Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt
Gloria Vanderbilt's mother, Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt, passed away in 1965 in Los Angeles.
June 3, 1967: Birth of Anderson Hays Cooper
Anderson Hays Cooper, son of Gloria Vanderbilt and Wyatt Emory Cooper, and future CNN news anchor, was born on June 3, 1967.
1968: Art Licensing and Design Work
Vanderbilt began licensing her artwork and designing for various products, including linens, pottery, and glassware, starting around 1968.
1976: Launch of Designer Jeans Line
Vanderbilt partnered with Mohan Murjani to launch her signature line of designer jeans in 1976.
1976: Founding of GV Ltd
Vanderbilt founded her own company, GV Ltd, in 1976.
1978: Sale of Name Rights and Relaunch of GV Ltd
In 1978, Vanderbilt sold the rights to her name to the Murjani Group and relaunched GV Ltd, expanding her product line.
1978: Death of Wyatt Emory Cooper
Wyatt Emory Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt's fourth husband, died during open-heart surgery in 1978.
1980: Publication of "Little Gloria... Happy at Last"
In 1980, Barbara Goldsmith published the book "Little Gloria... Happy at Last", chronicling Vanderbilt's childhood custody battle.
1981: Appearance on "The Love Boat"
Vanderbilt made a guest appearance on a two-part episode of "The Love Boat" in 1981.
1982: NBC Miniseries Adaptation
A miniseries based on Goldsmith's book aired on NBC in 1982, receiving several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.
1982: L'Oreal Fragrance Launch
L'Oreal launched the first of eight fragrances under the Gloria Vanderbilt brand name in 1982.
July 22, 1988: Death of Carter Vanderbilt Cooper
Gloria Vanderbilt's son, Carter Vanderbilt Cooper, died by suicide on July 22, 1988, at the age of 23.
1988: Sale of Gloria Vanderbilt Name Rights to Gitano Group
The rights to the Gloria Vanderbilt name were sold to Gitano Group Inc. in 1988.
2001: "Dream Boxes" Art Exhibition
Vanderbilt's art exhibition, "Dream Boxes," opened at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in 2001.
2002: Jones Apparel Group Acquires Gloria Vanderbilt Jeans
Jones Apparel Group acquired the rights to Gloria Vanderbilt jeans in 2002.
2006: Death of Gordon Parks
Gordon Parks, a photographer and filmmaker with whom Vanderbilt had a long-term romantic relationship, died in 2006.
2007: Art Exhibition at the Arts Center
Vanderbilt held another art exhibition at the Southern Vermont Arts Center in 2007.
November 2010: Publication of "The World of Gloria Vanderbilt"
Wendy Goodman's biography, "The World of Gloria Vanderbilt," was published in November 2010.
September 19, 2011: Appearance on Anderson
On September 19, 2011, Gloria Vanderbilt appeared on her son Anderson Cooper's talk show, "Anderson," where she referred to Kathy Griffin as her "fantasy daughter".
February 20, 2014: "The Left Hand Is The Dreamer" Exhibition
An exhibition titled "The Left Hand Is The Dreamer," showcasing Vanderbilt's art, was held in celebration of her 90th birthday on February 20, 2014.
April 9, 2016: Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper Premiere
On April 9, 2016, the HBO documentary "Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt & Anderson Cooper," directed by Liz Garbus, premiered. The film featured intimate conversations between Vanderbilt and her son, Anderson Cooper, exploring her life and family history.
January 2017: Release of "The Rainbow Comes and Goes"
Gloria Vanderbilt and her son Anderson Cooper co-authored the book "The Rainbow Comes and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss," released in January 2017.
June 17, 2019: Death of Gloria Laura Vanderbilt
Gloria Laura Vanderbilt passed away on June 17, 2019.