Biography of Anderson Cooper

Most of us certainly enjoy the narrations by Anderson Cooper when we switch on the television to watch the news. His show the 'Anderson Cooper 360°' has become one of the most popular TV shows all over the world.

Birth and Childhood

Anderson Cooper was born in the year 1967 to Vanderbilt family heiress, Gloria Vanderbilt and writer Wyatt Emory Cooper. Anderson Cooper first appeared on television when he was just three years old, when he accompanied his mother on The Tonight Show.

He also made frequent appearances as a model when he was just 10 years old. His short career as a model with brands like Ford, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Macy's lasted for 3 years.

Anderson Cooper's father died while undergoing an open heart surgery. His death severely affected Anderson's life. He himself acknowledges that he was very similar to his father in several ways: in appearance, love and fondness for the art of story telling, and even had the same sense of humor. He often refers to his father's book 'Families' to have guided him throughout his life. The book also made him feel closely connected to his father.

Another incident that drastically changed Anderson Cooper's life was his brother's death. His brother Carter Cooper's suicide was a driving force behind Anderson's choice of profession as a reporter and journalist.

Education

In the year 1985, Anderson Cooper graduated from Dalton School and then attended the renowned University of Yale. At the Trumbull College, Cooper was made a member to the Manuscript Society, a prestigious and old secret society of the seniors. He graduated in 1989, after studying political science and international relations.

Anderson Cooper took a two-year break from his career as a journalist, during which time he studied the Vietnamese language at the Hanoi University.

Work as a Journalist

Anderson Cooper began his career as a journalist with Channel One. His initial work was that of a fact checker. He contributed greatly to Channel One, when he made documentaries and small films regarding the life and culture of Vietnam. His films that were shot in places like Iran, Ukraine and Somalia found their way into the hearts of the student community. Channel One, which was a youth-oriented agency, became very popular with the students due to Anderson's films. His films on the war-torn regions have made generations aware about the harsh realities of life.

In the year 1995, Anderson Cooper took the job as a correspondent of the ABC News. He eventually rose to the position of a co-anchor. Later, he was made the in-charge of the reality series The Mole. He returned to journalism after the 9/11 attacks. Anderson joined CNN, where he rose to fame and also became one of the most highly-paid and successful journalists. He is also the correspondent for '60 Minutes'.

Books and Writings

Anderson Copper has authored countless articles as a freelancer. Many of his articles have been published in the magazine 'Details'. He has also authored a book titled 'Dispatches from the Edge'.

Awards

For his work in journalism, Anderson Cooper has been presented many awards. Some of the notable ones are the Action Against Hunger Award, GLAAD Media Award, The Emmy Award and the National Headliners Award.

Anderson Cooper is one of the most successful journalist of our times. He is also one of the few journalists who has through his work, reached out and touched the hearts of millions of people.