Gloria Vanderbilt Dead at 95

American artist, author, actress, fashion designer, heiress, and socialite, Gloria Vanderbilt has died. She was 95.

She was a member of the Vanderbilt family of New York and the mother of CNN television anchor Anderson Cooper.

Vanderbilt died at home surrounded by friends and family. She had been suffering from advanced stomach cancer.

Vanderbilt studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse with teacher Sanford Meisner and studied art at the Art Students League of New York.

She became known for her artwork, giving one-woman shows of oil paintings, watercolors, and pastels. This artwork was adapted and licensed, starting about 1968, by Hallmark Cards and by Bloomcraft (a textile manufacturer), and Vanderbilt began designing specifically for linens, pottery, and glassware.