A brilliant dawn, a quiet sunset: Gloria Vanderbilt, the inspiration for the author of *Breakfast at Tiffany’s*, has died (14 photos)

This sexy and sophisticated New York socialite was a symbol of allure and charm. The hearts of the era's most famous men—Frank Sinatra, Marlon Brando, Gene Kelly, Errol Flynn, and other Hollywood stars—lay at her feet. She left an indelible mark on an entire era of cinema and high society. The star passed away this year at the age of 95.

Discover little-known details about the life of the inimitable Gloria Vanderbilt in our article.





Socialite, designer, and artist Gloria Vanderbilt passed away on June 17 at the age of 95. She is said to have been the inspiration for the iconic character Holly Golightly, played by Audrey Hepburn in the Oscar-winning film *Breakfast at Tiffany's*.

Despite being the heiress to a fortune worth millions, Gloria founded her own jeans company and convinced women of the 1970s that they could wear denim and look fashionable.



Mrs. Vanderbilt was an extraordinary woman and a creative spirit. She was an artist, a writer, and a designer; she loved life passionately and, despite her advanced age, remained young at heart. Her son, 52-year-old Anderson Cooper, remembers her as a loving mother who was always "with it."





Sex scandals surrounding the star persisted well into her old age. She openly admitted that she loved sex and had a multitude of lovers—both male and female. From a young age, the tall, dark-haired beauty with a graceful figure was a frequent subject of gossip and speculation. After being expelled from school, Gloria moved to Hollywood at the age of 17, thereby opening a new chapter in the social life of the American elite.



Vanderbilt dated Errol Flynn, Marlon Brando, Clark Gable, and Frank Sinatra himself. Her list of lovers included the famous dancer and actor Gene Kelly and filmmaker Howard Hughes. The socialite said that only famous men much older than herself could capture her attention.



Gloria spoke openly about her sexual escapades with Hollywood stars. She remembered each of her famous lovers differently: Frank Sinatra treated her like a goddess, while it was with director Hughes that she experienced a genuine orgasm for the first time.



Gloria was an heiress to the fabulously wealthy Vanderbilt family. Her alcoholic father, Reginald, had inherited a fortune amassed from steamships and railroads in the early 20th century. He died of cirrhosis of the liver when she was just a year and a half old, having already squandered a vast portion of the inheritance. Despite the wealth, she faced numerous challenges from a young age; furthermore, she could not access the money from the family trust until she turned 21.



Gloria's mother and aunt fought a legal battle over her custody when she was ten years old. The case became a sensation at the time. In 1934, a New York court awarded custody to her aunt, Gertrude Vanderbilt—who was the wealthiest woman in America. The future socialite grew up in a spacious Manhattan mansion.



Gloria with her third husband, producer Sidney Lumet

Gloria Vanderbilt was married four times. She first tied the knot at age 17 with film producer Pat DiCicco, divorcing him in 1945. The beauty claimed her ex-husband had physically abused her. Just weeks after the divorce, she hastily married British conductor Leopold Stokowski. At the time, the elderly groom was 63, while the young bride was only 21. This union lasted 10 years.



The socialite's fourth husband, Wyatt Emory Cooper

The socialite's third husband was producer Sidney Lumet, but they divorced in 1963. Gloria finally found lasting happiness with her fourth husband, the writer Wyatt Emory Cooper. Their marriage lasted 15 years and ended with Cooper's unexpected death during heart surgery in 1978.



Truman Capote, author of the novel *Breakfast at Tiffany's*

The socialite was friends with Charlie Chaplin, designer Diane von Furstenberg, and novelist Truman Capote—who wrote the famous *Breakfast at Tiffany’s*, basing the main character on his longtime friend Vanderbilt.



Gloria became a true businesswoman in the 1970s when she founded a company producing women's jeans. These trousers—previously worn almost exclusively by men—took the fashion world by storm. Vanderbilt actively promoted the jeans on television, a move that paved the way for unprecedented success: within a year, the clothing line was generating tens of millions of pounds. She valued the money she earned herself far more than the fortune she had inherited.



Gloria with her sons

The late 1980s and early 1990s proved to be a harrowing ordeal for the socialite. In 1988, her 23-year-old son, Carter, threw himself from the window of their Manhattan townhouse right before her eyes. Overcome with grief, Gloria turned to drink, developing an alcohol addiction just as severe as her late father's. The business was no longer generating the high income it once had, so the family was forced to sell off part of their fortune.



In the early 2000s, Gloria Vanderbilt decided to try her hand at writing erotic novels and memoirs, in which she candidly described her romantic escapades.



Ms. Vanderbilt with her son Anderson

Gloria passed away from stomach cancer in a Manhattan hospital. A vibrant, long life came to a quiet end in a hospital bed. An extraordinary woman who captivated Hollywood, she will forever remain a symbol of allure and freedom, while the gossip and scandals surrounding her name will continue to linger in American high society for a long time to come.

The dazzling Hollywood beauties who shone in the mid-20th century continue to captivate us with their charm today. The stunning Elizabeth Taylor, like Gloria Vanderbilt, was a star of her era who won the hearts of millions of fans around the world.

Source: The Sun