Why Anderson Cooper Didn’t Let Himself Grieve Deaths of Dad, Brother

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Anderson Cooper became tearful as he shared his journey of rediscovering joy after loss.

The CNN anchor spoke movingly about how the loss of his father, Wyatt Cooper, and older brother, Carter Cooper, deeply affected his life. Wyatt Cooper passed away in 1978 at age 50 due to complications from surgery when Anderson was just 10 years old. Carter Cooper tragically died by suicide in 1988 at the age of 23.

Oh my god, Anderson Cooper actually *said* this! It just breaks my heart. He was on Colbert and explained that growing up, after losing his dad and then his brother… it was just *too* much. He basically told me – and it felt like he was talking *directly* to me, honestly – that he just… shut off his feelings. He said he went forty years without letting himself *feel* the grief. Forty years! It’s just… devastating and so brave of him to share. I’ve been following him for years, and this is the most real he’s ever been, and I’m just… completely wrecked in the best way, you know? It explains so much.

Anderson Cooper, 58, who hosts the podcast *All There Is with Anderson Cooper* about grief and loss, explained that avoiding painful feelings also prevented him from fully experiencing happiness. He noted that joy and sorrow are connected—you can’t truly have one without the other.

Anderson Cooper is rediscovering joy after great loss.

The CNN anchor shared a moving story about how the loss of his father, Wyatt Cooper, and older brother, Carter Cooper, profoundly impacted his life. Wyatt Cooper passed away in 1978 at age 50 due to complications from surgery when Anderson was just 10 years old. Carter Cooper tragically died by suicide in 1988 at the age of 23.

Anderson explained on *The Late Show With Stephen Colbert* that he suppressed his grief as a child. After experiencing the deaths of his father and brother, he emotionally shut down and spent the next four decades avoiding the pain of those losses.

Anderson Cooper, 58, who hosts the podcast *All There Is with Anderson Cooper* about grief and loss, realized something ironic: by avoiding painful feelings, he also blocked himself from experiencing genuine happiness. He explained that you can’t truly feel one without the other.

Anderson explained, his voice trembling with emotion, that he’s only recently begun to experience joy again. He shared that it took feeling the grief and sadness after losing his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt in 2019, for him to be able to feel happy again – something that’s happened in the last two years.

He was happy because of his sons, 5-year-old Wyatt and 3-year-old Sebastian, who he shares with his ex, Benjamin Maisani.

Anderson expressed immense happiness, saying his two sons are amazing and bring him incredible joy. He shared that one of them was even watching from backstage, calling them ‘the greatest gift’.

Anderson also noted that “you can still have a relationship with somebody who’s died.”

He described his relationship with his father as incredibly special, saying he feels closer to him now than he ever did growing up. He genuinely feels his father’s presence in his life.

For a closer look at Anderson’s relationship with his sons, keep reading…

Cooper celebrated his son Wyatt’s third birthday on April 27, 2023, with a sweet Instagram post. He affectionately called Wyatt his ‘little peanut’ and shared how much joy both Wyatt and his brother Sebastian bring to his life.

Instead of following a map, Sebastian relied on Wyatt to help him open Christmas presents in 2022.

Just make sure that ice cream stays in the cone, buddy.

Cooper let the focus be on 4-month-old Sebastian in June 2022.

We see Wyatt’s seal of approval and give this snap two thumbs-up.

Bradley Cooper and his coparenting partner, Benjamin Maisani, posed for a photo with their children, 2-year-old Wyatt and 2-month-old Sebastian.

Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper was born in February 2022.

All smiles with Wyatt.

Anderson Cooper shared on Instagram that his 10-week-old son, Wyatt, is thriving. Wyatt enjoys simple pleasures like napping, feeding, bath time, and story time. Cooper also expressed gratitude for the thoughtful cards and messages they’ve received.

Anderson Cooper feeds his newborn son.

Say cheese!

Baby Wyatt gets a kiss from his dad.

Baby Wyatt was born in April 2020.

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2025-10-16 19:20