At the age of 12, Anderson Cooper faced the difficult reality that, as a gay man, he might never have children. Fast forward to today, and at 54, he is a proud father to two wonderful sons. Life, as he has discovered, often takes us down paths we never expect.
In April 2020, Anderson welcomed his first son, Wyatt Morgan, into his life. The name Wyatt holds deep personal significance for Anderson, chosen to honor his late father, Wyatt Emory Cooper. The middle name, Morgan, comes from his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt’s side of the family, adding another layer of meaning.
Before Wyatt was born, Anderson had accumulated a stack of parenting books, though he hadn’t yet read them. It wasn’t long before he realized that simply having the books wasn’t enough—he needed to dive into them. Despite initial nervousness about becoming a father, Anderson quickly embraced every part of parenthood, falling in love with the role. He credits much of his parenting success to the strong support of his ex-partner, Benjamin Maisani, who is an exceptional co-parent.
Though their family structure may be unconventional, Anderson values the special bond they share as co-parents. Speaking about Benjamin, he shared, “It’s probably an unusual setup, but I knew he would be a great dad, and he is.” Their partnership in parenting is built on mutual respect and love for their children.
Recently, Anderson shared exciting news on his show, Anderson Cooper 360. He introduced his second son, Sebastian Luke Maisani-Cooper, who was born healthy and full of joy. Anderson finds happiness even in the small moments, like Sebastian’s hiccups, which never fail to make him smile. Benjamin is in the process of adopting Sebastian, strengthening the deep connection that already exists in their growing family.
With both Wyatt and Sebastian, Anderson is embracing the highs and lows of fatherhood, alongside Benjamin. Now a second-time parent, he feels more confident and is fully enjoying watching his sons grow up.
Anderson has decided to step back from work temporarily to focus on these precious moments with his children. He understands how quickly time flies and is committed to savoring the early years of Wyatt and Sebastian’s lives.
Congratulations to Anderson Cooper on his beautiful family! His journey to fatherhood is a testament to the unexpected joys life can bring, reminding us all that love and family come in many forms, often in ways we never imagined.
