In Praise of Gloria Vanderbilt for Giving Us Anderson Cooper

While today is Anderson Cooper's birthday, it's Gloria Vanderbilt who deserves the praise. Gloria, you birthed a handsome young man and raised him to be an upstanding member of his community.

From his early role as a baby muse for Diane Arbus (below), to his appearance on The Tonight Show at age 3, to his childhood modeling days with Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, and Macy's, to his multiple decade-spanning journalism career, Cooper is one of the most handsome faces in media, and the world thanks you for that, Gloria Vanderbilt.

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Lately, Gloria and Anderson have been making headlines with their new book, The Rainbow Come and Goes: A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss. The memoir gives a beautiful look at their lives while offering their contrasting wisdoms. The two are also the subject of a documentary, Nothing Left Unsaid: Gloria Vanderbilt and Anderson Cooper. The film looks back on the lives of mother and son, featuring candid conversations with the two.

Look back on the life of Anderson Cooper in these devastatingly handsome photos:

Photo of me by #dianearbus. She was born today March 14, 1923. Died July 26, 1971

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Mar 14, 2016 at 1:14pm PDT

#tbt back when I was a lot more interesting

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Jan 21, 2016 at 9:01am PST

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Jan 7, 2016 at 1:22pm PST

My mom #GloriaVanderbilt will be on #AC360 tonight 8pm to talk with me about #TheRainbowComesandGoes.

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 6, 2016 at 2:54pm PDT

This was me #Being13 Find out what it's like for today's 13 year olds online and off. Tonight 9pm on #cnn

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Oct 5, 2015 at 2:25pm PDT

#tbt 1987

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Dec 10, 2015 at 11:43am PST

#tbt my mom #Gloria Vanderbilt and me just before I left high school early and moved to Africa. #TheRainbowComesandGoes

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 7, 2016 at 7:49am PDT

Me in Zaire in 1985 when I was 17 and driving across Sub-Saharan Africa.

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Apr 24, 2014 at 6:57pm PDT

Around 21 or 22, when the gray hair started #tbt

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Jan 7, 2016 at 1:19pm PST

#tbt me from '93 or so in Interview Magazine.

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Mar 19, 2015 at 6:12pm PDT

#TBT. @jakeshears. 2001. Italy.

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Dec 18, 2014 at 12:30pm PST

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Jun 13, 2013 at 7:48pm PDT

Proud of my mom . She has a show of new artwork at 1stdibs.com

A photo posted by andersoncooper (@andersoncooper) on Feb 27, 2014 at 8:35am PST