Anderson Cooper is opening up about a moment that transformed his young life. It was when he met a young Richard Gere after seeing him perform in the play Bent. Anderson was just 11 years old at the time.
Anderson opened up about how it impacted him during an episode of Radio Andy with Andy Cohen. The dad of two and Anderson Cooper 360° host said it was that exact moment when he realized he was gay.
Anderson said he went to see the play with photographer Paul Jasmin and his boyfriend, who were friends of his mom, Gloria Vanderbilt. "And they took me to see Richard Gere in Bent, which if anyone doesn't know about the play Bent, it's about two gay guys in the concentration camp," he shared. "I mean the opening scene … It is the gayest thing you can imagine."
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Anderson revealed that he was completely captivated by a young and shirtless Richard Gere. "And this was Richard Gere in 1977, Looking for Mr. Goodbar. He was so beautiful. And I'm there. My mom didn't go. It was just me and my mom's two gay friends," he continued.
During the play, Anderson had a major realization. "And I just remember being like, 'Oh my God, I'm gay. … I'm totally gay.' And afterward, Paul Jasmin was friends with Richard Gere," he said. "'Cause Paul Jasmin took the pictures for American Gigolo and we go backstage and Richard Gere is shirtless in his dressing room."
Young Anderson was in awe. "And I couldn't speak. And I had my Playbill and I wanted to get him to autograph it, but I was too — I just couldn't stop staring his chest," he explained.
It took a while, but Anderson did eventually get his Playbill signed. "And so, fast-forward to 10 years ago, I was interviewing Richard Gere and I took out the Playbill," Anderson shared. "And I told him the whole story and I had him sign it. Yeah. He was very tickled with it."
Well, who wouldn't be?
