Most people know the face: smeared eyeliner, a boa constrictor, a guillotine on stage. But the man behind the shock rock mask is a 76-year-old devoted husband, father, and scratch golfer who credits a Ouija board with giving him his name.

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Real Name: Vincent Damon Furnier · Born: February 4, 1948 · Spouse: Sheryl Goddard (m. 1976) · Children: 3 · Sobriety: Since 1983 · Estimated Net Worth: $20 million

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Release of definitive autobiography in October 2026
  • Continued touring and charity golf events
  • Ongoing radio show “Nights with Alice Cooper”

Eight key facts, one pattern: the public shock image is grounded in a private life of consistency and faith.

Label Value
Real Name Vincent Damon Furnier
Stage Name Origin Ouija board spirit named Alice
Born February 4, 1948 (age 76)
Spouse Sheryl Goddard (married 1976)
Children 3 (Calico, Dash, Sonora)
Sobriety Since 1983
Net Worth Approximately $20 million
Genres Rock, shock rock, hard rock

The table distills the gap between stage chaos and personal stability.

Who is Alice Cooper’s famous son?

Calico Cooper: the movie star daughter

  • Calico Cooper, born 1981, is an actress and singer who has appeared in films like Devil’s Carnival and Allegiance (IMDb (film database)).
  • She often tours with her father, performing in his stage shows.

How many children does Alice Cooper have?

Bottom line: The phrase “Alice Cooper’s son” misleads: his son is not widely famous, while his daughter Calico has a public acting career. For fans seeking a famous Cooper child, Calico is the one to watch.

Why did Alice Cooper call himself Alice Cooper?

The Ouija board origin of the name

  • According to Cooper, the name came from a Ouija board session where a spirit named “Alice” was contacted (Biography.com (celebrity biographies)).
  • The band originally performed under the name Alice Cooper before Cooper adopted it as his solo identity.

How the band’s name became his stage persona

  • The band Alice Cooper formed in 1964 while members were still in high school in Phoenix (Alice Cooper Official Website (artist biography)).
  • When the band dissolved and Cooper went solo in 1975, he kept the name because of its recognizability.
The paradox

The same Ouija board that gave Cooper his name also haunted his early reputation. He later said the name forced him to create a persona that justified it — a feedback loop that built shock rock.

The implication: the name came first, and the mayhem followed as a necessary act.

Is Alice Cooper still sober?

His battle with alcoholism and drug addiction

Sobriety since 1983 and his Christian faith

  • Cooper has been sober since 1983 and credits his born-again Christian faith for maintaining sobriety (BBC News (public broadcaster)).
  • He runs a solid-rock church and has spoken about the role of faith in his life.
Bottom line: Alice Cooper is not just sober — he is an outspoken advocate for sobriety, using golf as a replacement addiction. For fans worried about his health: he is physically active and mentally sharp.

What year did Alice Cooper come out?

The debut album ‘Pretties for You’ (1969)

  • The band Alice Cooper released its debut album Pretties for You in 1969 (Wikipedia (encyclopedia entry)).
  • The album was commercially unsuccessful but set the stage for their theatrical style.

Breakthrough with ‘Love It to Death’ (1971)

  • The breakthrough album Love It to Death was released in 1971, featuring the hit “I’m Eighteen” (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
  • This album defined the shock rock genre and launched Cooper into mainstream fame.

What this means: the public “arrival” took two albums — one flop, one genre-defining hit.

Is Alice Cooper a nice guy in real life?

Philanthropy and charitable work

  • Cooper is known for extensive charitable work, including fundraising for homeless youth and addiction recovery (Alice Cooper Official Website (charity page)).
  • He hosts an annual golf tournament for charity.

The chicken incident explained

  • In 1970, a fan threw a live chicken on stage during a concert; Cooper, thinking it could fly, tossed it back into the crowd, where it was killed (Rolling Stone (music magazine)).
  • The incident became legendary and added to his shock rock mythology.

Golf obsession and offstage demeanor

  • Cooper is an avid golfer who says the game helped him stay sober (AXS TV (entertainment network)).
  • Offstage, he is described as polite and friendly by associates and fans.
What to watch

The contrast between stage monster and offstage gentleman is deliberate. Cooper understands the theatrical contract: he plays the villain at night so he can be a neighbor by day.

Timeline

  • : Born Vincent Damon Furnier in Detroit, Michigan
  • : Band formed in high school in Phoenix
  • : Debut album Pretties for You released
  • : Breakthrough album Love It to Death with hit “I’m Eighteen”
  • : Goes solo, releases Welcome to My Nightmare
  • : Becomes sober and a born-again Christian
  • : Ongoing tours, radio show, golf tournaments, charity work

Clarity: confirmed vs. unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Real name is Vincent Damon Furnier (Alice Cooper Official Website (artist biography))
  • Married to Sheryl Goddard since 1976 (People (celebrity news))
  • Has three children
  • Has been sober since 1983
  • Stage name originated from a Ouija board session

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth figure (estimates vary from $20M to $40M)
  • Details of his son’s private life
  • Exact number of golf tournament wins

Quotes

I’ve been clean and sober since 1983. I wouldn’t be alive if I wasn’t.

Alice Cooper, as told to Thunderstruck (music news site)

He’s a different person offstage – very sweet and family-oriented.

Sheryl Goddard, in a People interview (celebrity news)

We had no idea the chicken would be killed. It became legendary.

Alice Cooper, quoted by Rolling Stone (music magazine)

The shock rocker’s public narrative is a tightrope between calculated mayhem and genuine recovery. For the casual fan, the lesson is that Cooper has transformed his demons into a stage act — and into a functioning, charitable life. For the mythology hunter, the pattern is clear: the man behind the makeup is far more stable than the image suggests.

Related reading: **Shawn Johnson: Biography, Retirement, Eating Disorder**

Additional sources

youtube.com, facebook.com, en.wikipedia.org, facebook.com, goodreads.com, reddit.com, tiktok.com

While his stage persona is one of theatrical chaos, Alice Cooper’s real story reveals a life rooted in sobriety, faith, and quiet family life in Arizona.

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Frequently asked questions

What is Alice Cooper’s religion?

He is a born-again Christian and has described his faith as central to his sobriety. He also runs a church that uses rock music in worship.

Where did Alice Cooper go to school?

He attended Cortez High School in Phoenix, Arizona, where he formed the band that would become Alice Cooper.

What awards has Alice Cooper won?

He has received a Grammy Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (as part of the Alice Cooper group).

Does Alice Cooper still tour?

Yes, he continues to tour regularly with his band, performing classic hits and newer material.

What is the chicken incident in detail?

At a 1970 concert in Toronto, a fan threw a live chicken on stage. Cooper threw it back into the crowd, and the audience killed it. The incident became a notorious part of shock rock lore.

How did Alice Cooper meet his wife?

He met Sheryl Goddard in 1970 when she auditioned as a dancer for his stage show. They married in 1976.

What is Alice Cooper’s golf handicap?

He has claimed to be a low-handicap golfer, reportedly around a 5-6 handicap, and often plays celebrity tournaments.

Does Alice Cooper have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?

Yes, he received a star in 2023 in the recording category.