Anderson Cooper says he 'never planned to live past 50'

Anderson Cooper admits in a new interview that he never thought he would live past the age of 50. (Reuters)

Anderson Cooper never expected to live past 50 years old.

“The truth is my dad died when he was 50 so I never planned for past 50,” Cooper, who will turn 51 this Sunday, told Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest on “Live” this week. “I always grew up thinking, ‘Oh, you know, I’ll die at 50 ’cause he did.'”

He continued, “So when I turned 50 I was like, ‘Oh my God, I have no plan. I literally have no plan.’ So I’m like, ‘I need a second act.'”

The CNN reporter, who said he never liked birthdays, admits he is “so not ready” for year 51.

“I feel like it’s time to just go for a full midlife crisis,” he said. “I’m thinking a motorcycle, I’m thinking a tattoo.”

Cooper laughed, saying he’s been talking about getting some ink for 20 years now.

“I also feel like 51, like, you know, maybe I’ve passed the age where it’s appropriate.”

Ripa, who called herself a “tattooed lady,” strongly disagreed.