Valerie Bertinelli is fondly recalling her late ex, Eddie Van Halen, as a kind-hearted individual, while also recognizing his battles with addiction. The 64-year-old Hot in Cleveland actress, who frequently appears on The Drew Barrymore Show, shared insights on a recent episode into her 26-year marriage to the legendary musician, which lasted from 1981 until 2007. Van Halen, who passed away at age 65 in 2020, fathered their 33-year-old son, Wolfgang.
Bertinelli sat down with host Drew Barrymore and joked that she was “married to” a “bad boy” for a while. Host Barrymore, 49, then said: “Legend! I mean, Eddie Van Halen … He had such a big life. He was so loved.” The One Day at a Time alum then explained: “He actually didn’t. He had a very small life. It’s just that people projected a lot onto him because of his talent. But he really led a very small life.”
@thedrewbarrymoreshow @Valerie Bertinelli opens up about being married to Eddie Van Halen #valeriebertinelli #eddievanhalen #marriage #vanhalen ♬ original sound – thedrewbarrymoreshow
Valerie Bertinelli Recalls Her Late Ex Eddie Van Halen And Their Tumultuous Marriage On ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’
Television personality Ross Matthews then asked the Food Network star what it was like to be in a relationship with a “rock and roll bad boy.” Bertinelli replied: “I gotta say I don’t understand what makes him a bad boy, because he wasn’t,” she admitted. “He was a drug addict and alcoholic but he wasn’t a bad boy. Does that make sense?”
Barrymore noted that she understood what Bertinelli meant. She responded: “It does [make sense]. Because people have their behaviors. But I think there’s a very big difference between really wild and reckless and someone who is a good person and stable but dabbles and has issues.”
The cookbook author further revealed that her ex Van Halen was a "good person" who was "unstable" and "never dealt with his childhood trauma." She went on: "But he’s Wolfie’s dad, so he gave me the greatest gift I could ever, ever want — is to be a mother."
The mom of one continued: "I liked the nice boys. And that’s what Ed was. He was the nice boy. And I always liked the nice boys." According to an insider who spoke with People, Bertinelli and her most recent boyfriend Mike Goodnough just parted ways after ten months of dating.
Inside Valerie Bertinelli's Relationship History
As the tipster dished to the magazine last month: “They are no longer in a relationship.” The reason behind the breakup could’ve stemmed from the challenges of maintaining a long-distance relationship. Bertinelli, residing in Los Angeles, and Goodnough, based on the East Coast, had been living on opposite ends of the country since January.
The Drew Barrymore Show lifestyle expert previously opened up to People about her "three week rule" with Goodnough. This, as Bertinelli told People in July, "had been challenging" for the two to maintain. As Bertinelli told the outlet back in April: "We never go longer than that without seeing each other." She went on: "After all, it’s about finding the joy in life and sharing it."
The Indulge cookbook author shared with the publication that her initial friendship with Goodnough sparked a few years back when he left a comment on one of her Instagram posts. Over time, this simple online interaction blossomed into a genuine connection. "I thought he was interesting," she recalled. Bertinelli continued: "It was strictly platonic, but there was something about him that I connected with that felt familiar. A comfort level. He felt like a kindred spirit."
Their initial conversation took place over the phone in January, and from that moment on, their relationship began to intensify. "His voice had the most beautiful timbre. I was like ‘Oh, I can’t talk to this man right now because that’s really sexy.’ We both had strong feelings, trying not to admit them," Bertinelli said.
The couple subtly made their relationship public on April 3rd, when Bertinelli attended a taping of The Drew Barrymore Show accompanied by her new partner. Not long after, Goodnough broke his silence and shared details about their budding romance for the first time on his Hoarse Whisperings Substack.
At the time, Goodnough wrote: "I am Valerie Bertinelli’s boyfriend… and that may well be among the most surreal sentences I’ve ever pecked out. But it’s true… and nothing about our actual relationship seems surreal. It just seems… good… lucky… a gift." Bertinelli's marital history includes a union with financial planner Tom Vitale from 2011 to 2022.
