Valerie Bertinelli is a former child star who has had a remarkable career spanning nearly five decades. With two Golden Globes, two Daytime Emmy Awards, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she has earned the status of a legend in the entertainment industry.
While she first gained fame as Barbara Cooper on the television show One Day at a Time in the 1970s, she has continued to grace the small screen in shows like Touched by an Angel in the early 2000s and the hit series Hot in Cleveland in the 2010s. Additionally, she has appeared in made-for-TV movies such as The Haunting of Helen Walker and True Confessions of a Hollywood Starlet.
Rising Star: Valerie Bertinelli's Early Acting Career
In recent years, Valerie Bertinelli has found success in the world of reality TV. Since 2015, she has hosted Food Network's Valerie Home Cooking and Kids Baking Championship, fueled by her passion for cooking. In an interview with Closer Weekly in 2019, Bertinelli expressed that she has been cooking longer than she has been acting and feels more comfortable being herself in front of the camera while cooking.
Behind the scenes, Bertinelli's personal life has been as dramatic as any Hollywood film. She has experienced two marriages, a devastating loss, and a new perspective on love. One notable aspect of her love life was her reported fling with filmmaker Steven Spielberg. In 2008, Bertinelli confirmed that she had dated Spielberg after auditioning for one of his movies in 1980. However, she clarified that it was nothing more than a fling due to their differences in age, career status, and religion.
Complicated Connections: Valerie Bertinelli and Steven Spielberg
One notable chapter in Bertinelli's love life involved filmmaker Steven Spielberg. In 2008, she admitted to dating Spielberg after auditioning for one of his movies in 1980.
However, she clarified that their relationship was just a fling, as they had significant differences in age, career status, and religion. In her memoir Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, Bertinelli shared an anecdote about their breakup, highlighting their contrasting food preferences, such as Spielberg's aversion to garlic, which she found incompatible with her own love for cooking.
Friendship and Grief: Valerie Bertinelli's Relationship with Eddie Van Halen
Shortly after her relationship with Spielberg ended in the summer of 1980, Valerie Bertinelli met rockstar Eddie Van Halen while attending one of his band's shows. They instantly connected, and their chemistry was evident to those around them. They started dating and got married in April 1981. However, their marriage was not without its challenges. Bertinelli revealed that they struggled with communication issues, infidelity on both sides and excessive drug and alcohol use. Despite their difficulties, they remained together for 20 years, with the divorce being finalized in 2007.
Despite the challenges faced during their marriage, Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen maintained a deep bond and stayed friends after their divorce. Bertinelli's genuine love and admiration for Van Halen were evident when she publicly mourned his death in October 2020. She posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, expressing her sadness at losing her other half and honoring his musical genius. Her emotional journey through grief touched the hearts of many fans who recognized the depth of their connection.
In a candid interview with People magazine, Valerie Bertinelli opened up about her divorce from Vitale and her perspective on love and relationships. She acknowledged her trust issues and the emotional toll that failed marriages can take. Despite the pain, Bertinelli remains hopeful and believes in the possibility of finding love again. However, she has made it clear that she has no immediate plans to remarry and is focused on herself and her family.
Relationship With Tom Vitale
Following her divorce from Van Halen, Bertinelli found love again with Tom Vitale, whom she met through her brother in 2004. They got married in 2011 in a ceremony attended by many celebrities. Bertinelli described Vitale as her buddy and someone who understood her completely.
They enjoyed cooking together and had a strong bond. However, their marriage came to an end in 2021, and Bertinelli filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. Although their divorce proceedings were initially amicable, issues regarding their prenuptial agreement and financial support later arose.
Valerie Bertinelli's Relationship with Matthew Perry
Another intriguing detail from Bertinelli's love life involves actor Matthew Perry. In his memoir Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Things, Perry confessed that he fell in love with Valerie Bertinelli while working together on the sitcom Sydney in 1990. Although his feelings were not reciprocated, they developed a friendship.
Perry recounted an evening at Bertinelli's home, where her then-husband Eddie Van Halen had passed out from excessive drinking. Perry claimed that he and Bertinelli had a long make-out session that night. While Bertinelli did not officially comment on Perry's claims, she posted a TikTok video seemingly alluding to the incident.
Will Valerie Date Again?
Valerie Bertinelli's personal life has been marked by highs and lows, joy, and heartache, just like any person's journey through relationships. Her openness about her experiences and her determination to move forward and find happiness have made her an inspiration to many.
As she continues to explore her passions in cooking and acting, it is clear that Valerie Bertinelli's resilience and strength shine through both on and off the screen.