At 93 years old, William Daniels and his wife Bonnie Bartlett have been married for an impressive 72 years. It’s a feat that has made them one of the longest-married couples in Hollywood, but it wasn’t always easy. In an interview with People magazine, Bonnie revealed that the early days of their marriage were marked by a difficult “open relationship.”
The two met while they were both attending Northwestern University in the 1940s, and married in 1951. They had both found success in acting. William is best known for his roles on St. Elsewhere and Boy Meets World, but their marriage was strained by William’s insistence on having an open relationship. Bonnie said she was “devastated” by this arrangement and felt betrayed by her husband.
The couple eventually reconciled and celebrated their 72nd wedding anniversary last year. In reflecting on their long marriage, Bonnie said that it was important to keep communication open between them throughout the years, even during hard times. She also said that having patience with each other has been key to making their relationship last so long.
William echoed these sentiments when speaking to Forbes about his 95th birthday last year: “I am really a very lucky guy,” he said, “to have such a wonderful wife who has been with me through thick and thin all these years.”
It’s clear that William and Bonnie have had to work hard to make sure their marriage lasts as long as it has, but it seems like they’ve found the secret to making it work! Their story is a testament to how strong relationships can be when both partners are willing to work together towards common goals.
Mr. Feeny was always a beloved character on Boy Meets Word, which happened to be one of my favorite shows when I was younger. I never would have imagined that he would have done something like that, but we all make mistakes and sometimes all we can do is learn from them and grow.
