TV Star Opens Up About ‘Tragic, Scary' Marriage to Rock Legend

Valerie Bertinelli is reflecting on the painful reality behind her marriage to one of rock’s biggest stars. In a candid new interview, the actress opened up about the “amazing good times” she shared with Eddie Van Halen-along with the “tragic, scary, hard times” fueled by addiction, unresolved trauma and years of emotional struggle before their relationship ultimately came to an end.

On the May 6 episode of SiriusXM’s Where Everybody Knows Your Name, Bertinelli discussed her 26-year marriage to Van Halen, which ended in 2007.

“We had amazing good times and really tragic, scary, hard times because we were both drinking, using drugs in the ‘80s, and then I stopped, and he didn’t, Bertinelli told podcast host Ted Danson. And neither one of us was taking care of our childhood trauma ... We went to therapy. We loved each other dearly, but it just, at a certain point, after Wolfie got to a certain age, I thought, ‘I can’t do this anymore.’”

Bertinelli has spoken about her marriage to Van Halen in the past as well. In 2024, she told People magazine that she was grateful to Van Halen because they welcomed their son together. However, she’s been more than clear about the tough times she went through with her ex, who died in 2020, after having a stroke.

“What we had together was this beautiful son that we both unconditionally loved,” she told the outlet. “That’s what I got out of that marriage was Wolfie, the best thing that ever happened to me. Not a soulmate.”

These days, Bertinelli is focused on her son and taking care of her own mental health. She released her memoir, Getting Naked, on March 10. On the inside pages, Bertinelli “reflects on the hard-won lessons of aging, self-worth, and letting go,” according to the book’s description on Amazon.

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