William Daniels and Bonnie Bartlett opened up about the unconventional beginnings of their union as they prepare for their 75th wedding anniversary.
In a new interview with Daily Mail published on May 18, Bartlett revisited comments he made in 2023 that surprised fans when he described their early years together as “a bit of an open marriage.”
“There was never any discussion about what we were going to do,” the Emmy-winning actress explained. “It wasn’t talked about. Bill and I never sat down and made rules. We just don’t do it. We just live our lives. And if he’s out for a year, he’s out for a year.”
Bartlett acknowledged that both she and Daniels occasionally pursued romances outside their marriage.
“So there have been moments, yes, both of us, on both sides,” he said. “We never became unhinged, but our lives occasionally went in different directions.”
He stressed that his devotion has always been with Bartlett.
“I wouldn’t be with anyone else in my life than this woman sitting next to me,” he said.
Bartlett is widely known for St. Elsewhere, Little House on the Prairie and Home Improvement, while Daniels, who played M/r. Feenie in Boy Meets World.
The couple married in June 1951 and their lasting bond has long been celebrated in Hollywood.
Last year, Daniels appeared on Dancing with the Stars during Dedication Night, when Boy Meets World alum Danielle Fishel honored him with a performance.
