Valerie Ann Bertinelli born April 23, 1960 is an American actress and television personality. She portrayed Barbara Cooper Royer on the sitcom One Day at a Time (1975–1984), Gloria on the religious drama series Touched by an Angel (2001–2003) and Melanie Moretti on the sitcom Hot in Cleveland (2010–2015). Since 2015, she has hosted the cooking shows Valerie’s Home Cooking and Kids Baking Championship on Food Network.
Early life
Bertinelli was born in Wilmington, Delaware to Nancy (née Carvin) and Andrew Bertinelli, a General Motors executive. Her father is of Italian descent and her mother is of English descent. She has three brothers: David, Patrick and Drew. An elder brother, Mark, died at 17 months from accidental poisoning before she was born. Because of her father’s career, the family frequently moved. Over various periods, they lived in Claymont, Delaware; Clarkston, Michigan; Shreveport, Louisiana; Oklahoma City and the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles, California, where Bertinelli studied acting at the Tami Lynn School of Artists. She attended Granada Hills High School and was raised Roman Catholic.
Career
Bertinelli in One Day at a Time in 1975
Acting
Following her appearance in an episode of Apple’s Way, Bertinelli was approached by producer Norman Lear to audition for the role of cooperative daughter Barbara Cooper in a new sitcom called One Day at a Time. The show debuted in late 1975 when Bertinelli was 15 years old. She appeared in 208 of the 209 episodes before the show left the air on May 28, 1984.
In the 2005 One Day at a Time Reunion Special, Bertinelli was reunited with fellow cast members Bonnie Franklin, Mackenzie Phillips and Pat Harrington Jr. to watch memorable clips from the original show’s nine seasons. They talked about actors who had left the show as well as Phillips’ drug problem, which had wreaked havoc on the set and caused Phillips to be fired from the show.
After the run of One Day at a Time, Bertinelli starred in several made-for-TV films and miniseries, as well as making many guest appearances on various television shows.
In the 1990s, she starred in two short-lived sitcoms: Sydney, as the title character, a private detective (with Matthew Perry and Craig Bierko), and Café Americain.
In 2001, Bertinelli joined the cast of Touched by an Angel for the show’s last two seasons.
From 2010 to 2015, she starred in the TV Land sitcom Hot in Cleveland, alongside Betty White, Wendie Malick and Jane Leeves. After a successful six-season run, the show’s final episode aired on June 3, 2015.
Television hosting
Bertinelli in 2008
In 2015, Bertinelli began hosting two shows, Valerie’s Home Cooking and Kids Baking Championship with cake artist Duff Goldman on the Food Network. The kids show follows young children as they bake pastries and other desserts.
In 2019, Bertinelli began hosting two new Food Network shows, Family Food Showdown and Family Restaurant Rivals.
Writing
In 2008, she released the autobiography Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time, which culminates in a description of her Jenny Craig diet experience. In 2009 she wrote a follow-up book Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life Without Opening the Fridge.
Activism
Bertinelli became a spokesperson for the Jenny Craig program and appeared in several commercials. Although Bertinelli was compensated for her Jenny Craig appearances, she considered herself a health and weight-loss activist rather than a hired weight-loss spokesperson.
Personal life
Bertinelli with Eddie Van Halen in 1991
Bertinelli married Eddie Van Halen on April 11, 1981. They had a son, Wolfgang (born March 16, 1991). The couple separated in 2001 and divorced on December 20, 2007. In her autobiography, Bertinelli indicated the main reasons for her divorce were her husband’s cocaine addiction and his refusal to quit smoking despite being diagnosed with oral cancer and losing one-third of his tongue in the treatment process.
Bertinelli, who has struggled with her weight, lost a total of 40 lb (18 kg) using the Jenny Craig weight loss program.
In May 2010, Bertinelli announced her engagement to financial planner Tom Vitale, with whom she had begun a relationship in 2004. They were married on January 1, 2011 in Malibu, California, with Bertinelli in a custom-made dress by designer David Meister. She has four step children through her marriage to Vitale. Both her ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen, and their son, Wolfgang Van Halen, attended the wedding.
Bertinelli ran in the April 2010 Boston Marathon to benefit the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, completing it in a time of 5:14:37.
In 2014, she appeared on Who Do You Think You Are? and found she was related to King Edward I of England.