William Daniels, 99, best known for his role as Mr. Feeny in Boy Meets World, and his wife Bonnie Bartlett, 96, have spoken candidly about their nearly 75-year marriage and the so-called 'open marriage' that has made headlines. The couple, who married in 1951, addressed the topic in a recent interview with the Daily Mail.
Bonnie Bartlett dismissed the term 'open marriage' as an exaggeration, stating: 'It’s funny, the press will pick up on something and make more of it than it was. There was never any discussion as to what we were going to do, but in 75 years, the two of you together, you know, it would be abnormal if you weren’t attracted occasionally to other people.' She added that they never sat down to make rules about their relationship.
The actress, who starred in Little House on the Prairie and St. Elsewhere, revealed in her 2023 memoir Middle of the Rainbow that she had a brief affair with another actor in the late 1950s, while William became involved with a producer in the 1970s. Bonnie described the latter as 'devastating' but noted that the cultural atmosphere of New York at the time was 'very free.'
Despite these challenges, the couple's bond endured. Bonnie reflected: 'Our lives just went on, but we never got unhinged. Our lives did go in different directions occasionally.' She expressed surprise at reaching such a milestone, saying: 'You don’t plan for it. I’m a big believer in today. And then all of a sudden it’s 75 years. It’s kind of amazing.'
