William Daniels and his wife Bonnie Bartlett are finally putting a highly discussed rumor about their relationship to rest. With their 75th wedding anniversary coming up fast this June, the 99-year-old Boy Meets World star and his 96-year-old wife want the public to understand the exact reality of their early romantic history. They recently explained that past comments Bartlett made about the difficult first years of their marriage were completely overstated by the press.
The couple made it clear there was never a strict agreement in place. According to an update on their relationship by E! News, Bartlett stated they never had a “formal arrangement” for an open marriage. She did acknowledge that the two “did go in different directions” during a particularly painful period in the 1950s. Daniels stepped up to affirm that he will always stand by his longtime wife as they hold onto the title of Hollywood’s longest active marriage.
This whole conversation actually started during the 2023 promotional run for Bartlett’s memoir. She wrote openly about infidelity and the struggles they faced working through early adulthood in an era where she noted “people were doing that.” Fans completely latched onto those specific details and started debating the iconic television teacher’s personal life online. The two eventually pushed past those early obstacles to build a lasting bond.
Daniels and Bartlett originally tied the knot on June 30, 1951. They left New York City for California soon after, settling down into a highly dedicated partnership that has managed to outlast nearly every other celebrity union in history.