Now 96, the actress married her well-known husband at just 18 years old in 1951, and the couple is set to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary this June. Their chemistry extended beyond real life, as they portrayed spouses in multiple productions, most memorably on Boy Meets World.
Over the years, she appeared in projects such as Little House on the Prairie, Twins, Shiloh, Sleeping with the Devil, and Better Call Saul, and earned two Emmy Awards for her role on St. Elsewhere. On Wednesday, she stepped out solo while running errands around Los Angeles.
The mystery star was none other than Bonnie Bartlett, who was seen out alone dressed casually in a white button-down shirt and taupe trousers, with a crossbody bag completing her relaxed spring look. Her husband, actor William Daniels — who played her spouse in three different projects — did not appear to accompany her.
The couple, who married on June 30, 1951, also appeared together in Boy Meets World and St. Elsewhere. Bartlett’s long résumé includes roles in Home Improvement, Parks and Recreation, Grey’s Anatomy, and Touched by an Angel. Her last on-screen appearance was as Helen in Better Call Saul in 2017. Together, she and Daniels share three children and four grandchildren.
Despite their enduring bond, Bartlett previously revealed that their early marriage included an open relationship — something she later ended because it became too painful. She explained that such arrangements were more common at the time, especially in New York’s free-spirited social scene, but admitted the lack of commitment created emotional strain.
In her memoir Middle of the Rainbow, she reflected on having a brief affair in 1959 and wrote candidly about the challenges both she and Daniels faced. She also described being devastated when Daniels later became involved with a producer in the early 1970s, which ultimately led her to insist they abandon the open marriage entirely.
Although she once feared their relationship might not survive, Bartlett said they worked through the difficult period together. Over time, the couple rebuilt their bond, remaining supportive of one another and continuing side by side for more than seven decades — through both joyful and painful moments.
