Why Did Valerie Bertinelli Eddie Van Halen Divorce? Inside Their Relationship

In November 2021, news of Valerie Bertinelli’s separation from her husband of 10 years, Tom Vitale, shocked fans. Half a year later, the award-winning actress made headlines again after filing for a divorce.

Reacting to a fan who remarked that she looked sad, the “One Day at a Time” actress said in a TikTok video that she was “having a bad day.” The brief exchange happened right after the news broke of her filing for a divorce.

Valerie, who cited “irreconcilable differences” in her divorce documents, is no stranger to a failed marriage. Before Vitale, she was married to musician and songwriter Eddie Van Halen, but their marriage fell apart.

Eddie Van Halen and Valerie Bertinelli at the Hard Rock Cafe on February 18, 1995 in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

WHAT HAPPENED TO VALERIE BERTINELLI AND EDDIE VAN HALEN

Valerie and Eddie’s paths crossed at his concert in 1980. Their whirlwind romance culminated in a wedding just eight months after first meeting each other.

Their marriage lasted 20 years and produced one son, Wolfgang Van Halen, who followed in his famous father’s footsteps. Wolfgang served as the bassist for his father’s band from 2006 to 2020.

Valerie and Eddie separated in 2001 and became officially divorced five years later. In 2020, Eddie died at the age of 65, after a battle with several health issues, including throat cancer and skin cancer.

Back in 2008, Valerie opened up about the reasons why her marriage to Eddie fell apart in her memoir “Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time.”

Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen attend the APLA 6th Commitment to Life Concert Benefit at Universal Amphitheater in Universal City, California, on November 18, 1992. | Source: Getty Images

One of her shocking revelations was that she cheated on her ex-husband Eddie four years into their marriage. The television presenter said:

“It was a shame, and it was a guilt that I carried with me for a very long time. And I don’t like that, so I really wanted to get that out of me.”

Both Valerie and Eddie committed infidelity, but that’s not the only factor that led to the downfall of their marriage. Drug abuse also rocked their relationship, with Valerie admitting drugs had been part of their union from the beginning. 

Although they had parted ways, Eddie remained close to Valerie’s heart. Back in January 2021, the actress burst into tears as she opened up about her grief over her ex-husband’s death.

HOW DID VALERIE BERTINELLI MEET TOM VITALE?

After her split from her late husband, Valerie thought she would be raising Wolfgang alone. But her worry about becoming a single parent began to disappear after Tom Vitale came into her life.

They also clicked together because of their similar heritage.

The TV actress’s brother, Patrick, introduced her to Vitale in 2004. Vitale, who runs a private equity fund, was a divorced father of four children. 

Valerie met the businessman while she was in the middle of her divorce proceedings from Eddie. The pair bonded over their similar experience with painful divorces.

They also clicked together because of their similar heritage. Valerie’s father is Italian, while Tom comes from an Italian-Sicilian descent. 

In 2010, after six years of being together, Tom popped the question to Valerie. The actress, head over heels for the businessman, said yes. 

Valerie said Tom taught her to love herself despite her imperfections during their marriage. While they have called it quits, the pair have surely come out of their marriage with lifelong lessons. 

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