Additional Coverage:
- Valerie Bertinelli Remembers Eddie Van Halen With a Rare Photo and Heartfelt Message on the Anniversary of His Death (parade.com)
Actress Valerie Bertinelli honored the memory of her late ex-husband, legendary musician Eddie Van Halen, on the sixth anniversary of his passing.
On October 6, Bertinelli shared a heartfelt Instagram post featuring a candid photo of the two together in a car. In the image, Van Halen, who died at age 65, smiles warmly at the camera while Bertinelli laughs, looking ahead. Accompanying the photo, she wrote, “Photos may fade, like old photos do, but not the memories and never the love.”
Fans responded with an outpouring of support and appreciation for the tribute, many reflecting on Van Halen’s enduring legacy as a gifted guitarist and devoted father to their 35-year-old son, Wolfgang Van Halen. One commenter expressed, “Rip Eddie Van Halen, you’re always on our mind and forever in our hearts… the best damn guitar player of all time.” Others echoed sentiments of love, remembrance, and gratitude for Bertinelli’s willingness to share such a personal moment.
Earlier this year, in a March 2026 interview with People magazine, Bertinelli opened up about her complex but deeply meaningful relationship with Van Halen. Although their 26-year marriage ended in divorce in 2007, she spoke candidly about the enduring affection between them and the time they spent together during the final year of his life, as he battled throat cancer.
“I can’t help but love the man. I went through so much with him, and I’m so grateful for the last year that we had.
There’ll always be a huge part of my heart that contains Ed. He gave me the greatest gift, our son,” Bertinelli reflected.
She acknowledged that while a romantic reunion was unlikely, her love for him remained unique and profound.
Bertinelli also emphasized that her continued bond with Van Halen did not diminish the love he shared with his second wife, Janie Liszewski, nor the love Bertinelli herself had in her second marriage to Tom Vitale. “There is just something about Ed and I that was special,” she said.
“Even though we weren’t married any longer, I still loved him. He still loved me, and that’s okay.
You can love the father of your child. Isn’t it better than hating him?”
Valerie Bertinelli’s tribute and reflections offer a touching reminder of the lasting connections forged through love and family, even after life’s paths diverge.