Valerie Bertinelli endured a painful divorce that left her heartbroken. But she found love again with a new man who shares her values. Despite swearing off dating, her recent relationship has brought joy back into her life.
Valerie Bertinelli is an actress best known for the sitcom “One Day at a Time” and later becoming a popular Food Network host. In the last few years, she has experienced several ups and downs, including an expensive divorce. But despite vowing to stay single, she has a new man! Let’s find out all about him and how her journey to self-healing led to this relationship!
Her Previous Relationships
The 64-year-old actress’s romantic history includes two significant marriages. Her first husband was rock star Eddie Van Halen, whom she married in 1981.
The couple met when Bertinelli was just 20 years old, and their whirlwind romance captured the public’s imagination. They tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in California, with Bertinelli wearing a custom-made white gown and Van Halen in a white tuxedo.
Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen during Wrap Party For “One Day At A Time” in California in 1983 | Source: Getty Images
In 1991, they had a son, Wolfgang, who would later follow in his father’s footsteps and become a musician. While their marriage lasted until 2007, the two remained close friends and co-parents to their child.
Throughout their relationship, Bertinelli and her ex-husband had many issues. For example, Van Halen’s struggles with substance abuse and his rock star lifestyle.
Despite these obstacles, she has always spoken fondly of their time together and the love they shared.
Following her split from Van Halen, Bertinelli found love again with financial planner Tom Vitale. Their relationship began in 2004 when they were introduced by her brother, Patrick.
Tom Vitale and Valerie Bertinelli attend her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony held on August 22, 2012 in California | Source: Getty Images
The couple dated for several years before deciding to take their relationship to the next level. They exchanged vows in January 2011 in an intimate ceremony held at their Malibu home.
About 100 guests attended the wedding, including Bertinelli’s son and Van Halen. The presence of her ex-husband at the ceremony showed their lasting friendship and great parenting style.
Bertinelli talked about her happiness with Vitale at the time, stating, “I think I got tired of calling him ‘my spousal equivalent.’ It’s nice to call him my husband. It feels appropriate.”
But that joy wouldn’t last forever.
The Love Turned Sour
In October 2020, Van Halen tragically passed away from lung cancer at the age of 65. Bertinelli mourned his loss deeply and publicly, sharing her grief in interviews and social media posts.
She spoke candidly about the complex feelings that come with losing an ex-spouse who remained an important part of her life.
Meanwhile, her marriage to Vitale began to unravel after a decade. In November 2021, Valerie Bertinelli filed for legal separation, citing “irreconcilable differences.”
The process was formalized in court documents filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The split became more complicated as time passed, resulting in a significant financial cost.
Valerie Bertinelli and Tom Vitale at the New York Cares Coat Drive on November 30, 2011 in New York City | Source: Getty Images
As part of the divorce settlement, Bertinelli agreed to pay Vitale a total of $2.7 million.
This sum included an initial payment of $500,000 made in May 2022, followed by an additional $2.2 million.
Their agreement also addressed living arrangements and investments.
Vitale was required to vacate Bertinelli’s Malibu home by December 31, 2022, provided she had paid the agreed-upon sum.
If the payment was not made by that date, he would be allowed to continue living in the house without paying rent.
Finally, their prenuptial document stipulated that neither party would pay spousal support to the other.
Once the divorce was finalized on November 22, 2022, Bertinelli expressed her relief and happiness on social media. She enthusiastically announced, “On 11/22/22, I am officially […] divorced. Happily divorced. Finally. It’s finally over.”
The actress also wrote that it was “the second best day” of her life. But that wasn’t the end of the road.
Struggling and Healing
Bertinelli later revealed some of her emotional struggles in a now-deleted Instagram video. She alluded to discovering troubling text messages from her ex-husband, though she did not provide specific details.
The actress also opened up about experiencing domestic abuse.
She shared, “When it comes to emotional abuse and mental abuse, it’s not talked about, because you just think, ‘I’m not being physically abused, so it’s not abuse.'”
She explained how some women lose themselves in trying to make their partners feel loved and respected, to the point where they no longer love or respect themselves.
The actress worked diligently on healing through various methods, including therapy and journaling. She emphasized the importance of feeling and processing emotions rather than numbing them with food or alcohol, which she had done in the past.
“I have been screamed at so many times and told how fat and lazy I am,” Bertinelli stated. “I realize… that was someone just projecting on me whatever they needed to project on me, but my part in all of it was believing it, and I don’t believe it anymore.”
This epiphany marked a significant turning point in her journey toward loving herself.
“I got more intentional about my healing,” she explained. “That meant a lot of walks with [my dog] Luna, a lot of therapy sessions, a lot of learning that I deserve to feel good.”
In a TikTok video, the TV personality, who recently ignited Ozempic speculation, talked about Maya Angelou, who considered forgiveness a gift.
Bertinelli said, “Forgiveness is the way we shine light on the darkness. Give yourself this gift.”
Throughout this difficult period, Bertinelli continued to work on herself and her career. She remained a beloved figure on the Food Network, hosting shows and sharing recipes with her fans.
Meanwhile, where one love door closed for the TV personality, another one opened.
She Has Fallen in Love Again
Despite the heartache and challenges Bertinelli has faced in recent years, love has found its way back into her life. The actress and cookbook author revealed her new relationship recently.
In an exclusive interview with People, she announced the unexpected turn her life has taken.
“I’m in love,” she said. “It’s a seesaw of emotions because I was adamant I was never falling in love again. I was supposed to die with my six cats and my dog, and very happily live the rest of my years alone — I’m good alone.”
Her new romance began unexpectedly, in a thoroughly modern way. She first connected with her new partner, an East Coast writer, on Instagram a few years ago when he slid “into her DMs.”
They initially had a platonic friendship, but it gradually evolved into something more because she found something in him that “felt familiar.”
The actress is still adjusting to her new relationship status, marveling at how right it feels, despite her previous reservations.
“It’s crazy the comfort level,” Bertinelli shared. “It feels incredibly right.”
This honesty about her new relationship has been met with an outpouring of support from fans, especially after a particular Instagram post.
After mentioning her healing process which started in 2022, the actress wrote, “[…] This man is worth fighting the rest of my demons for. He is the most thoughtful, kind, gentle, intelligent, funny, and grateful man I’ve ever met. And look at him.”
Several users were quick to comment on her post. One added, “I’m so happy for you! You deserve it all!“
Another said, “He looks awesome! I’m glad you found each other!“
The East Coast writer also got admiring comments on his personal Instagram. One user wrote, “Those eyes [sic].” Another person added, “[…] Nice eyes/shirt combination.” But, who is this man in her life? Let’s find out!
Who Is Her New Man?
Bertinelli’s new boyfriend is Mike Goodnough. He’s a writer and photographer who uses the online moniker “The Hoarse Whisperer.”
Goodnough, who will turn 54 this year, has a background in marketing and communications. Throughout his career, he has worked with many high-profile companies including AT&T, Verizon, HBO, BMW, and many others.
The writer confirmed their relationship in a post on his Substack, writing:
“I am Valerie Bertinelli’s boyfriend… and that may well be among the most surreal sentences I’ve ever pecked out. But it’s true… and nothing about our actual relationship seems surreal. It just seems… good… lucky… a gift.”
Goodnough describes himself as a writer, photographer, and father in his social media bios. He has been self-employed for the past 12 years, having left the corporate world just before his son was born.
Bertinelli’s new boyfriend’s background in marketing has given him a great perspective on celebrities and media. Something that may help him navigate the attention around the actress.
At the same time, his career outside entertainment should be refreshing for the TV personality after her past relationships.
He’s a Single Father
One of the most defining aspects of Goodnough’s life is his role as a devoted single father to a teenage son, who will turn 17 this year.
The writer has been open about prioritizing his parental role above all else, even at the cost of financial stability. He explained this on a long X thread.
He spoke about his father’s struggles with depression and the impact it had on his upbringing. Determined to break the cycle, Goodnough dedicated himself to being a present and emotionally available parent.
He has also shared touching moments from his journey as a father on social media.
On Instagram, he recalled the day his son came home from the hospital after a challenging birth. He said it was the “happiest day of my life” and his “happiest anniversary every year since.”
He has also posted about everyday moments, like sharing breakfast with his teenager.
The Long-Distance Relationship
Despite all Bertinelli and Goodnough have in common and how much they seem to be in love, they are in a long-distance relationship. She resides in Los Angeles, while the writer is still on the East Coast.
He has been honest about the difficulties they face, acknowledging that being apart is tough when you want to be close to your partner.
However, he also highlighted a silver lining: the distance makes their time together even more precious. The writer shared a touching moment on social media where he showed Bertinelli the view of the city from his side of the Hudson.
Their relationship took a significant step forward when they made their red carpet debut at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in June 2024.
It was Goodnough’s first time at such an event.
While talking to ET, Bertinelli playfully referred to him as a “virgin” on the red carpet and laughed. But she also couldn’t contain her admiration for Goodnough.
She gushed about his qualities, saying, “He’s brilliant. He’s smart. He’s funny. He’s talented. Amazing writer. He’s kind. He’s thoughtful. He’s patient with me, God knows I need a lot of patience.”
Goodnough reciprocated the sentiment, praising Bertinelli’s authenticity and kindness.
The couple has embraced modern technology to keep their connection strong.
Although it’s been hard to be apart, Goodnough maintains a pragmatic outlook on their situation.
He compared their long-distance relationship to that of married couples where one partner travels for work; they make their short time together more significant.
They have also shown their playful side on social media, attempting to create trendy videos and sharing humorous results with their followers.
These light-hearted moments have delighted fans, who wrote comments such as, “You look amazing, Valerie! And SO happy; love to see you this way!“
Another person added, “He looks so beautiful and happy. I love that smile keep smiling [sic].“
Hopefully, they’ll continue making each other happy.
Bertinelli’s journey from heartbreak to newfound love is a reminder that it’s never too late for a fresh start. This new relationship is blossoming beautifully, and she deserves it.
