The Food Network host recently ended her relationship with her boyfriend, whom she met after a horrible separation from her last husband that required a ton of healing.
Valerie Bertinelli, the renowned actress from the sitcom “One Day at a Time,” has had several troubling years, especially because of an expensive divorce. She had found love again after swearing off dating, but her breakup was just announced. Let’s delve into the details of her now ex-boyfriend and the journey to self-healing that 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, including 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.
Valerie Bertinelli and Eddie Van Halen during “Batman” Los Angeles Premiere at Mann Village theater in Westwood, California | Source: Getty Images
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.
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.
Tom Vitale and Valerie Bertinelli attend her Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony held on August 22, 2012 in California | Source: Getty Images
About 100 guests attended the wedding, including Bertinelli’s son and Van Halen. The presence of her ex-husband at the ceremony showed their enduring friendship and great parenting style.
Bertinelli talked about her happiness with Vitale at the time, “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 shared her grief. She also 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 the Los Angeles Superior Court. However, 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. In now-private X posts, 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.
She also opened up about experiencing domestic violence. Bertinelli 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, the host 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 Fell in Love Again
Despite the heartache and challenges Bertinelli faced in the past, love found its way back into her life. The cookbook author revealed a new relationship in April 2024. In an exclusive interview with People, she announced the unexpected turn her life took.
“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.”
This romance began suddenly, in a thoroughly modern way. She first connected with this person, 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’d found something in him that “felt familiar.”
“It’s crazy the comfort level,” Bertinelli shared. “It feels incredibly right.” At the time, her raw honesty was met with an outpouring of support from fans, especially after a particular Instagram post about him.
After mentioning her healing process which started in 2022, she 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. One added, “I’m so happy for you! You deserve it all!” Another said, “He looks awesome! I’m glad you found each other!“
At the time, 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.“
Unfortunately, the couple has just announced their split.
No Longer Together
On November 5, 2024, a source confirmed to People that Bertinelli and her man had separated after trying to maintain a long-distance relationship since January. In July, the actress had spoken to the magazine about how hard it had been to adhere to their “three-week rule” of seeing each other.
For his part, her now ex-boyfriend had said, “Valerie and I are the only two people with insight into our relationship. Neither of us pays much attention to chatter among people outside of it.”
Regardless of their breakup, many people might be curious about the mysterious man who had entered her life after her past marriages. Let’s find out more about him!
Who Was Her New Man?
Bertinelli’s now ex-boyfriend was Mike Goodnough. He’s a writer and photographer who uses the online moniker “The Hoarse Whisperer.”
Goodnough, 54, 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.
Back in April 2024, the writer confirmed his relationship with Bertinelli in a post on his Substack, uploading:
“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 over a decade, having left the corporate world just before his son was born.
His background in marketing provided him with a unique perspective on celebrities and media, while his career outside entertainment offered a refreshing change for Bertinelli.
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, 17. 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 Failed Long-Distance Relationship
Periods of separation can contribute to trouble for most couples. Bertinelli resides in Los Angeles, while the writer was still on the East Coast throughout their relationship.
Although they were both honest about the difficulties of this arrangement, Goodnough highlighted a silver lining: the distance makes their time together even more precious. In several now-deleted Instagram posts, the writer showed these touching moments with Bertinelli.
Furthermore, in June 2024, they took their relationship forward by making a red carpet debut at the 51st annual Daytime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. 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 him.
She gushed about his qualities, “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. Although it was hard to be apart, Goodnough maintained a pragmatic outlook on their situation. He compared their long-distance relationship to that of married couples where one partner travels for work.
Over the past months, they even showed a playful side on social media, attempting to create trendy videos and sharing humorous results with their followers.
These light-hearted moments 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].“
Sadly, their relationship has come to an end, but it’s a part of life. Hopefully, Bertinelli will continue on her wellness journey and both will find happiness in the future.
