Few icons have traversed the shifting landscapes of Hollywood, food television, and personal reinvention as seamlessly — and powerfully — as Valerie Bertinelli. Celebrating her 65th birthday this April, Bertinelli didn’t just mark another year; she unleashed a full-throttle celebration of survival, self-love, and unapologetic authenticity. If Marvel had a civilian hero squad, she'd be leading it — no cape necessary.
Valerie Bertinelli’s birthday montage was more than a celebration — it was a victory lap
On April 24, Bertinelli took to Instagram, sharing a reflective video montage filled with snapshots from recent years — a visual mixtape of highs, lows, and everything in between. “Went through it all in the last handful of years and I’m so grateful for the downs as much as I am for all of the ups… The light at the end of the tunnel is finally here. I can see it. I feel it.”
That “light at the end of the tunnel” line isn’t just hopeful rhetoric — it’s the glow of someone who’s battled storms and come out not just intact, but illuminated. Among the images was a striking throwback to a lingerie selfie she took last year in a hotel bathroom — a moment of raw, beautiful acceptance of her body after a year she hinted was physically tumultuous. “Every lump bump wrinkle and saggy part of me just feels acceptance and simple appreciation,” she wrote.
She’s been told she’s “too much” — and she’s turned that into her superpower
In a world that constantly tries to tone down women’s energy, emotion, and presence, Bertinelli’s honesty about being labeled “too much” is nothing short of revolutionary. During a recent appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show, she posed a question to the audience — one that hit like a truth grenade: “How many people have been told they’re too much?”
Her gravitation toward that phrase— and her refusal to shrink from it — aligns her with a growing league of women in media who aren’t just accepting their full selves, but celebrating them. As relationship expert Damona Hoffman said on the show, “If someone thinks you’re too much, then they are not enough, and that is not your problem.” Bertinelli didn’t just ask the question — she owned the space where that kind of honest expression lives.
Behind the smiles and strength, Bertinelli is navigating heartbreak with courage
This past year also saw Bertinelli weather personal heartbreaks, most notably her split from boyfriend Mike Goodnough after a brief but public relationship. Though their parting sparked some online friction — with Goodnough denying any Instagram-encoded communication and even addressing fan speculation — Bertinelli remained focused on her growth.
In a heartfelt February post, she admitted to having “fumbled the last true good man I met,” but later deleted the message after sharing a more reflective one: that she was “irreversibly changed by him for the better.” Even in the messy aftermath of public scrutiny, Bertinelli’s message is clear: She’s learning, evolving, and not looking back with bitterness.
Fans can’t believe she doesn’t age — but it’s her spirit, not her skin, that truly shines
Throwing yet another nostalgia bomb into the mix, Bertinelli posted photos from a 2010 AARP magazine shoot — images so vibrant and youthful that fans mistook them for the ’80s. “Same! She doesn’t age,” one commenter wrote, echoing the sentiment of a fanbase that has watched her grow since her One Day at a Time days.
But as is often the case, what draws people in is more than her timeless appearance. It's her timeless energy. Her makeup-free birthday selfie, posted just before her celebration, was met with the same adoration as her glamorous throwbacks. She doesn't just look ageless — she inspires agelessness in attitude and authenticity.
From sitcom star to culinary queen, Bertinelli’s evolution is nothing short of legendary
Valerie’s journey from teenage star on the ’70s One Day at a Time to Food Network mainstay with Valerie’s Home Cooking is a masterclass in reinvention. Add to that her successful run on Hot in Cleveland and her critically acclaimed role in the Netflix reboot of One Day at a Time, and you have a career that spans genres, generations, and platforms.
She’s never been typecast — not in roles, not in public perception. Like a certain wise-cracking, spaghetti-slinging superhero, Bertinelli has made versatility her signature move. And through it all, she’s kept her most important role front and center: mom to Wolfgang Van Halen, with whom she shares a deeply affectionate bond.
Her relationship with Wolfgang Van Halen adds a poignant layer to her legacy
Wolfgang’s birthday tribute — sharing a childhood photo with his parents and a message full of love — was a touching echo of the family reverence that Bertinelli consistently radiates. Her relationship with her son, and her continued love for Eddie Van Halen, even years after his passing, adds a layer of emotional depth to her public persona.
It’s a reminder that behind every glamorous throwback, every candid selfie, and every heartfelt post, Valerie Bertinelli is fueled by love — for her family, for her fans, and for life itself.
Valerie Bertinelli at 65 is proof that resilience, love, and authenticity never go out of style
In a culture obsessed with youth, perfection, and polish, Bertinelli’s fearless embrace of her full, messy, beautiful self is nothing short of heroic. She hasn’t just survived the past few years — she’s thrived through them, and she’s come out glowing, grateful, and more real than ever.
Whether she’s standing in front of a mirror coloring her roots, sharing a decadent birthday cake for breakfast, or reflecting on love lost and lessons learned, Valerie Bertinelli speaks to the hero in all of us. She’s living proof that age is just a number, and that true power comes from acceptance, gratitude, and being unabashedly — and beautifully — yourself.