It’s been two weeks since the legendary rocker Eddie Van Halen passed away at the age of 65 following a battle with cancer. It has since been revealed that the actress Valerie Bertinelli, who was married to Van Halen for 26 years before they divorced in 2007, is struggling to come to terms with his passing.
Those close to Bertinelli are saying that she has been grieving deeply for Van Halen after his death.
“Valerie and Eddie had some rough times, but their love for each other never wavered,” a source told US Weekly. “She’s truly heartbroken.”
Bertinelli met Van Halen backstage at a concert in 1980, and they married months later in April of 1981.
“They were so in love,” another insider said. “Valerie hated the groupies that would follow his band, but Eddie mesmerized people and she was no exception.”
Bertinelli and Van Halen welcomed a son Wolfgang in 1991, and the actress devoted herself to motherhood from then on. Meanwhile, Van Halen continued to have fun on the road, and they soon found themselves growing apart. They separated in 2001 before divorcing in 2007.
“They were better friends apart,” a source close to them explained. “Valerie championed Eddie for kicking drugs and booze for good and stayed close throughout his battle with tongue cancer.”
Though Bertinelli and Van Halen each remarried, they remained close friends, and she was by his side when he died on October 7. After his passing, the former “One Day At A Time” star posted a touching tribute to him on social media.
“40 years ago my life changed forever when I met you,” Bertinelli tweeted. “You gave me the one true light in my life, our son, Wolfgang. Through all your challenging treatments for lung cancer, you kept your gorgeous spirit and that impish grin. I’m so grateful Wolfie and I were able to hold you in your last moments. I will see you in our next life my love.”
— Valerie Bertinelli (@Wolfiesmom) October 6, 2020
Van Halen was first diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2000, and he managed to beat it by 2002. In 2019, however, it was revealed that Van Halen had secretly been battling throat cancer for five years. Sources said that his health went downhill fast in his final 72 hours, with doctors finding that his cancer had moved to his brain as well as other organs.
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