Valerie Bertinelli Emotionally Talks about Son Wolfgang on Her 60th Birthday
Valerie Bertinelli turned sixty-years old on Thursday and made an appearance on "Today," where she spoke about her career and being a mother to her 29-year-old son, Wolfgang.
Valerie Anne Bertinelli has enjoyed a successful career that has seen her play the characters "Barbara Cooper Royer" on the hit sitcom, "One Day at a Time," and "Gloria" on the drama series, "Touched by an Angel."
Valerie was live on "Today" on her birthday, via video call. While on the show, the delighted actress took the time to open up about her best career roles and her only son and child, Wolfgang Van Halen.
Valerie Bertinelli attends the Food Network & Cooking Channel New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Capital One - Rooftop Rosé hosted by Valerie Bertinelli, at The Skylark on October 13, 2019 in New York City | Photo: Getty Images on October 13, 2019 | Photo: Getty Images
Valerie said that she woke up on the morning of her birthday, feeling grateful for her life and her family, especially her son, who she calls "Wolfie." The actress was asked what her son meant in her life.
The 60-year-old, with teary eyes, replied by saying that Wolfgang meant that she knew how to do something right, a feeling she's had since giving birth to him. She also said:
"The moment I became his mother, I felt right in the world. I felt whole. He's just a very special human being, and I love him dearly."
Valerie spent her birthday at home amid the COVID-19 pandemic and wasn't able to be with her beloved son. She, however, said that she was able to see him recently, although it was from a distance.
According to the actress, Wolfgang came to visit her, wearing his mask and his glove but didn't come into her house, which she said was heartbreaking but a necessary measure amid the pandemic.
It is Valerie's wish to connect pure joy and happiness with other people.
To celebrate her birthday, Valerie focused on giving to those in need in this tough period, doing her best to ensure that they also get through the pandemic. She did this by making a kind donation of $60,000 to some charities.
These charities include "National Domestic Workers Alliance," "No Kid Hungry," "Blessings in Backpack," and "The Giving Back Fund." The donation would be used to assist the needy amid the current COVID-19 crisis.
The actress said that donating that sum of money brought her closer to the achievement of her ultimate birthday wish, which was to find that pure joy and happiness that everyone had.
It is also Valerie's wish to connect that pure joy and happiness with other people, and also to reach out and be of service to others in any possible way.
The "Food Network" star also shared a picture of herself, on her Instagram story, that showed her enjoying a glass of champagne. She captioned the post by saying that she was 60 and could do whatever she wanted.
The television personality also said that she had been awake since 3 am, adding that she hoped the champagne would help her find sleep. Valerie shares Wolfgang with her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen.
She married the Rock god when she was 21, and he, 25, in 1981. They had Wolfgang in 1991, but separated ten years later, before finalizing their divorce in 2007.