Valerie Bertinelli, 'One Day At A Time's Barbara Cooper, Then And Now

By | April 24, 2021

test article image
Valerie Bertinelli starred as Barbara Cooper Royer in the CBS television program "One Day at a Time." (Photo by CBS via Getty Images)

Valerie Bertinelli is best known for her role as the teenager Barbara Cooper on the 1970s hit series One Day At A Time -- and for her marriage to Eddie Van Halen, the late, legendary rock guitarist. She started her career at a young age and grew into one tremendously capable actress so it was no surprise that her beauty and charisma attracted the Van Halen rock star. Although her marriage was not the fairytale it seemed to be, Bertinelli was a remarkable talent all in her own right.  

The Bertinellis Couldn’t Stay Put

test article image

 Valerie Bertinelli was born on April 23rd, 1960 in Wilmington, Delaware into an exceptionally Catholic family. Before she was born, her older brother Mark passed away tragically of accidental poisoning when he was barely 18 months old. Valerie’s mother Nancy gave birth to three other sons, Valerie’s brothers David, Patrick, and Drew. Because her father Andrew Bertinelli was an executive at General Motors, the family was constantly on the move and spent time living in Delaware, Michigan, Oklahoma City, California, Louisiana, and even more locations. It was difficult for Bertinelli, teased as a “GM Brat,” to hold on to friendships as the family never knew how much time they would have in each location.