Sitcom legend Valerie Bertinelli cut a somber figure in an all-black dress as she showed up in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Days earlier, she paid tribute to her longtime co-star Matthew Perry, who was found dead in his hot tub at home on Saturday at the age of 54.
In 1990, a few years before he found fame on Friends, Matthew played Valerie’s brother on a short-lived sitcom called Sydney.
He later wrote in his memoirs that he fell so in love with Valerie that he kissed her while her husband Eddie Van Halen passed out drunk nearby.
Although she was openly “mortified” by the claims when they surfaced, she posted a warm tribute to Matthew after his death, writing: “Rest in peace dear husband.”
Casual: Sitcom legend Valerie Bertinelli cut a somber figure in an all-black dress as she showed up in Los Angeles on Thursday
Throughout his life, Matthew was open about his struggles with drugs and alcohol, but initial toxicology reports showed he had no meth or fentanyl in his system when he died, and authorities found no illegal drugs at his home.
He had prescription drugs in the home, including antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs, according to a law enforcement mole who spoke to TMZ.
Matthew told the amazing kiss story in his autobiography Friends, Lovers, And The Big Terrible Thing, which was published a year before his death.
In the pages, he candidly confessed that he “fell madly in love with Valerie Bertinelli, who was clearly in a troubled marriage.”
He reflected that “not only was she way out of my league, but she was also married to one of the most famous rock stars in the world, Eddie Van Halen.”
Matthew insisted his feelings for Valerie were real. I was completely fascinated – I mean, I was obsessed with her and harbored elaborate fantasies about her leaving Eddie Van Halen and spending the rest of her days with me.”
The lip-lock came after Valerie and Eddie invited Matthew to their home, where the plucky young actor spent the evening “staring at Valerie, trying to make her laugh.”
In love with his co-star, who became a big name in the 1970s sitcom One Day At A Time, Matthew recalled: “When you made her laugh, you felt ten feet tall.”
Throwback: In 1990, a few years before Friends, Matthew played Valerie’s brother on the sitcom Sydney; they are pictured with co-star Craig Bierko in a publicity campaign for the show
Flashback: He wrote that he fell so in love with Valerie that he kissed her while her husband Eddie Van Halen lay drunk nearby; Matthew and Valerie in the photo 1990
Throwback: In the pages he candidly confessed that he ‘fell madly in love with Valerie Bertinelli, who was clearly in a difficult marriage’
Meanwhile, Eddie “had enjoyed the fruits of the vine a little too hard one more time, and finally passed out, not ten feet away from us.”
Matthew exclaimed: ‘This was my chance! If you think I didn’t actually have a chance, you’re wrong, dear reader – Valerie and I had a long, extended make-out session. It happened. Maybe she felt the same as I did.’
He hinted that his feelings might have been reciprocated, adding, “I told her I had been thinking about doing that for a long time, and she told me right away.”
But the next day at work, Valerie made no mention of what had happened and behaved – as she should have – as if this was just a normal day. I quickly got the hint and played the role I had to play, but inside I was devastated.’
As they were: Valerie herself has been candid about her turbulent marriage to Eddie, which ultimately went up in flames in 2007; pictured 1987
Matthew spent sleepless nights in tears, to the point that Sydney’s cancellation was a relief because it meant he “didn’t have to see Valerie again.”
After the story went public with the release of Matthew’s book, Valerie responded on TikTok: “Anyone else misbehaving in their 20s and early 30s? Are you shocked?’
Valerie herself has opened up about her turbulent marriage to Eddie, which eventually went up in flames in 2007 when his addictions took their toll on the relationship.
She confessed on Literally! With Rob Lowe that while she was with Eddie, she was addicted to drugs herself for a few years until I just couldn’t take it anymore.’
Eddie got sober in 2008, the year after his divorce from Valerie was finalized, but he died in late 2020 at the age of 65 after a battle with throat cancer.
