Valerie Bertinelli shared a moving tribute to her late ex-husband, Eddie Van Halen, six years after his death. The actress, 66, posted a nostalgic photograph of the pair sitting together in a car, accompanying the image with a short message about her lasting love for the musician.
"Photos may fade, like old photos do, but not the memories and never the love," she wrote on Instagram.
The faded photograph captured a smiling Eddie behind the wheel, with Valerie sitting beside him in a striped top. Both wore their hair long, with the candid image offering a glimpse of their younger years together.
© InstagramValerie's poignant anniversary tribute
Valerie shared the photograph on October 6, the sixth anniversary of Eddie's death. The Van Halen guitarist died in 2020, aged 65, following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Her post attracted more than 19,000 likes, with followers sharing their support in the comments. One referenced the couple's son, Wolfgang, writing: "Wolfie is a gift really, from the smiles on your faces!!!"
Valerie and Eddie married in 1981 and welcomed Wolfgang a decade later. They separated in 2001 before finalising their divorce in 2007, but remained connected through their family. Valerie was by Eddie's side when he died.
© Getty ImagesHow Valerie and Eddie met
Earlier this year, Valerie revisited their first meeting during an appearance on Ted Danson's podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name. She recalled going to a Van Halen concert in Shreveport, Louisiana, while visiting her family, and meeting the guitarist backstage.
"I was crushing on this guy big time," she said during the May conversation. Their relationship moved quickly, with the pair marrying eight months after meeting. Valerie also reflected on the happy years they shared alongside the difficulties they faced during their marriage.
At the time of their wedding, Valerie was already a familiar face thanks to her role in One Day at a Time, while Eddie's career with Van Halen had made him one of rock's most recognisable musicians.
© Getty ImagesMissing their moments as parents
Valerie has frequently spoken about missing the experiences she and Eddie would have shared watching their son grow and perform.
In an August 2025 Instagram tribute, she remembered their enthusiasm for Wolfgang's music and the joy of supporting him together.
"Seeing who could whistle the loudest. I will never not miss being able to experience that with you," she wrote.
Her first tribute following Eddie's death also focused on the family they had created. "You gave me the one true light in my life, our son, Wolfgang," she wrote in October 2020.
© Getty Images for The Recording AHer pride in Wolfgang
Wolfgang, now 35, followed his father into music, performing with Van Halen before pursuing his own career with Mammoth.
During an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show earlier this year, Valerie described a childhood surrounded by instruments, including guitars, a piano and a drum kit.
She also acknowledged the challenges she and Eddie experienced as parents, while emphasising the love they gave their son.
"We made a lot of mistakes, but in the end he always had unconditional love," she said.
Rediscovering family memories
The anniversary post follows another project that has seen Valerie revisit photographs from her past. In August, she launched Undeveloped: Stories from the Vault on her digital platform, Valerie's Place, alongside her brother David.
The series features photographs David took over the years, including pictures from the beginning of her relationship with Eddie. Together, the siblings revisit the images and share their memories of the moments captured.
