‘One Day at a Time’ Star Shares Sweet Memory of Eddie Van Halen on the 6th Anniversary of His Death

Glenn Scarpelli paid tribute to Eddie Van Halen six years after his death. The actor, who played Alex Handris on One Day at a Time from 1980 to 1983, recalled meeting Van Halen when he was dating his co-star Valerie Bertinelli (Barbara Cooper in the series) in the early 1980s.

On Oct. 6, Scarpelli, 60, posted to Facebook to share a photo of Van Halen holding him by the legs with a cigarette in his mouth, with Bertinelli’s arms around his shoulders. Everyone in the photo is smiling as they pose for the shot that appears to be taken on the set of the CBS sitcom.

“6 years ago Ed went home to Rock God Heaven,” Scarpelli captioned the snap. “My thoughts are with Val and Wolfie today. I loved Eddie very much.”

The actor went on to describe Van Halen, writing, “He was so down to earth. I saw him as a brother-in-law of sorts since Val has always felt like a sister I never had. I treasure this picture because he picked me up and played me like a guitar. I felt honored. Valerie and I were definitely caught off guard!! lol… Keep wailing, Ol’ Friend. Your contribution to our planet is immeasurable and the generosity you showed all of us that knew you was so special… and humbling. Rest in Peace, Ed. You live in the hearts of ALL of us.”

Van Halen died at age 65 on Oct. 6, 2020, following complications from throat cancer. He was married to Bertinelli from 1981 to 2007 and shared a son, Wolfgang, with her.

Scarpelli played Bertinelli’s “stepbrother” of sorts on One Day at a Time. His character was the orphaned son of the former boyfriend of Barbara’s mom, Ann Romano (Bonnie Franklin).

Scarpelli admitted he nearly flipped out when he joined the show in its sixth season and found out his co-star was dating the rock legend.

During a 2025 appearance on The Patrick LabyorSheaux podcast, he recalled, “I had known  Valerie before through mutual friends, I had done a pilot with a guy that she was dating, so on and so forth. But that first week I was on the show, it was my first tape day, you know, we shot in front of a live audience. I was very excited, and I’m sitting backstage, and who walks in but Eddie Van Halen.”

Scarpelli couldn’t believe his eyes.

“And I’m like, did I just see that right? Like, is that Eddie Van Halen?” he said. “So I’m like crazy, I’m 14 years old right loving Van Halen, Rock god. he was like so hot in those days and I’m walking around saying, who can I tell, who can I tell? So in the makeup chair I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, I think Eddie Van Halen just walked in.’ She looked at me, and she went, ‘Yeah that’s my new boyfriend.’”

Related: 1978 Van Halen Hit, Under 2 Minutes Long, Features Eddie Van Halen’s ‘Greatest Guitar Solo’