William Daniels & Bonnie Bartlett Reveal ‘Boy Meets World’ Set Problems Years Before Ben Savage Feud

Boy Meets World was a popular TV show that ran for seven seasons. It had a great cast of young actors, but there were some problems on set that people didn’t know about. An interview with Page Six revealed some interesting details about what happened behind the scenes.

William Daniels played the teacher Mr. George Feeny on the show, and his wife Bonnie Bartlett also appeared on the series as Mrs. Feeny. In an interview, Bonnie talked about the challenges of having kids grow up on a TV set.

She explained that it’s really unusual for child actors to start when they’re young and then keep working in the entertainment business as they get older. According to Bonnie, the cast of Boy Meets World did something special. She said: “They have grown up together. They’ve been very smart. They’ve done well — all of them. That’s very unusual in a cast with children. They’ve done a good job of that. They’re good people. They’re all good people.”

However, the cast did face some issues while filming. Bonnie mentioned that they had problems working together as they grew up, which is pretty normal when you think about it. Kids have conflicts, and it makes sense that things would get complicated as the young actors matured over the years.

William Daniels was more than just an actor on the show. He became a positive influence on the young cast members in real life. Bonnie explained how her husband helped teach the kids about responsibility and taking things seriously.

She said: “He never told them what to do, but they learned a lot just from watching him … how to behave, what is serious. You know, with kids, it’s all a joke, it’s all funny. And I think he introduced them to the seriousness of responsibility.” This shows that William wasn’t just reading lines with the kids. He was actually helping shape how they acted and thought about their work.

The main cast included Ben Savage, who played the lead character Cory Matthews. He started the show when he was only thirteen years old in 1993. The show also had Danielle Fishel playing Topanga Lawrence, Rider Strong playing Shawn Hunter, and Will Friedle playing Eric Matthews. These actors grew up on camera together and became close.

But something strange happened years later. Around 2020, Ben Savage stopped talking to his former cast mates. He didn’t contact Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, or Will Friedle anymore. People called it getting “ghosted” because he just disappeared without explanation. The other three actors were asked about it, and they said they didn’t know why he disappeared. There was no fight, no falling out, and no animosity between them. They were just confused about what happened.

But Ben Savage didn’t actually just disappear from life. He actually changed careers. Instead of staying in acting, he decided to try politics. In 2022, he ran for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council. Then in 2024, he ran as a Democrat for California’s 30th Congressional District. So he was busy doing other things besides acting.

Bonnie remembered when Ben reached out to her and William. She told Page Six: “I spoke to him a few years ago when he was running for office, and he emailed us to see if we would support him, but I don’t think anything ever came of that.” She also mentioned that Ben is now focused on his personal life. According to Bonnie, Ben and his wife Tessa Angermeier now have a baby. She said: “He’s kind of out of the acting world now.” The couple welcomed their daughter in November 2025.

While Ben was away from the acting world, Danielle Fishel did something special. On Season 34 of Dancing With the Stars, she performed a dance to the Boy Meets World theme song. Even more special, she dedicated the performance to William Daniels and even brought him out as a guest to dance with her. This showed how much respect and love she still had for her old teacher from the show.

William Daniels is now ninety-nine years old. His memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be, but his wife Bonnie makes sure to remember things for both of them. When asked if he loves the kids from the show, he simply said: “Mhm, yes.” Bonnie added something sweet: “Even now when he’s forgotten so many things, I haven’t forgotten them.” This shows how much the cast meant to both William and Bonnie over the years.

Speaking of William and Bonnie, they have one of the most impressive relationships in Hollywood. They got married in June 1951, which means they’ve been together for over seventy years. According to William, the key to a long marriage is flexibility. He explained: “Life is all adjustment. You’re constantly adjusting.” He said that marriage requires what he calls “wiggle room,” meaning you have to be willing to bend and compromise. The couple is getting ready to celebrate their seventy-fifth wedding anniversary soon.

These days, William has trouble hearing and walking, but Bonnie says he’s happy. The couple stays busy doing different things. They sell signed memorabilia from their careers and make videos called Cameos for fans who want personalized messages from them. They’re also proud of their sons. When talking about their life together, Bonnie said they’re very lucky and they have wonderful sons. Through all the changes in the entertainment world and in their own lives, William and Bonnie have stayed strong together.

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