Years before Ben Savage “ghosted” his “Boy Meets World” co-stars, there were “problems” among the cast and crew on the set of the beloved teen sitcom.
In an exclusive interview with Page Six, William “Bill” Daniels, who portrayed Mr. George Feeny, and his longtime wife, Bonnie Bartlett, who eventually became Mrs. Feeny on the seven-season show, provided context about the filming experience.
“They had some problems working together as … they grew up,” Bartlett, 96, told us, noting that it’s “very unusual” for child stars to “grow up” on camera and then “continue in the business.”
“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,” she marveled. “They’ve done a good job of that. They’re good people. They’re all good people.”
The actress agreed that her husband — who played a stern, wise and involved teacher to his students — was a real-life “positive influence” on the young cast.
“He never told them what to do, but they learned a lot just from watching him … how to behave, what is serious,” Bartlett elaborated. “You know, with kids, it’s all a joke, it’s all funny. And I think [Daniels] introduced them to the seriousness of responsibility.”
Savage, who was 13 when he began playing star Cory Matthews in 1993, abruptly stopped communicating with his former co-stars — including Danielle Fishel (Topanga Lawrence), Rider Strong (Shawn Hunter) and Will Friedle (Eric Matthews) — sometime around 2020.
The trio — who have been critical of “Boy Meets World” co-creator Michael Jacobs in the past — told Variety in a June 2023 interview that they don’t know why Savage “disappeared,” insisting that there was no “fight,” “falling out” or “animosity.”
But Savage, now 45, did not actually disappear. He tried pivoting to a career in politics — first running for a seat on the West Hollywood City Council in 2022 and then running as a Democrat for California’s 30th Congressional District in 2024.
“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,” Bartlett recalled during our interview.
“But I think he and his wife have a baby now! He’s kind of out [of the acting world] now.”
Indeed, Savage and wife Tessa Angermeier welcomed their daughter in November 2025.
The month prior, Fishel — Savage’s on-screen love interest — performed a jive to the “Boy Meets World” theme song while competing on Season 34 of “Dancing With the Stars.”
She dedicated the dance to Daniels — and even brought him out for a cameo.
“He really loves those kids. Don’t you, Bill?” Bartlett said during our interview, to which the 99-year-old actor — whose memory is not what it once was — responded, “Mhm, yes.”
“Even now when he’s forgotten so many things,” Bartlett added as she looked lovingly at Daniels, “I haven’t forgotten them.”
Though he has trouble hearing and walking these days, his adoring spouse insisted he’s “happy.”
The oldest living married couple in Hollywood — who admittedly tried to have an “open” marriage a few years after tying the knot in June 1951 — are getting ready to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.
“Life is all adjustment. You’re constantly adjusting,” the “Little House on the Prairie” star explained, emphasizing that marriage is no different — and requires “wiggle room.”
Bartlett and Daniels — who now sell signed memorabilia and make Cameos for fans — also gushed over their “wonderful” sons and marveled, “We’re so lucky.”
Read the full article here
