Friend Encounters: Valerie Bertinelli and Larry Freda

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

My buddy Larry is back and this time he is not with a New York legendary athlete. Valerie Berttinellis is definitely a legend though.

Does Valerie ever age? Theformer child actress is 50 in the picture below. She probably looks the same today, too. It's not good photography either. I met Valerie around the same time and she looks amazing in person. She is also one of the sweetest celebrities I have met and I am sure Larry would agree.

The former star of tv's One Day at a Time was married to Eddie Van Halen and has had quite a life. She has written two books, Losing It and Enough Already. Both books are open and honest looks into her life, the good and the bad. As far as autobiographies go, these are two really good ones.

On the subject of autobiographies, my bud Larry should write one. He has met enough celebrities to at least do a coffee-table picture book of his meetings. Some day, I hope to be in that club of his meetings. Until then, I will continue to showcase his many great celebrity encounters.

Larry Freda and Valerie Bertinelli in Ridgewood, NJ-October 2010.

One Day (at a Time) with Valerie Bertinelli

Okay, I admit it. I was never a huge fan of One Day at a Time. I wasn't really even a big fan of Valerie Bertinelli back then. Sure, I usually watched the show, but it was not one of my favorites. I became a bigger fan of both years after the show went off the air.
Bertinelli went on to roles in many tv movies and series. Recently, she became a spokesperson for Jenny Craig. Unlike many stars, Bertinelli never did any nude scenes and turned down some roles because of this.
I met Bertinelli at a book-signing event. There was the oddest crowd and most surprising crowd reaction I had ever seen. Women from teenagers to seniors and a handful of men my age cheered wildly as she took her place at the signing table. Bertinelli looked as cute as ever and she probably will remain that way into her senior years.
I am happy to report that she was as nice as she seems. She hugged some of the women. She joked with the younger girls. She blushed at some of the men. She even told some fans to doublecheck their photos to make sure they were good!

Valerie Bertinelli and me in Oakbrook, IL-Summer 2008.