Bonnie Bartlett

Bonnie Bartlett Daniels is an award-winning actor of television and film. Her career spans more than seventy years, with her first major role on the daytime drama Love of Life launched her career in the 1950s as Vanessa Dale Raven (1955–1959). Her television career continued with roles like Grace Snider Edwards on Little House on the Prairie (1974–1977) and Ellen Craig on St. Elsewhere (1982–1988), earning her two Primetime Emmy Awards in 1986 and 1987, alongside Daniels, making them the second married couple to win Emmys on the same night.

Bartlett’s recurring role as Dean Lila Bolander on Boy Meets World (1993–2000) saw her character marry Daniels’ Mr. Feeny. She also appeared as Barbara Thorndyke on The Golden Girls and Tim Allen’s mother on Home Improvement. Her film credits include the role of Mary Ann Benedict in Twins (1988), alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, and roles in The Grass Harp (1995) and Shiloh (1996).

Bartlett’s television work includes guest spots on Gunsmoke, The Waltons, Kojak, Grey’s Anatomy (2008), and Better Call Saul (2017).

With over 200 acting credits, she also appeared in miniseries like V (1983) and North and South: Book II (1986). A two-time Emmy winner, Bartlett has served on the Screen Actors Guild board. Her 2023 memoir, Middle of the Rainbow, reflects on her remarkable career and 70+ years of marriage to Daniels.