At 99, William Daniels Shows What It Means to Stay Active, Purposeful and in Love
William Daniels doesn’t feel his age — and he wants you to know it.
“I certainly don’t feel 99 years old, that’s for sure,” the beloved actor told PEOPLE.
Daniels, best known for playing the wise George Feeny on Boy Meets World, turned 99 on March 31. He celebrated the milestone at home in Los Angeles with wife Bonnie Bartlett, 96, sons Michael, 62, and Robert, 60, their wives and four grandchildren. Some family members traveled from the East Coast for the occasion.
“I’m going to spend my birthday with my family, and Michael is going to feed us,” Daniels told Today.
It was a fitting celebration for a man whose approach to aging centers on two things: keeping the body moving and keeping the mind engaged.
A Fitness Routine That Works
Daniels previously stayed active by swimming and playing tennis. Now, he and Bartlett work out with a personal trainer twice a week — a shared routine that keeps both of them moving as they approach their centennial years.
His advice is refreshingly simple and practical.
“My advice to others is to keep moving,” says the actor. “Do things you enjoy and find some kind of exercise that you like.”
That straightforward philosophy — find something you enjoy and stick with it — reflects a man who has adapted his fitness habits over time rather than abandoning them. The shift from swimming and tennis to working with a trainer shows that staying active doesn’t require doing the same thing forever. It requires finding what works now.
Purpose as a Way of Life
For Daniels, physical activity is only part of the equation. He credits staying active and having a sense of purpose for his remarkable vitality at 99.
“I think the most important thing you should know is that I am very lucky. I’ve been able to work and keep active and have a sense of purpose,” says Daniels. “I was on ‘Boy Meets World’ until I was 73 years old!”
That sense of purpose hasn’t faded with time. Daniels still connects with fans regularly, attending San Diego Rocket Con 2026 and Pasadena Comic Con 2026. He also creates Cameo videos — personalized video messages for fans — with impressive dedication.
“I do hundreds of cameos every year, and that feels good,” he says. “It allows me to perform, which demands a certain amount of energy and focus. I think that’s good for me. I like being productive.”
75 Years of Marriage — And Counting
Perhaps the most extraordinary chapter in Daniels’ story is the one he shares with Bartlett. The couple married on June 30, 1951, making theirs the longest active Hollywood marriage at 74-plus years. They raised two sons together and even appeared on screen alongside each other, including on Boy Meets World, where Bartlett played his wife.
When asked about the secret to their enduring partnership, Daniels offered a characteristically candid answer.
“I think the main reason why we’ve been married for 75 years is because we never seriously considered being with anyone else. So we had to work things out. You know?” Daniels told PEOPLE.
Bartlett described their bond as something deeper than words: “It’s like we don’t have to communicate almost. We just know what to do. And when one person is upset, the other person sort of kind of calms down and we help each other in that way.”
Daniels, with his trademark humor, put it more simply: “I have a wonderful wife, Bonnie, who has put up with me for 75 years. She keeps me busy.”
Asked about the next milestone, Daniels didn’t hold back.
“Oh, I don’t want to be a hundred. Who wants to be a hundred?” he told PEOPLE.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
