When you think about the life of a rock god like Eddie Van Halen, the imagery is usually pretty predictable. Smashing guitars, stadium lights, and the kind of chaos that defines 80s hair metal. But honestly, the women who stood by him—specifically Eddie Van Halen’s wife at the bookends of his life—tell a much more human story than the tabloids ever could.
There’s this weird misconception that Eddie’s romantic life was just a blur of groupies and "jump"-ing into bed. It wasn't. It was actually defined by two very long, very complicated, and deeply meaningful marriages. You have Valerie Bertinelli, the "America's Sweetheart" actress who married him when they were both barely out of their teens. Then there’s Janie Liszewski, the stuntwoman-turned-publicist who was there for the quiet, grueling final decade.
The Janie Liszewski Era: Stability in the Storm
Let's talk about Janie. Most casual fans know her name, but they don't know her. Janie Liszewski became Eddie Van Halen’s wife in June 2009, but she had been his publicist before things turned romantic.
They got married in his 7-acre Studio City estate. It wasn't some cocaine-fueled rager. It was actually pretty chill. Eddie wore flip-flops. They served corn dogs and mini hamburgers. They even had a non-alcoholic lemonade bar because Eddie was working hard on his sobriety at the time.
Janie wasn't just a "plus one." She was a professional stuntwoman—we’re talking Spider-Man 2 and Mulholland Drive. She was tough. And he needed that. When the cancer returned and the health scares became a weekly reality, Janie was the gatekeeper. She shielded him from a world that wanted to poke and prod at the legend.
She's often stayed out of the spotlight since his 2020 passing. People keep looking for drama between her and Valerie, but it’s just not there. In fact, Valerie was at their wedding. That tells you everything you need to know about the maturity of the circle Eddie built toward the end.
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Why Everyone Still Obsesses Over Valerie Bertinelli
You can't talk about Eddie Van Halen’s wife without the woman who held the title for over 20 years. Valerie and Eddie were the "it" couple of the early 80s. She was the star of One Day at a Time, and he was the fastest guitar player on the planet.
They met backstage in Shreveport, Louisiana, in 1980. Her brother dragged her there. She wasn't even a huge fan! But they locked eyes, and that was basically it.
Their marriage was a rollercoaster.
High highs.
Low lows.
They dealt with Eddie’s addiction, the pressure of fame, and the eventual realization that they were better as friends than spouses. By the time they officially divorced in 2007, they had already been separated for years.
But here’s the thing: they never stopped loving each other. Valerie has been very open about the fact that they remained "soulmates" in a non-traditional way. When Eddie took his final breath at St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Valerie was right there alongside Janie and their son, Wolfgang. It’s rare to see that kind of grace in Hollywood.
The Stuntwoman and the Rock Star: Janie’s Quiet Legacy
Janie Liszewski’s role as Eddie Van Halen’s wife was marked by a shift in Eddie’s lifestyle. Gone were the days of "bottles and models." He became more focused on his son’s career and his own health.
Janie brought a sense of normalcy. She’s a ballroom dancer and a dog lover (she famously had her Pomeranian, Kano, walk her down the aisle). Since Eddie died, she’s been keeping his memory alive while carving out her own path. She still does PR, and she’s active on social media, often sharing tributes that show a side of Eddie the public rarely saw—the guy who just wanted to sit in his garden and be a husband.
What We Can Learn From the Van Halen Marriages
It’s easy to judge celebrity relationships from the outside. We see the divorce headlines and assume it was all a disaster. But if you look at Eddie Van Halen’s wife—both of them—you see a pattern of loyalty.
- Friendship survives the fire. Both women remained his fiercest defenders until the very end.
- Sobriety changes the dynamic. The "lemonade wedding" with Janie was a far cry from the tequila-soaked early years with Valerie.
- Blended families can actually work. Seeing Valerie, Janie, and Wolfgang all together in that hospital room is a masterclass in putting ego aside for love.
If you’re looking to understand the man behind the Frankenstrat, don’t just listen to the solos. Look at the people he chose to keep close. Janie Liszewski and Valerie Bertinelli weren't just "wives" in the trophy sense. They were the anchors for a man who spent his life vibrating at a frequency most of us couldn't imagine.
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For those interested in the ongoing legacy of the Van Halen family, the best way to stay updated is to follow Wolfgang Van Halen’s project, Mammoth WVH. He often shares personal anecdotes that provide even more context to the private life Eddie shared with Janie and Valerie.