William Daniels, 97, and Wife Bonnie Bartlett Share How They'll Spend the Holidays — and Deliver an Important Message (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

William Daniels and Bonnie Bartlett.Photo: David Livingston/Getty

For William Daniels and his wife of 73 years, Bonnie Bartlett, the holidays are a time for family gatherings and reflection. But this year, they are also using the together time to share an important message about combatting child abuse.

Daniels, 97, stars in a new public service announcement for theBarbara Sinatra Children’s Center, which runs before popular movies in Marcus Theatres across the United States through Jan. 3.

“I’m very aware of the respect people have for my character, George Feeny,” Daniels tells PEOPLE of his belovedBoy Meets Worldteacher. “I hear it atconventions, inCameorequests. So I hope to use that authority as a teacher and mentor to help protect young people.”

In the PSA, Daniels suggests people visitfightchildabuse.orgto learn the signs of abuse in children, noting that incidents tend to increase around the holidays.

“I love the holidays, but for a lot of people it’s a stressful time,” he tells PEOPLE. “Schedules are different, children are out of school, parents are even busier, money is sometimes a problem. Some families have tensions at home already, which can get worse this time of year.”

For Daniels, it’s a cause close to his heart; not only is he a “good friend” ofFrank Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy, but he got his start as a child star, and says that now, “later in life, I realized how stressful that was. I’ve known a lot of other child performers and many of their stories did not turn out as well as mine.”

His wife Bartlett, 95, also an actress, tells PEOPLE that she was a victim of abuse as a child.

“It’s really important for me and it’s important to Bill to protect children from it — we always have,” she tells PEOPLE. “Just paying attention is really important.”

William Daniels on ‘Boy Meets World’.ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

ABC Photo Archives/Getty Images

Outside of their commitment to service this season, the couple looks forward to their own family traditions. That includes Christmas Day with two of their four grandchildren.

“I can’t wait to see them,” Daniels shares. Adds Bartlett, “Our son sings in the morning at church, and as soon as he comes home he’ll cook! He and his fiancée will cook up a wonderful dinner.”

“Otherwise Bonnie and I go about our business every day,” Daniels says, with Bartlett adding with a laugh, “We’re pretty old to do a lot of fancy going out.”

However, the pair do hope to make it out to reunite with “the kids,” as they call them, ofBoy Meets Worldin the new year.

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“I still call them kids,” Daniels says with a laugh. “My gang. They were kids when we worked together and they’re grown up and they have children now. But I love seeing them, they’re great people.”

Of tying his past work on the series to his new PSA, Daniels says he’s “had a lot of great opportunities in life,” but none “have been as important to me as my family. So as a father, I care about the wellbeing of children.”

Plus, he adds, “Mr. Feeny said, ‘Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good.’ So at my age, I’m happy to be able to do some good.”

source: people.com