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William Daniels 'Misses' Getting to Work with 'Boy Meets World' Costars (Exclusive)

Published 3 days ago3 minute read
William Daniels; the 'Boy Meets World' cast. Credit :

Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty; James Sorensen/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty 

William Daniels is nostalgic for his time on Boy Meets World.

The actor — who turned 98 on March 31 — sat down for an exclusive interview with PEOPLE alongside his wife, Bonnie Bartlett Daniels, and reflected on his years starring as the ever-wise teacher Mr. Feeny on the popular '90s coming-of-age series. Bonnie, 95 — who appeared in five episodes of the ABC show, playing Dean Lila Bolander, Mr. Feeny's eventual wife — says her husband "misses" working and hanging out on set with his former costars.

Boy Meets World's main cast included Ben Savage, who portrayed Cory Matthews, Mr. Feeny's student and next-door neighbor; Will Friedle (Cory's brother Eric); and Rider Strong and Danielle Fishel (Cory's friends).

"Bill adores them all. He really does," Bonnie says.

"He misses that experience with them," she continues, explaining, "He likes to be part of a group. That's what really keeps you going — community."

Bonnie tells PEOPLE the pair have had a chance to reunite with some of the cast for appearances on the Pod Meets World podcast, hosted by Friedle, Strong and Fishel, including a July 2022 episode. In a description for the episode, the hosts wrote: "F-f-feeny is here!!!! … The tears are flowing and there are plenty of laughs as they honor their teacher from Boy Meets World and IRL. The bond the show created for them is unbreakable for life."

From left: Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, Ben Savage and William Daniels in 'Boy Meets World' in 1998.

ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

William also returned to the podcast in December 2024 to read The Night Before Christmas, and Bonnie recently appeared solo on the April 28 episode.

Last year, William shared a post on X featuring a photo of himself and Bonnie posing with Friedle, Strong and Fishel, presumably amid a podcast taping. A second snapshot showed him smiling alongside Fishel.

He captioned the post — which garnered 3.2 million likes, a testament to the show's enduring popularity — "Just a little reunion with my favorite students!!"

Last March, William made an appearance at 90s Con, where he received a standing ovation alongside the rest of the Boy Meets World cast.

Bonnie tells PEOPLE that the couple also stay connected with the show's legions of fans by doing Cameos, which their son Michael films for them. Not surprisingly, many people make requests for William to give advice å la Mr. Feeny by answering their pressing questions.

"Some of the answers are tough because a lot of people are depressed. They want Mr. Feeny to give them some advice or cheer them up. And Bill and Mike figure it out, do it," Bonnie says.

Bonnie Bartlett and William Daniels in 2017.

David Livingston/Getty

"Sometimes they want something from 1776, and that's fun," she adds, referring to the 1972 movie adaptation of the Broadway musical in which William played John Adams. "So he'll give them a line or two from 1776, and people love that."

Reflecting on his decades-long career and many acting roles, William tells PEOPLE he's "pleased" that fans still appreciate and watch his work.

"Well, you have to be pleased, and I certainly am," he says. "And I hope I'm around a little longer, and we'll do it again next year."

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