WILLIAM DANIELS An Exclusive Interview
by Kelly Oden Actor William Daniels has been performing in one way or another for most of his 91 years. He is unique among actors in that he is instantly recognizable to most people, but the generation of the viewer is often the decisive factor in how they recognize him. Older generations may remember him as Dustin Hoffman’s father in the iconic 1960s film The Graduate and to younger folks, he is and will forever be that wise teacher Mr. Feeny from the 90s teen show Boy Meets World. Born in Brooklyn, New York on March 31, 1927, Daniels and his sister Jacqueline began performing at an early age at their mother’s urging. Daniels was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1945 and was stationed in Italy, where he served as a disc jockey at an Army radio station. Later, Daniels enrolled at Northwestern University where he met his wife of 67 years, Bonnie Bartlett.
28 COMING OF AGE WINTER 2018
Daniels is well-known for multiple iconic roles including Dr. Mark Craig in the NBC drama St. Elsewhere, for which he won two Emmy Awards, and Mr. Feeny in the ABC sitcom Boy Meets World. Daniels played the father of Benjamin Braddock (Dustin Hoffman) in The Graduate (1967), Howard in Two for the Road, John Adams in the 1972 musical film 1776, Carter Nash in Captain Nice and is the voice of KITT in Knight Rider. In 2014, he returned to his role as Mr. Feeny in Girl Meets World, the sequel to Boy Meets World. Coming of Age had the distinct pleasure of speaking with William Daniels—and his wife, actress Bonnie Bartlett—about his life, his career and their long, happy marriage.