'Boy Meets World' star William Daniels reunites with co-stars for 96th birthday

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By Phoebe Egoroff

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Thirty years after Boy Meets World first hit screens, William Daniels has proven that he's still got it!

The veteran actor and his wife Bonnie Bartlett Daniels recently reunited with his co-stars from the family sitcom to celebrate his milestone 96th birthday, before heading out to this year's Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo.

For the show's seven-season run from 1993 to 2000, Daniels starred as teacher Mr. Feeny.

The sitcom centered on a boy named Corey who juggles school, friends, and romance with the help of his pals and teacher Mr. Feeny.

When Daniels' costar Will Friedle launched his Pod Meets World podcast last year with fellow castmates Danielle Fishel, 41, and Rider Strong, 43, Friedle noted that Daniels is always the go-to guy for advice.

"Ninety-five years old and he still shoots out the pearls of wisdom. His wife, Bonnie, as well. Talking to them is still magical," he told People in 2022. "If you're willing to listen, Bill is dropping gems left and right."

Both Friedle and Strong also remarked that Daniels "was just a model of professionalism on the set". They recalled that they were able to learn from him, especially as young actors. "When we were kids, goofing off and having a good time, he was very much a Feeny-like presence," Strong said.

"Even when the cameras weren't there," he added. "In terms of knowing his lines, being a complete professional, being on time. Those were things that we needed to see, and had to learn to emulate in order to be professionals in the industry."

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Daniels pictured alongside Ben Savage, who portrayed the show's main character Corey Matthews. Credit: AJ Pics / Alamy

Though, Strong did tell the outlet that the Mr. Feeny facade did drop after the cast wrapped filming on the sitcom's 100th episode, with the actor recalling how Daniels had told him: "I love you," at the time.

"I remember when we did our 100th episode, which was a big deal back then ... because it was like, 'Oh, the show is a hit! You made it to like the upper echelon of television,' and so we were all celebrating and ... Bill would always show up super early, go into his dressing room, memorize his lines, come in, do his work and leave the second he was done," Strong stated.

"I was outside and he saw me and I was like, 'Hey Bill! Bye! We did a 100 episodes,' and he was like, 'Yeah, yeah, um ... I love you.'" He added that "it was one of the most astounding moments," and detailed that he and Daniels shared a hug before going their separate ways. "You just got those moments, you know? Every once in a while Bill would come out and say something."

Featured image credit: Allstar Picture Library / Alamy