The Life of Sitcom Star Valerie Bertinelli

By the late 1970s Valerie Bertinelli had become one of the most recognizable young actresses on American television. Her role as Barbara Cooper on One Day at a Time brought her into millions of living rooms each week and made her a familiar face to audiences across the country.

Magazines and television interviews increasingly featured Bertinelli as a rising star. Her approachable personality and girl-next-door image made her especially popular with young viewers. At the same time, the success of the sitcom placed her firmly within the group of young performers shaping television entertainment during that era.