William Daniels Biography: Age, Boy Meets World, Net Worth, Wife, Height, Emmy Awards, TV Shows, Legacy

William David Daniels, also known as William Daniels, is a distinguished American actor celebrated for his sharp intellect, precise delivery, and authoritative screen presence.

Through iconic television roles as the principled Dr. Mark Craig in St. Elsewhere and the beloved mentor Mr. Feeny in Boy Meets World and Girl Meets World, along with his Emmy-winning performances and voice work as KITT in Knight Rider, he has entertained and inspired audiences for over eight decades while embodying integrity and wisdom on stage and screen.

Quick Facts

• Full Name: William David Daniels
• Stage Name: William Daniels
• Born: March 31, 1927
• Age: 99 years old
• Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, United States
• Nationality: American
• Ethnicity: American
• Occupation: Actor
• Height: 1.70 m
• Religion: Christianity
• Parents: David Daniels and Irene Daniels
• Siblings: Jacqueline Daniels, Carol Daniels
• Spouse: Bonnie Bartlett
• Children: Michael David Daniels, Robert D. Daniels
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $4 million USD

Early Life And Education

William David Daniels was born on March 31, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York. He was brought up by his parents David Daniels, a bricklayer, and Irene Daniels, a telephone operator, in a working-class family during the Great Depression.

He grew up having two sisters, Jacqueline Daniels and Carol Daniels. From a very young age his mother encouraged performing arts; at age four and a half he began tap-dancing, and by eight he formed a song-and-dance act with his sister Jacqueline on radio and early television shows such as The Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour.

The siblings later included Carol in their family radio program The Daniels Family. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio in Italy, then attended Northwestern University on the G.I. Bill, graduating in 1949. His ethnicity is American. His religion is Christianity.

Career

William Daniels began his professional acting journey as a child performer in Brooklyn, appearing on radio and early television. He made his Broadway debut in the 1940s as a replacement in Life with Father and gained critical notice playing Brick in the national tour of Tennessee Williams’ Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. He transitioned to film and television with roles in The Graduate (as Dustin Hoffman’s father) and voiced the car KITT in Knight Rider.

He earned widespread acclaim and two Emmy Awards for his portrayal of the irascible yet dedicated surgeon Dr. Mark Craig on St. Elsewhere (1982–1988), sharing the historic moment when he and his wife Bonnie Bartlett won Emmys on the same night in 1986.

Daniels became a generational favorite as the wise, moral high school principal Mr. George Feeny on Boy Meets World (1993–2000) and its sequel Girl Meets World. His career spans stage, film, and television with over seven decades of consistent work, including SAG presidency from 1999 to 2001, marked by intellectual depth, dry wit, and memorable character portrayals.

Social Media

• William Daniels does not have a social media account.

Personal Life

William Daniels, 99 years old, has been married to actress Bonnie Bartlett since June 30, 1951, one of Hollywood’s longest-lasting marriages. The couple had a biological son who died shortly after birth in 1961 and later adopted two sons, Michael David Daniels and Robert D. Daniels.

They are grandparents to four grandchildren. No other past relationships are documented. Daniels and Bartlett have maintained a close partnership both on and off screen. His height is 1.70 m.

Net Worth

William Daniels’s net worth is estimated at $4 million USD. His income primarily comes from decades of television and film acting roles, long-running series residuals from St. Elsewhere, Boy Meets World, and Knight Rider, stage work, and voice performances.

Filmography

• St. Elsewhere (as Dr. Mark Craig, 1982–1988)
• Boy Meets World (as Mr. George Feeny, 1993–2000)
• Girl Meets World (as Mr. George Feeny)
• Knight Rider (voice of KITT)
• The Graduate (1967)
• 1776 (as John Adams, Broadway and film)
• Captain Nice (title role, 1967)