Bertinelli recalls drug use, infidelity

Former U.S. television star Valerie Bertinelli reveals in her memoir how she abused drugs in the past and was unfaithful to her ex-husband Eddie Van Halen.

Bertinelli, who played good-girl Barbara Cooper on One Day at a Time, has been on the promotion trail with her book Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time.

Bertinelli was scheduled to give her first live interview since writing the book on the Today show Tuesday. She was expected to discuss her past drug abuse, infidelities and body-image issues.

The actress and Jenny Craig spokeswoman recently revealed she tried cocaine for the first time as a teen with her One Day co-star Mackenzie Phillips but said she really got into the drug after she was with Van Halen, whom she married when she was 20.

The priest we tapped to perform the ceremony gave us questionnaires so he could get to know us better and offer more personal words. As we filled out the forms at home, we each held a little vial of coke, Bertinelli wrote in her book.

Bertinelli, 47, said she and Van Halen also cheated on each other during their marriage, which lasted more than 20 years.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International