Eddie Van Halen’s Wife Janie Liszewski: What to Know

Many music fans have expressed their sympathies to Eddie Van Halen’s wife, Janie Liszewski, after news of his death last month rocked the world. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Van Halen died following his long battle with cancer. A day after his passing, Liszewski took to Instagram to mourn the death of her husband of 11 years.

“My heart and soul have been shattered into a million pieces. I never knew it was possible to cry so many tears or feel such incredible sadness,” she captioned a photo of their feet in the sand on a beach. “Our journey together has not always been an easy one but in the end and always we have a connection and love that will always be.

“Saying goodbye is the hardest thing I have ever had to do so instead I say so long, I will see you again soon in a place with no pain or sorrow. Please watch over Kody and I,” she continued. “We love you and miss you so very much.”

Van Halen asked Liszewski to marry him in October 2008. The pair later married in June 2009. Liszewski was formerly a stunt performer, working on films like Spider-Man 2, Mulholland Drive and Looney Tunes: Back in Action. She also did some acting and had brief roles in From Dusk Till Dawn and CSI: Miami. However, after getting out of the movie business, she became Van Halen’s publicist in 2007.

Before his relationship with Liszewski, Van Halen was married to actress Valerie Bertinelli. The pair met at a Van Halen concert in 1980, began dating shortly thereafter, and then married in 1981. They share one child, a son named Wolfgang, who is a musical artist in his own right. Van Halen and Bertinelli separated in 2005. Their divorce was finalized in 2007.

After reports of Van Halen’s death emerged, Wolfgang issued a heartbreaking statement on the news, confirming that it was true. “I can’t believe I’m having to write this, but my father, Edward Lodewijk Van Halen, has lost his long and arduous battle with cancer this morning,” he wrote. “He was the best father I could ever ask for. Every moment I’ve shared with him on and off stage was a gift. My heart is broken and I don’t think I’ll ever fully recover from this loss.” Wolfgang’s statement concluded, “I love you so much, Pop.”

Many of Van Halen’s peers in the rock ‘n’ roll world have since taken to social media to express their sorrow and memorialize the late music icon. “I’m just devastated to hear the news of the passing of my dear friend Eddie Van Halen,” wrote Black Sabbath guitarist Tony Iommi. “He fought a long and hard battle with his cancer right to the very end. Eddie was one of a very special kind of person, a really great friend. Rest In Peace my dear friend till we meet again.

“I am saddened to hear to news one of my true guitar heroes death, Eddie Van Halen,” added former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick. “He expanded the landscape of lead guitar playing, and took it to another level like a turbo charged muscle car leaving everyone behind. I was very influenced by his emotional lead playing.” Van Halen was 65 years old at the time of his death.