William Daniels, 98, Boy Meets World’s Mr. Feeny, Makes Surprise Appearance on Dancing with the Stars

Danielle Fishel is celebrating Boy Meets World’s iconic teacher, Mr. Feeny!

The actress, 44, delivered an emotional tribute to William Daniels, 98, who starred as Mr. Feeny alongside Fishel on the beloved sitcom, on the Oct. 14 episode of Dancing with the Stars.

She took to the dance floor with her professional partner, Pasha Pashkov, for Dedication Night and performed a jive to the Boy Meets World theme song by Twenty Cent Crush featuring Phil Rosenthal.

Before Fishel and Pashkov hit the stage, the actress opened up about Daniels’ mentorship to her while on the Boy Meets World set, remarking that the Emmy winner made her 12-year-old self feel like a professional.

She also shared a heartfelt memory from filming the show’s series finale, saying everything her character, Topanga, told Daniels’ Mr. Feeny was how she felt about Daniels. She noted that the pair managed to capture everything Topanga told Mr. Feeny in just one take. “I will never forget you. You were more of a father to me than my own dad,” she said in their final scene.

Before Fishel and Pashkov hit the dance floor, Daniels was seen onstage standing by a desk in front of a chalkboard with a piece of paper, just like his character always did. The pair then popped in and started their jive, but that wasn’t the last of Daniels’ appearance. As the dancers concluded, they ran back to the desk set where Daniels was sitting and waiting for them, and the pair lovingly embraced him as the song ended.

Daniels was joined by his wife, Bonnie Bartlett, as well as former Boy Meets World costars Will Friedle (Eric Matthews), William Russ (Alan Matthews), Betsy Randle (Amy Matthews), Matthew Lawrence (Jack Hunter), Alex Désert (Mr. Williams), and Trina McGee (Angela Moore).

Fishel announced that her former castmates would be cheering from the ballroom in an Instagram post on Oct. 13, writing alongside a picture of her eight former costars, “The fabulous group of people who will be joining me at DWTS tomorrow for Dedication night!” 

“I feel such an overwhelming responsibility to give a full out, joyous, celebratory dance to the man who is responsible for THOUSANDS of people becoming teachers and who has helped raise multiple generations,” she added. “This dance is a dedication from me to Bill but I am representing ALL OF YOU who loved and appreciated him and his career for so many decades.” 

She noted that Rider Strong, who played Shawn Hunter, is “working out of town but he will be missed.”

Fishel first revealed her plans for Dedication night during the Oct. 8 episode of her podcast, Danielle with the Stars, revealing that “None other than Mr. Bill Daniels” would be joining her in the ballroom for the show.

“Mr. Feeny himself is going to be on the ballroom floor with me,” she shared of the 98-year-old actor, adding that she and Pashkov “are going to dance a jive, and Bill is going to be on the ballroom floor with us, and he’s going to participate in the dance as well.”

“I’m so excited. It’s really a dedication to Bill and the role he has played in my life and the role Boy Meets World has played in my life,” she explained. “I have really felt like Dancing with the Stars has been a second act for me in my career and as a performer.”

As for why she picked Daniels, Fishel noted that the actor is “such an inspiration to so many of us…and to be able to say thank you to him and give him this kind of a platform for him to receive the love that he deserves is going to be very memorable.”

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Dancing with the Stars airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on Disney+ and ABC.