“Boy Meets World” star Will Friedle, who played Cory’s (Ben Savage) big brother Eric Matthews, turned 50 years old on August 11, 2026. While the actor did not celebrate the milestone on the day, he has planned a big birthday party that will bring together 170 guests from every part of his life and career. During the August 13 episode of “Pod Meets World,” a podcast with former co-stars Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong, who played Topanga Lawrence and Shawn Hunter, respectively, he promised the celebration will be something special.
“We have … the whole layout of where everything’s going to be. I moved where the bar was going to be and where the prom [style] photo station is going to be,” Friedle told his co-hosts, adding that there were 53 guests at his 2016 wedding to wife Susan Martens. But his forthcoming 50th birthday will be even bigger.
Will Friedle’s Birthday Will Be Biggest Gathering
In the conversation, Will Friedle added that “there’s more than three times the amount of people coming to my 50th. Every time I get down on myself where I say to Sue, ‘This is ridiculous. Why am I doing this?’ She’s like, ‘Hey, you haven’t had a birthday party since you were 12. This is every birthday built up. You deserve this.’”
Those in attendance will include “little pockets of people” from his life, such as some from the cast of 1988’s talk show “Don’t Just Sit There!,” which Friedle appeared on when he was 11 years old. He continued, “My summer camp best friend from, like, seventh grade is flying in. And, other than [producer and writer] Matt Nelson’s funeral, this might be the biggest gathering of ‘Boy Meets World’ cast and crew since the show ended.”
Will Friedle did not reveal when and where exactly his 50th birthday bash will take place, but social media will undoubtedly be flooded with candids and memories when it does. He is quick to note that William Daniels, who played high school teacher George Feeney, will be attending with his on- and off-screen wife, Bonnie Bartlett.
Ben Savage Drama Continues
One notable absence from the festivities will be former co-star Ben Savage. Despite starring in the show spin-off and reboot series, “Girl Meets World,” which aired from 2014 to 2017, the actor has distanced himself from his castmates. Savage even “unfollowed us on Instagram and blocked our phone numbers,” Friedle stated in the cast’s new documentary, “Doc Meets World.” “I feel sorry that he’s missing out on the experience that Danielle and Will and I are having.”
Savage declined to participate in the podcast, but the group remained in touch until he broke off communication. Savage has not publicly stated what led to the falling out.
Since leaving Hollywood after “Girl Meets World,” the actor stepped into politics in 2023 when he ran as a Democrat for California’s 30th congressional district. His campaign sought the seat previously held by Adam Schiff, but he was defeated in the primary by state Assemblywoman Laura Friedman.
