“Barbara Eden at 92: Still Stunning and Dressing Like She’s in Her 40s”

 

Barbara Eden, originally Barbara Jean Morehead, was born on August 23, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona. She began her Hollywood journey with an uncredited role in the 1956 film “Back from Eternity.” Throughout the 1950s and ’60s, Eden appeared in various films and TV shows such as “How to Marry a Millionaire,” “I Love Lucy,” “Perry Mason,” “Gunsmoke,” and “Route 66,” steadily building her career.

Eden’s defining moment came in 1965 when she starred as the enchanting genie in the iconic TV sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie.” Paired with Larry Hagman, who played the NASA astronaut Major Anthony Nelson, Eden’s charm and comedic talent captivated audiences. The show, brimming with magical antics and comedic escapades, ran for five years and became a cult classic. The delightful chemistry between Eden and Hagman was a key factor in the show’s success, and Eden often fondly recalled their time on set.

Following “Jeannie,” Eden continued to shine with roles like Stella Johnson in the 1981 film “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” which was later adapted into a TV series. She also penned her life story in her autobiography, “Barbara Eden: My Story” (1986), and her memoir, “Jeannie Out of the Bottle” (2011), giving fans an inside look into her fascinating life.

Eden’s personal life had its ups and downs. She married actor Michael Ansara in 1958, and they had a son, Matthew, who tragically passed away in 2001. After their divorce in 1974, she married Charles Donald Fegert in 1977, but they divorced in 1983. Eden found lasting love with her third husband, Jon Eicholtz, whom she married in 1991.

Barbara Eden remains a beloved television icon, forever cherished as the enchanting genie who made wishes come true with a blink and a nod.