Barbara Eden recently turned 92! She has a career spanning over six decades with multiple accolades. The actress suffered major losses and two failed marriages but is now happy with her husband of 32 years.
Barbara Eden is an actress with a career spanning over six decades after she found fame with her role on the famous TV show “I Dream of Jeannie.”
The actress recently celebrated her 92nd birthday and shared some of her most prized possessions she collected from fans and some of her iconic sets. She gave a tour of her Beverley Hills home, which she shares with her husband of over three decades, Jon Eicholtz.
Barbara Eden in California in 2023 | Source: Getty Images
Most of her gems and awards are found in her office. The actress highlighted her impressive collection of genie bottles. Most of them, she said, came from fans, but one bottle in particular was special and is usually kept away.
Among Eden’s collection of colored genie bottles is the original one from “I Dream of Jeannie.” “It is not usually here. I keep it in the bank. It has a few nicks. It’s been around a while. It’s got a chip there and a chip there, but it’s the real thing,” the actress said about the bottle.
Aside from her collection of bottles, she has a shelf filled with accolades and pictures from her career milestones. One the actress cackled over was her first Hollywood Beauty Award she won in 2015.
Another special career moment she will forever cherish is receiving a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. The day was partially close to her heart because her son Matthew and comedian Bob Hope attended.
The actress has had several highs in her career but has had lows in her personal life, too. Eden went through two divorces and lost an unborn child and her son Matthew at 35.
Barbara Eden’s Marriage with Her Husband of 30 Years
Eden was first married to Michael Ansara in 1958. The couple welcomed their first child, Matthew Ansara, in 1965. Unfortunately, her son struggled with substance abuse and died in 2001.
Barbara Eden in California in 2022 | Source: Getty Images
In her book “Jeannie Out of the Bottle,” the actress opened up about the death and how much she loved being a mother. She wrote, “Our joy was boundless. We finally had a child, and we loved him more than words could say.”
Eden and Michael ended up divorcing in 1974. The actor also died in 2013 at the age of 91. Eden went on to marry Charles Fegert in 1977, but their relationship was short-lived and ended after five years.
The actress found love again and walked down the aisle in 1991 with realtor and architect Eicholtz. The third time was a charm for Eden. She expressed how lucky she felt to have had the support of her friends and husband throughout the ups and downs in her life.
Barbara Eden and Jon Eicholtz in California in 2022 | Source: Getty images
Despite the pain she endured from her marriages and losses, Eden believed it all happened for a reason. “Yes, I’m very happy. I think life, everything, has to work itself out. There’s a reason for most things, and I can’t wish for it.”
