Today we are going to tell you about the ‘Bewitched’ and ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ start Barbara Eden. From her early life to her current updates, you will find out everything here! So keep reading to know it all.
Birth & Early Life
Barbara Jean Morehead commonly known as Barbara Eden was born on 23rd August 1931 in Tucson, Arizona, USA which makes her an American citizen. Currently, she is 89 years old, soon turning 90. She is 162 cm (5 ft 3 inch) tall and weighs 65 Kg.
Her parents were Alice Mary and Hubert Henry Morehead but after some time they both got divorced. This led to Barbara and her mother leaving Arizona and moving to San Francisco. There, Alice married a telephone lineman named Harrison Conor Huffman.
Their family had to face a lot of hardships due to the Great Depression in late 1930s.Alice and Harrison also had a daughter which makes her the half-sister of Barbara. To earn the livelihood of the family, Barbara started singing in choirs and local bands in night clubs.
After reaching the age of 16, she started studying in San Francisco Conservatory of Music and became a part of Actor’s Equity. Moreover, she was learning acting from Elizabeth Holloway School of Theatre alongside.
Finally, in 1949 she graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. Afterwards, she went to City College of San Francisco to study theatre for a year.
Career and Rise of Fame
Before entering the filming industry, Barbara participated in various beauty pageants and won the title of Miss San Francisco in 1951.
After various attempts, she made her TV debut in 1955 with The Johnny Carson Show. This was followed by featuring in various TV shows like I Love Lucy, December Bride, The Andy Griffith Show and many more.
In 1960, after many screen tests, she got minor roles in numerous TV series which slowly led her to her big break. She played the female lead in Swingin’ Along in 1962 opposite Tommy Noonan and Peter Marshall but that role did not do justice for her.
She decided to leave FOX and began guest-starring in shows. At last, she got the role in Bewitched in 1964 which was the second most famous show in America.
Subsequently, next year she got the chance to play Jeannie in the sitcom – I Dream of Jeannie, which was a big hit and boosted her career. She did not just play one role in this sitcom, but also played the role of the evil sister and their mother all by herself.
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Married Life
It is publicly known that Barbara tied the knot three times. She first got married in 1958 to Michael Ansara and they had a beautiful baby boy Matthew in 1965. However, their marriage lasted for 16 years before they got divorced in 1974 and Matthew died in 2001 due to drug overdose.
Her second marriage was with Charles Fegret but the couple decided to go their separate ways in 1982 after 5 years of marriage.
In 1991, she finally got married to Jon Eicholtz who is a real estate developer and an architect. He seems to be her soulmate as this couple is still happily married.
Current Updates on Barbara Eden
Barbara’s latest screen appearance in any project was in the Long Island Medium in the episode named “Sitcom Spirits”. She has also done a play in 2019 named Love Letters.
She is still guest-starring in many shows and giving interviews. Recently, it was seen that she did a photoshoot at the age of 88. She was seen in the Paley Honors and gave her opinions on the possible reboot of her 60s hit sitcom.
She has also attempted her hand in voice acting for ‘Shimmer and Shine’ which is a children’s animated TV series. She voices the character of Empress Caliana.
She has also written her memoir named ‘Jeannie Out of the Bottle’ which was published and released on 5th April 2011. In this memoir, she has mentioned all about her personal life to her struggles in the filming industry. As of now, her net worth is estimated to be approximately $10 Million.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Barbara Eden when she did I Dream of Jeannie?
Our Adorable Genie, Barbara Eden, Stunned Everyone at Hollywood Event. Guess who we spotted at the Paley Honors: A Special Tribute to Television’s Comedy Legends in Los Angeles? It’s the one and only “I Dream of Jeannie” star Barbara Eden, 88, stunning everyone with her glamorous look.
Does Barbara Eden wear wigs?
The former blonde bombshell even made sure to wear her star-making role’s classic braided blonde ponytail wig, scarf hat, and silver kitten heels. Originally designed by Gwen Wakeling with colours selected by Eden, the Jeannie costume caused controversy with the censors due to the slightly exposed navel.
Does Barbara Eden speak Persian?
When he opens it, smoke pours out, and a 2000-year-old beautiful blonde-haired girl named Jeannie (Barbara Eden) appears, dressed in harem clothing and speaking in Persian (in the unaired version of the episode, her first words to him are translated on screen as, “Your wish is my command, Master”), and gratefully kisses him.
What did Barbara Eden do after I Dream of Jeannie?
After “Jeannie,” Barbara Eden went on to star in many other comical and family productions including Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978) and Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984) among other numerous highly rated made-for-television movies well into the 1990s. She has also acted in multiple western series and thrillers.
Did Barbara Eden ever date Elvis?
Elvis Presley Asked This TV Star for Advice When He Was Dating His Future Wife Priscilla Beaulieu. Music legend Elvis Presley headlined the 1960 film Flaming Star with I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden. The two became pals, with Eden later praising the iconic singer for his down-to-earth demeanour and southern charm.
For more info:
Watch Barbara’s latest interview with Studio 10 where she talks about her life.
For more updates like this, check out our entertainment blog The Market Activity.
