From Arizona Beginnings to Hollywood Magic
Barbara Eden, born Barbara Jean Morehead on August 23, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona, has a story that sounds like a Hollywood script. Raised in San Francisco during the Great Depression, Eden grew up in a single-parent household after her parents divorced. Her mother, Alice Mary, encouraged Barbara’s creative spark early—first through singing in church choirs and later through acting.
As a teenager, Eden studied voice at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music before shifting her focus to drama. She later graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School and moved to Los Angeles to pursue her big-screen dreams. The glamour of the stage and screen wasn’t just a fantasy—it was her calling.
Climbing the Ranks in Classic Hollywood
Before she became a household name, Barbara Eden put in the work. In the 1950s, she landed small roles in iconic TV shows like I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke, and The Andy Griffith Show. She also starred alongside Elvis Presley in Flaming Star (1960), giving her even more visibility in an industry where competition was fierce.
Her natural beauty, expressive eyes, and ability to light up the screen made her a director’s dream—but it was one particular casting that would change her life forever.
Video : The Beautiful and Sexy Barbara Eden
The Role That Made Television History
In 1965, Barbara Eden was cast in I Dream of Jeannie, a show about a 2,000-year-old genie discovered in a bottle by an astronaut. With her golden hair, pink costume, and a mischievous twinkle in her eye, Eden made the character of Jeannie unforgettable. It wasn’t just a sitcom—it became a cultural phenomenon.
Over five seasons and 139 episodes, Barbara Eden transformed what could’ve been a one-note fantasy character into a comedic, heartfelt, and empowering figure. Her chemistry with co-star Larry Hagman was electric, and her ability to balance humor with charm earned her a permanent place in television history.
Beyond Jeannie: A Versatile Talent
After I Dream of Jeannie ended in 1970, Barbara Eden refused to be boxed into one character. She worked steadily through the 1970s and ’80s, starring in over two dozen TV movies including The Stranger Within and Harper Valley PTA, which was later spun into its own TV series starring Eden herself.
She also made numerous guest appearances in series like Dallas, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and Fantasy Island. In theater, she toured the country in Broadway productions like The Sound of Music, South Pacific, and Woman of the Year, proving she was more than just a genie in a bottle—she was a true stage performer.
Her Personal Journey: Triumphs and Trials
While her professional life sparkled, Barbara Eden’s personal journey was filled with both joy and sorrow. She married actor Michael Ansara in 1958, and the couple had one son, Matthew. Tragically, Matthew passed away in 2001 due to a drug overdose, a loss that Eden later described as the most heartbreaking experience of her life.