Barbara Eden boasts of a prolific career highlighted by her role in the hit American sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Eden has been criticized for her appearance at 91, but her darling husband supports her.
The couple currently lives in Los Angeles, and Eden has shared how she has coped with her beloved son’s death.
Golden-era veteran Barbara Eden rose to stardom with her stint in the classic sitcom, “I Dream of Jeannie,” which ran for five seasons from 1965 to 1970.
As Jeannie, she popped out of a bottle one day at a beach and then came a NASA astronaut (played by Larry Hagman) who rubbed the bottle. Jeannie fell in love with him, turned him into her “master,” and settled into his home.
“I Dream of Jeannie” became an instant success and later produced Jeannie baby dolls, Jeannie Barbie dolls, and Jeannie slot machines in casinos.
When speaking on her legendary character during an interview in October 2021, the Arizona native said Jeannie is “easy to live with,” adding:
“She really is. I like her a lot. I think what makes me so happy is that so many people around the world like her. Not me. They like that character. And they like the show for what it is. It takes people out of themselves and into another world and I appreciate that. I like it very much.”
Bagging the role in the NBC series turned Eden into a household name as a pop culture bombshell was born. Before her breakout role, she worked in a bank and as a chorus girl at Ciro’s nightclub.
She later landed minor roles on television shows and had a few features before starring in a series based on the movie “How to Marry a Millionaire,” from 1957 to 1959.
Eden’s first Hollywood job was participating in sketches alongside Johnny Carson, who replaced “The Red Skelton House” with his show for the summer. She appeared in roughly five or six shows back then.
Although she attained Hollywood success, Eden faced some personal struggles. Her first marriage to actor Michael Ansara ended in divorce in 1974. The pair wed in 1958 and welcomed their only child, son Matthew, in August 1965. They parted ways after 16 years of marriage.
Eden remarried in 1977 to Charles Fegert, but that union ended in 1982. Tragedy struck in 2001 when she lost her son to a heroin overdose. He was 35. The singer also lost her unborn child.
Besides the unfortunate incidences, Eden remains one of Hollywood’s most beautiful stars. However, nowadays, she hardly puts on makeup and enjoys a low-key life. She admitted:
“I don’t wear any makeup, just usually a mask and dark glasses.”
Criticized for Her Looks
The famed producer is now 91 years old, and despite reaching old age, she is still criticized for her appearance and plastic surgeries.
In October 2021, Eden appeared on the People YouTube page for an interview as she reflected on sixty years of her Hollywood career.
Eden looked stunning in a pink blazer paired with a white top and accessorized with hoop earrings, but social media users had a few things to say about her appearance.
“She got help from a plastic surgeon,” said one person. Another echoed the same sentiments, writing, “Right, she looks great, but 90 without any wrinkles especially around the eyes, is impossible. Lots of people already get those in their thirties. And it looks like cheek implants or injections.”
A third individual said Eden’s cosmetic surgeon must be living large just by caring for her face and having her as the only patient.
A fourth person wrote, “She looks freakishly weird with all that surgery and cheek implants.” “Yep!! Finally, someone speaks the truth!!” a fifth user agreed.
One other fan also noted how Eden merely looked like other female stars who had “botched” surgeries and had too much work done on their faces, adding::
“It’s a shame she couldn’t just age gracefully and naturally.”
Eden has shared her secret to maintaining her youthful look, revealing that she still appears ageless because of her favorite cream from Estee Lauder. “They have [serum] drops [called] line repair. I use that morning and night,” she explained. In addition, she keeps her skin shining all the time by applying Cetaphil.
The “Kismet” star does not go a day without putting on sunscreen and prefers being bare-faced unless she has to go to work, which is the only time she applies makeup.
In addition to looking youthful, Eden revealed in November 2019 that she does “everything in moderation,” and rarely limits herself, cautioning others not to go overboard.
Aside from her glowing appearance, health and fitness have also been important to Eden over the years. Staying in shape remains one of her priorities, so she maintains a healthy diet and sticks to a workout routine.
The Golden Globe nominee often goes for a walk, revealing she has included “spinning” in her routine with the help of a trainer. Eden, who also has wine occasionally, goes to the gym to burn off all the calories.
The icon candidly talked about the importance of following a healthy diet in an August 2021 interview and said it does not necessarily mean she limits what type of food she consumes:
“I’m very careful about [my] diet. I’m a carnivore. I like steak. We eat a lot of pork, chicken, steak [and] vegetables.”
Eden emphasized that she has a big appetite, and although she follows a diet, she is unafraid to indulge in dessert. She relishes having gumdrops, chocolate, and marshmallow circus peanuts because they remind her of her childhood.
Aside from her appearance, Eden, who is happily married for the third time, is grateful to have a good life wholistically. She cherishes good friends and a sister she adores, explaining family means a lot to her.
Although she has a small circle of friends, the “Loco Love” star raved about them and stressed the importance of a group of people who keep her on her toes and share humor with her constantly.
Quiet Life With Husband of 32 Years
Eden is now married to her third spouse, Jon Eicholtz, whom she wed in 1991. This is her longest marriage as the two have been husband and wife for 32 years. In a 2019 interview, the mother of one revealed the secret to her long marriage with Eicholtz:
“You should walk in the other person’s shoes if you’re having a little problem. Try to see their side of it. It’s not easy! But try.”
Fast forward to an October 2021 interview, Eden expressed happiness with her successful union and the quiet life the duo now leads:
“I’m really lucky. I have dear friends. I have a wonderful family, a very supportive husband, a dog who is adorable, but a brat! 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.”
Unlike Eden, Eicholtz does not have a career in show business. He is an architect and a real estate developer who graduated from Kansas University with a degree in Architectural Engineering.
The philanthropist and his famous wife started their own scholarship at his alma mater in 2014 for students to want to pursue acting careers.
The couple lives with their labradoodle Bentley in their home in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, with mountain views, a swimming pool, and a deck.
In 2021, the actress showed off their home filled with memories from her extensive work in showbiz, including a collection of genie bottles in her home office. She explained some were gifts from her beloved fans, but one meant a lot to her. It was the actual purple and gold bottle that appeared in the 1960s hit TV show, “I Deam of Jeannie.”
“This is the original genie bottle,” Eden explained. “It’s not usually here. I keep it in the bank. It has a few nicks. It’s been around for a while. It’s got a chip here and a chip there, but it’s the real thing.”
Eden also has a bookshelf stacked with books, awards, and memorabilia. One trophy she said was from 2015 for “the first Hollywood beauty award.”
Opposite the shelf sits Eden’s star from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She recalled the ceremony being special because her son and British-American comedian, Bob Hope, were in attendance.
Eden’s wall also showcases her photos with Hollywood’s who’s who, one of which was with the King of Rock n Roll, Elvis Presley, and another with her former co-stars from “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.”
Despite being a staple in showbiz, Eden, who loves her job, does not see herself retiring anytime soon. She explained that keeping busy helps her remain active and If she’s not productive, she would resort to laziness.
Apart from working, Eden enjoys making memories with her husband. The pair are avid travelers who’ve gone to various places around the world, including Africa in 2022 and China.
Eden was in her 50s when she found love with Eicholtz during the 1980s. At the time, a relationship was the last thing on her mind. In 2011, she admitted her newfound romance with the investor was something she never saw coming. Still, she found something profound about their connection. They are similar and loyal to each other.
Despite sharing the same notions about life in general, Eden noted they do not have to share the same interests. While Eicholtz is a sports fanatic, she cannot stand the field but would watch programs with him regardless. Her main reasons for that are because she adores and fancies him.
Eden found stability in Eicholtz, something she did not have in her previous marriages. With her first union, she and Ansara, a Lebanese native, had a whirlwind romance and, at some point, she considered him the love of her life.
Their bond strengthened after welcoming their son Matthew, but once her career reached its pinnacle, his acting career suffered. Amid their woes, the former couple experienced a tragedy that made their marriage hit rock bottom.
Eden gave birth to a stillborn baby in 1971, weeks before the due date. She slipped into a severe depression which put the nail in the coffin of their union, leading to a divorce.
The reeling divorcee gave marriage another chance when she met her second husband, Fegert, an advertising chief at the Chicago Sun-Times. The duo crossed paths in the ’70s and got hitched shortly after.
Eden admitted to feeling lonesome when she met Fegert, who uplifted her spirit as he was smart and good-looking, and they had a blast together.
The same year the duo wed, she moved to Chicago to live in a condo, but that period proved difficult because she lost her custody battle for her son Matthew to his father, Ansara. Thus, relocating to another city meant leaving her then-12-year-old child behind in California with his dad. Eden admitted in 1989:
“I cried a lot.”
While dealing with the big change, her new husband began showing troubling behavioral patterns. Fegert got involved with the wrong group of people and started drinking and using drugs.
In her memoir, “Jeannie Out of the Bottle,” Eden revealed her spouse still wanted to act like a player while he was a married man. Moreover, he resorted to violence and became abusive, leading his wife to file for divorce. Looking back in hindsight, Eden believes Fegert had insecurity issues.
