Barbara Eden is celebrating her birthday in the most authentic manner she is able to do so: in the company of her loved ones and close friends.
On Friday, August 23, the television and film queen, who turned 93 years old, shared with PEOPLE her ideas for how she intends to celebrate her big day.
Through a statement, she expresses her gratitude by saying, “I am so grateful to have completed another trip around the sun.” In honor of my birthday, I will be spending the day enjoying lunch with my spouse and a few of my closest friends. There is also the possibility that I may spend the weekend with my family, which includes my sister Alison, her husband, and their children. I want to express my gratitude to all of my friends and admirers from all around the globe for the outpouring of love and well wishes they sent my way on this very memorable day.
Eden has a lot of reasons to rejoice. Since her big break in 1955, when she became a recurrent sketch performer on The Johnny Carson Show, the actress has featured in more than 25 films, 19 television movies, and five television shows that span over seven decades. Her appearances have been seen on television.
Her most notable performance was in the NBC series I Dream of Jeannie, in which she played the part of Jeannie, a genie who is 2,000 years old and falls in love with Major Tony Nelson, an astronaut played by Larry Hagman. The series aired for five seasons, beginning in 1965 and ending in 1970. It was the much-loved comedy that propelled Eden to fame and established her as a general public figure.
Eden disclosed to PEOPLE in August 2023 that viewers also ask her about lesser parts that she has portrayed, despite the fact that they continue to associate the actress with Jeannie.
She remarked at the time, “Every time I make a personal appearance, someone comes up and asks me about the manicurist, which I did one episode as on The Andy Griffith Show.” She was referring to the fact that she had become a manicurist. I also appeared in one episode of I Love Lucy, which is something that fans remember as well. When I was working on it, I just did not give any thought to the possibility that it would ever endure for such a long time or that people would remember it.
Eden, who married her husband Jon Eicholtz in 1991, has acknowledged that longevity and a devotion to her work have been essential to her success.
In addition, she said with PEOPLE in the year 2023, “I’ve noticed that many people don’t realize what a joy it is and what a gift it is to be able to work in an arena that you really love.” That was something she had observed over the years. “There are a lot of individuals who are forced to work jobs that they despise, and they have to do it simply to make ends meet. However, don’t we consider ourselves fortunate when we are able to study for something that we like and know that other people enjoy it as well? To me, it is a gift that life bestows upon us, provided that we are prepared to put in the effort to earn it.
