Following her breakthrough performance on the long-running and critically acclaimed television series “I Dream of Jeannie,” actress Barbara Eden has had a career that has spanned over sixty years.
The actress recently celebrated her 92nd birthday and at the party, she brought out some of her most treasured items, which were gifts from her devoted admirers, as well as some of her most memorable sets. She conducted a tour of the house she lives in Beverly Hills with her husband Jon Eicholtz, whom she has been married to for more than three decades.
The vast majority of her trophies and treasures are stored in her office. The actress made a point to emphasize the extensive collection of genie bottles that she had. She said that the most of them were gifts from admirers, but that one bottle in particular was unique and was kept hidden most of the time.
One of the colorful genie bottles that may be found in Eden’s collection is the original one used in “I Dream of Jeannie.” “This does not happen very often. I store it in the bank for safekeeping. It has a few scratches and nicks. It has been in use for some time. “It’s got a chip here and a chip there, but it’s the real thing,” the actress added of the bottle. “It’s got a chip here and a chip there.”
In addition to her collection of bottles, she also has a shelf that is stuffed with images and honors from significant moments in her professional life. The actress was particularly ecstatic with her first Hollywood Beauty Award, which she received in the year 2015.
One other memorable accomplishment from her career that she will always treasure is being honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The fact that both her son Matthew and her husband, the comedian Bob Hope, were there made the day more special for her.
The actress’s professional career has had many high points, but her personal life has also seen its share of bad points. Eden suffered through two divorces, the loss of an unborn child, and the loss of her son Matthew when she was 35 years old.
In 1958, Eden entered into her first marriage to Michael Ansara. In 1965, the couple became parents for the first time, to a son named Matthew Ansara. Unfortunately, her son battled drug misuse and ultimately passed away in the year 2001.
The actress revealed in her memoir, titled “Jeannie Out of the Bottle,” how much she cherished her role as a mother as well as the tragedy that befell her family. In her writing, she said, “Our delight had no bounds. We were overjoyed to become parents, and our love for our little boy was beyond description.
In 1974, Eden and Michael officially dissolved their marriage by getting a divorce. A year later, in 2013, the actor passed away at the age of 91. After that, Eden went on to marry Charles Fegert in 1977, however their marriage did not last and they divorced after just five years of being together.
The actress was able to rediscover love and tied the knot with the real estate agent and architect Eicholtz in the year 1991. Eden finally found success on her third attempt. She spoke on how fortunate she felt to have the support of her friends and her spouse all the way through the highs and lows that her life had to offer.
Eden was a firm believer that everything in her life had occurred for a purpose, despite the anguish she felt as a result of her failed marriages and other losses. “Yes, I couldn’t be happier. I believe that life, and everything else, needs to figure itself out on its own. She said that she was unable to wish for anything because “there is a reason for most things, and I can’t wish for it.”
