She is loved by everyone, and you can’t imagine who she is
Step aside, Aladdin! Barbara Eden at 92: A Classic Icon, a Heartbreaking Death, and a Legacy That Lives On! On August 23, the renowned actress Barbara Eden, who gave the world faith in magic, celebrated her 92nd birthday. She still defies the passing of time.
Eden remains a cherished figure in Hollywood, her iconic portrayal of Jeannie in I Dream of Jeannie still captivating audiences decades later. Yet, behind the sparkling magic of her career lies a deep personal sorrow that no amount of fame could ever overshadow. In 2001, Eden faced the unimaginable heartbreak of losing her only son, Matthew Ansara, to a tragic drug overdose—an unthinkable loss that would forever change her life.
From Humble Beginnings to Iconic Stardom, Barbara Eden’s rise to fame began during one of the most challenging periods in American history. Growing up during the Great Depression, she turned her modest roots into a glamorous and successful career that would captivate the world.
Starting her journey in television with appearances on The Johnny Carson Show and I Love Lucy, as well as in films such as A Private’s Affair and Twelve Hours to Kill in 1956, Eden began to steadily make a name for herself. Her breakout moment came in 1960 when she starred alongside Elvis Presley in the western Flaming Star, which introduced her to an international audience.
However, it was in 1965 that Eden achieved her legendary status, landing the role of the charming, mischievous genie, Jeannie, in I Dream of Jeannie. Paired with Larry Hagman, who played the astronaut Major Nelson, Eden’s portrayal became an unforgettable part of television history, cementing her place as a beloved Hollywood icon.
As I Dream of Jeannie catapulted Barbara Eden into television stardom, her character, the charming and mischievous genie, became one of the most beloved in TV history. The show’s five successful seasons solidified her status as a television legend, but off-screen, Eden was navigating a major turning point in her personal life—motherhood.
In 1965, the same year I Dream of Jeannie premiered, Eden welcomed her son, Matthew Ansara, with her husband at the time, actor Michael Ansara. Their son became the center of her world. Unfortunately, after 15 years of marriage, Eden and Ansara divorced when Matthew was just nine years old. Eden would later reflect on how their separation deeply affected her son, setting him on a troubling path.
Eden revealed in an interview the first signs that something was wrong. “When Matthew moved in with his father after I remarried in 1984, I realized he was having problems,” she recalled. “He was lying about being enrolled in college and slept all the time when he came back home after my second divorce.” This marked the beginning of a difficult journey for Matthew, one that was ultimately marred by his struggle with drug addiction.
For years, Matthew hid his battle with addiction from his parents, having first experimented with drugs at just ten years old. Eden later revealed the heartbreaking truth: “Matthew didn’t want to hurt Mike and me, so he never told us he was using heroin.”
Despite her growing concerns, it wasn’t until she noticed alarming changes—his dramatic weight loss, constant lethargy, and nights spent away from home—that she intervened. Determined to help him, she insisted he enter rehab. “I made him go to a rehab facility, and when he returned home a month later, I allowed him to come back,” she shared.
But despite their best efforts, Matthew’s struggles were far from over. The road to recovery would prove to be a long and painful one.
“If your child is using drugs, he has become the drug: He is no longer your child, and he no longer has a home with you,” Eden recalled, quoting the painful advice given by experts. “The hardest thing I’ve ever had to do was lock him out when he was 20.”
For the next twelve years, Matthew cycled in and out of rehab, a battle that tested both him and his parents. Despite his struggles, Eden and Ansara never gave up on him. “Sometimes, when he came to visit us, he’d chuckle and say, ‘Here I am, better lock up everything,’” she shared, acknowledging that in his darkest moments, he resorted to stealing from them to support his addiction. But when he was sober, the guilt was overwhelming. “He would apologize profusely and say, ‘There is no one in the world I love more than you.’”
A Battle Against Addiction
Matthew experienced brief periods of stability. By 27, he was married and studying creative writing at UCLA, showing glimpses of the bright future his parents had always hoped for. But, as Eden heartbreakingly put it, “the cycle began again.” His marriage fell apart, and he spiraled into homelessness.
One day, he made a desperate call to his mother. “Mom, I’m sick,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Eden knew she had to act.
After a frantic search, she found him in a rundown Venice, California, apartment, unconscious from an overdose. “I drove to a bad area of Venice with Mike’s wife and another friend, and we found him collapsed in his apartment,” she recalled. “He weighed 200 pounds, but somehow, the three of us managed to lift him, get him into the car, and rush him to the hospital. It saved his life that night.”
Though he continued to battle addiction, there were glimmers of hope. At 29, Matthew was diagnosed with clinical depression and prescribed medication, though Eden later admitted it did little to help. By 31, he appeared to be turning a corner—embracing sobriety, following in his parents’ footsteps, and even securing acting roles. He landed a supporting part in Con Games and a lead role in To Protect and Serve (2001), released after his tragic passing.
A Love That Endured, A Life Cut Short
Matthew Ansara was on the brink of a new chapter. He had found love and was preparing to marry his fiancée, whom Eden described as “wonderful.” Life, at long last, seemed to be falling into place.
“Life is great, Mom,” he told her one day, his voice filled with hope. “It’s unbelievable that I went so long without realizing how green the trees were.”
But that newfound happiness was tragically short-lived.
A Mother’s Worst Nightmare
On June 26, 2001, Eden’s world shattered.
A devastating phone call at 3 a.m. jolted her awake—Matthew was gone.
Six hours earlier, police had found her 35-year-old son slumped over the steering wheel of his truck. Inside the vehicle, authorities discovered vials of anabolic steroids. Matthew, an amateur bodybuilder, had been pushing himself to physical extremes.
The autopsy later confirmed the unthinkable: he had died from an accidental heroin overdose.
“He took a dose of exceptionally pure heroin, and it was too much for his heart,” Eden revealed. “Even his workouts were obsessive—he was incapable of moderation.”
A Lifetime of Reflection
Despite decades passing, the pain of losing her only child still lingers. Eden, who has been married to Jon Eicholtz since 1991, often wonders if things could have been different.
“Matthew struggled deeply with our divorce,” she admitted. “He wanted his mommy and daddy to stay together. Sometimes, I ask myself if I should have waited until he was older. But then I remind myself—many children from divorced families never turn to addiction.”
Matthew won many battles throughout his life, but in the end, he lost the one that mattered most.
He now rests beside his father, Michael Ansara, who passed away in 2013 due to complications from Alzheimer’s. Both are laid to rest at Los Angeles’ Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Barbara Eden’s Life Today
Though she no longer dons Jeannie’s iconic pink harem costume, Barbara Eden remains a vibrant force in the entertainment world. She starred as Mrs. Claus in the 2019 holiday film My Adventures with Santa and has appeared on television in Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition. Her final stage performance was in Love Letters in 2019.
At 92, Eden continues to captivate audiences with her grace, resilience, and timeless beauty. She has endured unimaginable heartbreak, yet she remains a symbol of strength and elegance.
On this special day, we celebrate the incredible Barbara Eden—wishing her a very happy birthday! 🎉✨
A Message of Hope
If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, help is available. You are not alone. Support is just a call away—reach out to your local drug abuse hotline. It could save a life.
Let’s share this story to honor Barbara Eden, celebrating her resilience, strength, and the love she continues to inspire. She deserves all the admiration and encouragement in the world! 💙✨
