Barbara Eden, the cherished actress who brought the magical character Jeannie to life in the timeless show I Dream of Jeannie, celebrated her 92nd birthday on August 23. Even after all these years, she continues to enchant fans with her elegance, charm, and enduring beauty. However, behind her public success and the admiration of millions, Eden has faced a deep personal sorrow—the tragic loss of her only son, Matthew Ansara, who passed away from a heroin overdose in 2001.
Eden was born during the tough times of the Great Depression and grew up in humble surroundings. Through hard work, talent, and determination, she climbed her way up to Hollywood fame. By the late 1950s, she was acting in movies like A Private’s Affair and Twelve Hours to Kill, and appearing on popular TV shows such as The Johnny Carson Show and I Love Lucy. Her role alongside Elvis Presley in Flaming Star in 1960 showcased her range as an actress. But it was in 1965, when she starred as the playful and charming genie next to Larry Hagman in I Dream of Jeannie, that she became a beloved star recognized across the world.
The show ran for five seasons, making Eden a household name and a key figure in pop culture. That same year, Eden and her then-husband, actor Michael Ansara, became parents to their son Matthew. They later divorced when Matthew was nine years old, and Eden has often wondered if their separation affected him deeply. She first noticed something was wrong in 1984, when Matthew, who was living with his father at the time, came back home looking tired, distant, and lacking motivation.
Matthew had told them he was attending college, but he wasn’t. What neither Eden nor Ansara knew then was that Matthew had started using drugs as early as age ten. Over the years, both parents fought hard to support him through several rehab programs and interventions. His struggle with heroin addiction was ongoing, leading to many setbacks, including theft and broken trust.
Despite the challenges, there were times when Matthew seemed to turn things around. He got married, studied creative writing at UCLA, and even acted in films like To Protect and Serve and Con Games. Before his death, he was engaged to a woman Eden described as “wonderful” and appeared to be stabilizing in his career and personal life. But addiction proved to be a relentless opponent. On June 26, 2001, Eden received a phone call no parent wishes to get.
Just hours before, police had found Matthew unresponsive in his truck. He was only 35 years old. It was discovered that he had used a very potent dose of heroin, which his heart couldn’t withstand. They also found anabolic steroids, showing his commitment to bodybuilding. Eden has spoken openly about her pain and the lingering questions—wondering if the divorce played a role in Matthew’s troubles, though she also acknowledged that many children from divorced families do not turn to drugs.
She described her son as a person who “won many battles” but sadly “lost his personal war.” Matthew was buried beside his father, who died in 2013 due to Alzheimer’s disease. Despite this painful loss, Eden kept working in television, film, and theater, and has been married to architect Jon Eicholtz since 1991. In recent years, she appeared in stage plays and made her last movie appearance as Mrs. Claus in My Adventures with Santa in 2019. Now, at 92, Barbara Eden represents strength and grace.
Her remarkable life blends great success with deep sorrow, proving that even those who seem to have everything face difficult moments. She inspires fans not only through her legendary work but also by sharing her personal story and encouraging awareness about addiction. Eden urges anyone dealing with substance abuse—or those who love someone struggling—to seek help, saying that one phone call truly can save a life.
