Barbara Eden is an American actress and singer who is best known for her role as Jeannie in the television series “I Dream of Jeannie.” The show aired from 1965 to 1970 and was a major hit, making Eden a household name.
Barbara Eden | Early Life, Family, and Education
On August 23rd, 1931, Barbara Jean Morehead was born in Tucson, Arizona. When Barbara was a young girl, her parents were divorced, and she moved to San Francisco with her mother, Alice.
Later, Barbara’s mother had another child through a second marriage, giving her a younger half-sister. Unfortunately, the Great Depression had a severe impact on this family, who had to live on a tight budget.
Alice sang a variety of songs to amuse her kids. This most likely motivated Barbara to pursue singing on her own.
How did Barbara Eden start her career?
Eden made her debut in the neighborhood church choir, where she had solo opportunities. She started singing in nightclubs when she was a teenager and started making a respectable living from it.
She did, though, concentrate on pursuing an acting career, joining Actor’s Equity at the age of 16, and attending the Elizabeth Holloway School of Theatre.
In 1949, after graduating from high school, she spent a year studying drama at the City College of San Francisco. During this time, she participated in a number of beauty pageants and was chosen as Miss San Francisco in 1951. After that, she competed in the Miss California Pageant.
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Television Appearances
Barbara first appeared on television in 1955 on “The Johnny Carson Show.” The West Point Story, Highway Patrol, Private Secretary, I Love Lucy, The Millionaire, Target: The Corruptors!, Perry Mason, Father Knows Best, The Andy Griffith Show, and Route 66 were among the shows she later made appearances on.
She also received praise for her four guest appearances on episodes of “Burke’s Law,” in which she took on several roles. She debuted as the lead in “How to Marry a Millionaire” in 1957.
Started acting in movies
She was initially spotted by director Mark Robson in a play starring James Drury, from which she eventually made the switch to acting in movies. Later, Robson arranged for her to take part in a screen test with 20th Century Fox for the movie “No Down Payment.”
She thus received a few tiny roles before being cast in a major role in the Gary Crosby and Barry Coe film “A Private’s Affair.” After that, she appeared in the 1960’s “Flaming Star” alongside Elvis Presley.
She kept getting cast in a range of roles during the early 1960s. These included “Five Weeks in a Balloon,” “The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm,” and “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.” In 1962’s “Swingin’ Along,” which also starred Tommy Noonan and Peter Marshall, she landed a second main role.
Then, Barbara completed her deal with 20th Century Fox by appearing in the movie “The Yellow Canary.” Over the following few years, Eden proceeded to land supporting parts in many movies, including “The Brass Bottle.”
I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden signed on to play “I Dream of Jeannie” in 1965, landing her most well-known role. The series was started in order to capitalize on the popularity of “Bewitched,” which was about to end in 1964.
After other brunettes and beauty queens failed to land the part during the audition process, Barbara Eden was cast in the continuation of Sidney Sheldon’s hit show.
Eden also portrayed a gorgeous genie who was set free by an astronaut in this career-defining project. Barbara worked exclusively on this project for the following five years, appearing in 139 episodes. She also performed as the evil, brunette sister of the genie during this time. This show ended in 1970.
Other Projects
After the show (I Dream of Jeannie) ended, Barbara remained a significant figure in Hollywood. She made brief appearances in films including “A Howling in the Woods” and “The Feminist and the Fuzz.” Eden additionally made an appearance in the highly regarded film “Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model.”
Eventually, she co-produced and performed in the romantic comedy “The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick” in the late 1980s.
Eden contributed significantly to “Dallas’” last season in the 1990s. She resumed her theater career throughout this decade, mostly concentrating on musicals. Additionally, Barbara made a name for herself as a voice actor, most notably with the kids’ TV program “Shimmer and Shine.”
She made an appearance at the 21st Life Ball opening ceremony in Vienna in 2013 alongside Bill Clinton, Elton John, and Fergie. She also secured a part in the movie “One Song” that same year.
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Awards and Achievements
Eden received two nominations for the esteemed “Golden Globe” awards, in 1967 and 1970, respectively. She was nominated in the category of “Best TV star” for her performance in the venerable television series “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Additionally, Eden received a “Star on the Walk of Fame” honor in 1988. The location of this ceremony was 7003 Hollywood Boulevard.
Again, Eden received additional praise for her performance in the 1965 classic in 2003, and she also took home a “TV Land Award” for her work on the hit show “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Also, she was listed as “One of America’s 200 Greatest Pop Icons of the 20th Century” by People magazine.
How much does Barbara Eden Worth?
American actress and singer, Barbara Eden’s net worth are estimated to be $10 million.
Eden’s net worth is largely the result of her successful career as an actress and singer. In addition to her role in “I Dream of Jeannie,” she has also appeared in a number of films and television shows over the years, which have contributed to her wealth.
Eden is also a best-selling author, having written a number of books about her life and career.
Barbara Eden | Body Measurements
Eden is known for her beautiful figure and has been a popular actress and sex symbol for many years. Despite her age, she has managed to maintain her youthful appearance and is still active in the entertainment industry.
During the peak of her acting career, her measurements were 35-24-35 inches. Her bra size is 34B. She is a blonde with captivating blue eyes.
Barbara Eden | Personal Life & Relationships
In 1958, Barbara was married to TV star Michael Ansara. In 1974, the couple decided to get divorced. Michael and Barbara had a son named Mathew. Mathew developed a heroin addiction at a very young age and overdosed to death at the age of 35.
Barbara wed Chicago Sun-Times executive Charles Donald Fegert in 1977. The couple divorced in 1983.
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In 1991, she later wed Jon Trusdale Eicholtz, and they are still together today.
Moreover, Barbara wrote a book titled “Jeannie Out of the Bottle” in which she discussed her personal life and 50-year Hollywood career. Crown Archetype, a publishing house, published this book in 2011.
Barbara Eden | Social Media
Instagram: 103K followers
Twitter: 72.4K followers
Facebook: 718K followers
Quick Facts
- Real Name/Full Name: Barbara Jean Morehead
- Nick Name/Celebrated Name: Barbara Eden
- Birth Place: Tucson, Arizona
- Date Of Birth: Aug 23, 1931
- Age: 91 Years
- Height: In Metres – 1.62m In Feet and Inches – 5’3”
- Weight: In Kilograms – 54kg In Pounds – 120lbs
- Eye Color: Blue
- Hair Color: Blonde
- Parents Name: Father – Hubert Henry Morehead Mother – Alice Mary
- Siblings: Alison Scanlon
- College: City College, San Francisco
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Virgo
- Gender: Female
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Kids/Children Name: Matthew Ansara
- Spose/Ex: Jon Eicholtz (M. 1991), Charles Donald Fegert (M. 1977–1983), Michael Ansara (M. 1958–1974)
- Profession: Actor, singer
- Net Worth: $10 Million
FAQs
What is Barbara Eden’s net worth?
Barbara Eden is worth $10 million.
What is Barbara Eden’s age?
The current age of Barbara Eden, who was born on August 23, 1931, is 91 years old.
What is Barbara Eden’s height?
The height of Barbara Eden is 1.62 m.
How many times did Barbara Eden marry?
Three times.
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