Barbara Eden may forever be remembered as the enchanting genie who captured hearts in I Dream of Jeannie, but behind the laughter and magic was a life marked by deep sorrow and resilience. Nearly 60 years since her first appearance on the hit sitcom, Eden is still celebrated, though the pain of losing her only child remains a wound that never fully healed.
Now 92, Eden’s story begins during the Great Depression. She transformed humble beginnings into Hollywood stardom, landing roles in the mid-1950s in films like A Private’s Affair and Twelve Hours to Kill, as well as classic TV appearances including The Johnny Carson Show and I Love Lucy.
By 1960, she shared the screen with Elvis Presley in Flaming Star, solidifying her rising star status. But it was in 1965 that she became a household name, playing the captivating Jeannie opposite Larry Hagman’s astronaut in I Dream of Jeannie. That same year, Eden welcomed her son Matthew Ansara with her then-husband, actor Michael Ansara.
The couple divorced when Matthew was just nine. Eden later reflected that their separation may have steered her son toward a troubled path. Though she remarried twice more, Eden believes Matthew never truly recovered from the emotional impact of the breakup.
Signs of Matthew’s struggles began surfacing in his late teens. At 19, he moved in with his father after Eden remarried. When he returned after her second divorce, she noticed troubling behavior—excessive sleeping, dishonesty about school, and a growing distance. Although he never directly admitted to heroin use, his parents recognized the signs.
“I insisted he go to rehab,” Eden recalled. He stayed clean for a time, but relapsed. “The professionals told us that when your child is addicted, the drug takes over. You’re no longer dealing with the person you raised,” she said. Faced with an agonizing choice, Eden had to lock him out of the house when he was 20.
Matthew’s battle with addiction began alarmingly early—at just 10 years old—and continued for over a decade. In his 20s, moments of sobriety brought glimmers of hope. He married briefly, pursued creative writing at UCLA, and worked to rebuild his life. But the cycle of relapse continued.
During one particularly dark period, Eden and others found Matthew unconscious in a rundown Venice, California apartment after an overdose. Despite the horrific scene, they managed to get him to the hospital in time.
At 29, he was diagnosed with clinical depression and began treatment. Two years later, things seemed to be turning around. He landed acting roles—including the lead in To Protect and Serve—and looked forward to marrying a woman Eden called “wonderful.” He told his mother, “Life is great, Mom. I can’t believe I missed how green the trees are.”
But on June 26, 2001, just after 3 a.m., Eden received the phone call every parent dreads. Matthew had been found in his truck, dead from an accidental heroin overdose. He was only 35. Police also discovered vials of anabolic steroids nearby—used for bodybuilding—a sign of his ongoing struggles with extremes.
“He couldn’t do anything halfway,” Eden said. “Even getting in shape, he did it like an addict.”
The loss of her only son left Eden devastated. “He fought so many battles,” she said. “But in the end, he lost the war.”
Matthew is buried beside his father, Michael Ansara, who died in 2013. Eden, now married to Jon Eicholtz since 1991, continues to make occasional TV appearances and starred as Mrs. Claus in the 2019 film My Adventures with Santa. Her final stage role was in Love Letters that same year.
We wish the iconic Barbara Eden a very happy birthday and send love and strength her way. Her story is a powerful reminder of how addiction can affect anyone—and how important it is to seek help. If someone in your life is struggling, please reach out to a local drug or alcohol support line.
