‘I’m Really Lucky’ — At 90, Barbara Eden Of ‘I Dream Of Jeannie’ Shows No Signs Of Stopping

Jan 25, 2022 by apost team

America's favorite Jeannie in a bottle, Barbara Eden, turned 90 in August 2021, much to the shock of everyone who has ever enjoyed watching the acting expertise of this blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauty on screen or on television. 

Barbara Eden, the beautiful "Jeannie in a bottle," was born in Tucson, Arizona, on August 23, 1931. Her parents later divorced, and Eden has a half-sister from her mother's subsequent remarriage. This Virgo's career initially started with her singing in the church choir, in which she sang the solos. Later, in her teens, she would sing in several bands performing in local clubs for about $10 (equivalent to about $130 nowadays) a night. 

When she was 16, she became an Actor's Equity member and started to study singing at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as well as acting at the Elizabeth Holloway School of Theater. Meanwhile, she repeatedly participated in beauty pageants and even won the Miss San Francisco title in 1951, which propelled her onto the Miss California pageant.

The nostalgia of 1970s television shows certainly emanates an aura of charm, and one such long-running show at the forefront was "I Dream of Jeannie," starring Barbara Eden. The show's plot involved American astronaut Tony Nielson, played by Larry Hagman. Apparently, Hagman’s character lands slightly off-course on a deserted island and unwittingly finds an unusual but beautiful bottle. He does the foreseeable rub on the bottle and out pops a beautiful Jeannie as a pixie-faced, blonde-haired beauty named Barbara Eden.

Read on to learn more about Eden’s life and how she feels about turning 90. 

On top of her television and movie acting work, Eden has branched out into the theater as well. Over the years she's appeared in “The Odd Couple,” “Love Letters,” and “Social Security,” some of which toured in major cities across the United States, as well as in the musicals “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “The Sound of Music,” among others. 

In total, she's acted in 25 feature films, 5 network TV series, 19 top-rated network made-for-TV movies, appeared on concert stages and in theaters across the United States and even headlined casinos and hotel resorts in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and Lake Tahoe. What an incredibly diverse portfolio that the actress has been able to achieve in her lifetime. 

While some might be content with that body of work, Barbara Eden has no plans on quitting acting. In a 2000 interview with the Television Academy Foundation, she discussed how important it was for her to continue working:

"Oh, it's very important for me to keep working. I, first of all, I enjoy my work, but I can't imagine ever retiring. I hope there will be parts for me as a little old lady...but of course, as you grow older there aren't as many parts for you, but I understand that but I still want to work."

Luckily for us and for Barbara Eden, she is still working, even if it's not as frequently as in her heyday. Her last movie appearance was as Mrs. Claus in the 2019 film “My Adventures With Santa.” And her incredible work hasn't gone unnoticed, with the actress receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1988. 

apost.com

As we get older, birthdays don’t feel as special. But we should strive to celebrate important milestones, like reaching another decade. When asked about turning 90, Eden shared that she doesn’t think much of it. She said, “It’s like any other birthday, I’m just happy to be here. I really don’t think about it. Everybody else does but I never have. I’m looking forward to going back to work.”

Eden is still passionate about her work. Even after 60 years in show business, she still looks forward to every chance she gets. And the star stays busy, even at 90. She shared:

“In February of 2022, I’m going to do a show with the Edwards Twins. They’re wonderful impersonators. I’ve seen them many times and they’re great artists. They do all kinds of people, Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand and, of course, Judy Garland. They asked me to come and do their show, so I’ll do a little singing and we’ll probably have interaction with the audience. It’ll be fun. I’m really looking forward to it.”

The actress admits that there are some limitations, but she plans on working until she can’t anymore. “Sometimes one is forced to slow down, but I'll do what I do until I can't," Eden said.

Eden’s life at 90 is filled with love and happiness. She expressed gratitude for all that she has by saying: 

"I'm really lucky. I have dear friends. I have a wonderful family, a very supportive husband, a dog who is adorable, but a brat! Yes, I'm very happy. I think life, everything, has to work itself out. There's a reason for most things, and I can't wish for it."

Are you a fan of Barbara Eden? Did you know she is 90? We want to hear from you, and feel free to pass this along to your friends and loved ones.