Inside Barbara Eden’s 3 marriages — from her 16-year union to a fellow heartthrob TV star to her happy ever after

Born on 23 August 1931, Barbara Eden got her start in the 50s on shows like I Love Lucy and West Point. She stayed booked and busy for the rest of the decade with a variety of projects, appearing in 52 episodes of How to Marry a Millionaire and musical comedy A Private’s Affair, among others.

As well as I Dream of Jeannie, Barbara made a name for herself in 1961 adventure classic Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and 1978 comedy Harper Valley P.T.A..

Barbara Eden brought 2000-year-old blonde genie, appropriately named Jeannie, to life opposite astronaut Tony Nelson, played by Larry Hagman in 1965. 

The sitcom ran for five seasons in as many years, following the mischievous adventures of Jeannie and her love for her master. The franchise returned in 1985 with TV movie I Dream of Jeannie… Fifteen Years Later and again in 1991 with I Still Dream of Jeannie.

Barbara first said ‘I do’ in 1958, tying the knot with her I Dream of Jeannie co-star Michael Ansara. The Syrian-American actor starred in two seasons of Broken Arrow, 1959 Western Law of the Plainsman and 1978 sci-fi horror The Manitou. The pair welcomed Barbara’s only child, son Matthew, in 1965. 

Michael appeared in three episodes of I Dream of Jeannie – by which time he was already married to the actress, most notably playing the evil Blue Djinn. Michael sadly passed on 31 July 2013 at the age of 91.

Charles Donald Fegert was born on 8 Nov 1930. He married Barbara Eden in 1977, remaining wed to the actress until 1982.

He worked as a marketing executive but kept his private life away from the cameras following his marriage to Barbara. Charles passed at 71 years old on 25 Sep 2002.

Barbara’s third marriage to architect Jon Eicholtz took place in 1991 and the couple have been happily loved up ever since, sharing photos from their 35 years of marriage via Instagram.

The actress shared a photo of the couple playfully dressed in fluffy rabbit ears at Easter, captioned: “Happy Easter from us bunnies! We hope it’s been beautiful and full of joy! -B & J”. 

Barbara and her then-husband Michael Ansara welcomed the actress’ only child Matthew on 29 August 1965. He appeared alongside Barbara in 1989 drama Your Mother Wears Combat Boots, worked on 2001 comedy To Protect and Serve and action-thriller Con Games of the same year. 

Matthew married Julie Ansara in 1993, but the pair divorced two years later in 1995. He tragically died several years later on 25 June 2001.

The I Dream of Jeanie actress has since taken a step back from acting and at 94 is enjoying a more private life, sharing life updates on her terms.

Her last acting role was a voice over reprisal of Jeannie in Master Dearest, from the Diaries of Jeannie for three episodes spread over 2020, 2021 and 2023. Before this, she appeared in 2019 festive flick My Adventures with Santa.