‘I Dream of Jeannie’ Star Barbara Eden Has No Plans of Slowing Down at 92 Years Old
Barbara Eden recently celebrated her 92nd birthday but retirement still isn’t on her mind. Best known for her role in I Dream of Jeannie from 1965 to 1970, Eden continued to act and even started writing books. When asked about her special birthday plans, she revealed that she was going to dinner at a Beverly Hills steakhouse with her husband Jon Eicholtz and some friends. She added that she requested a lemon meringue pie for dessert instead of a birthday cake.
Everett Collection
In a few months, Eden is back on the grind and will appear at the Hazard Fest Autograph Convention Show in October and Rhode Island Comic Con in November. She said that she loves to connect with her fans and has even become best friends with one of them!
Remind She explained, “I have a dear friend who started out as a fan, but now he and his husband are my dear friends. I was in Germany last fall at one of these conventions, he was there, because I was there. He took us to a Christmas [fair], and we had hot wine and went out to dinner. It was quite beautiful and cold, and they stayed with me the whole weekend. It was just wonderful.”
Robert Phillips/Everett Collection
Eden always remembers to thank her fans for helping her to have a long and successful career. She said, “All through the years, I’ve noticed that many people don’t realize what a joy it is and what a gift it is to be able to work in an arena that you really love. So many people have to work in jobs they hate, and they have to do it just for sustenance, but aren’t we lucky when we can study for something, enjoy it and know that other people enjoy it? I think that’s a gift that life gives us, if we are willing to work for it.”
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Eden is also an accomplished writer and penned her memoir in 2012 as well as a children’s book called Barbara and the Djinn. She said that she would love to do another children’s book one day to encourage kids to read more. Not only that, but she has teamed up with artist Mario A.C. Della Casa to sell some beautiful genie bottles. Check them out here. Happy birthday, Barbara! May you have many more.
Where Are They Now?
May 2021
Catch up with the stars of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s!
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