No matter what generation you belong to, Barbara Eden has been a familiar face in our living rooms for over 50 years. In the 80s, I watched reruns of “I Dream of Jeannie,” where she went from being a magical Jeannie to marrying Captain/Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson, played by the late Larry Hagman. We fell in love with Jeannie, who was trapped in a bottle for 2,000 years, and Larry Hagman, a handsome astronaut. What made the show a hit was Jeannie’s hilarious devotion to Tony. Most of their problems stemmed from her love for him and her often misguided, yet comical, attempts to please him—usually ending in chaos when he didn’t want her magical help.
Fast forward 40 years from the 80s, when I first started watching the show, and I no longer dream of Jeannie; she was actually beside me on June 8. I had a little chat with her at The Hollywood Show in Burbank. The gifted star is 92 and looked as amazing as ever—in fact, she looked two decades younger. I chatted a bit with Ms. Eden, and she autographed a picture with a personalized note. She was personable, kind, and patient with fans, whether they were longtime admirers or celebrity fans like Sharon Lawrence from NYPD Blue.
I asked Ms. Eden what the most memorable moment of her career was, and she replied, “Oh my…I have had so many beautiful moments. I don’t think I could choose one.” She also gave a shout-out to her fans, saying, “I love you all and thank you for your attention.”
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