biography

Barbara Eden Born Barbara Jean Moorhead (later Huffman) on August 23, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona, gorgeous Barbara Eden left Arizona and relocated in San Francisco following her parents' divorce and her mother's remarriage. After graduating from high school, Eden attended San Francisco State College, studying singing and dramatics. Upon completion of her studies, Eden relocated to Los Angeles and attempted to break into films. She quickly netted small roles in Back from Eternity (1956; with Keith Andes) and The Wayward Girl (1957; with Marcia Henderson) before signing with 20th Century Fox, where she was under contract for many years. Eden's big break came when she was cast in the TV series How to Marry a Millionaire (1957-1959; with Merry Anders and Lori Nelson). During the run of the series, Eden met and married actor Michael Ansara, in January 1958.

Barbara Eden Upon the cancellation of How to Marry a Millionaire, Eden dove into films, starring in A Private's Affair (1959; with Sal Mineo), Flaming Star (1960; with Elvis Presley), and 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964; with Tony Randall). In late 1964 Eden shot the pilot for her series I Dream of Jeannie, which was picked up by NBC. By the time that the first season episodes began shooting, Eden discovered she was pregnant. Her son Matthew Ansara was born in August 1965, just weeks before the debut of the series.

NBC canceled I Dream of Jeannie in 1970, after 139 episodes. Eden began a nightclub act and embarked upon a career acting in numerous made-for-TV films, such as The Feminist and the Fuzz (1971; with Jo Anne Worley and Julie Newmar), Guess Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1973; with Dean Jones and Kenneth Mars), and Let's Switch! (1975; with Barbara Feldon). Her theatrically released comedy Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978; with Ronny Cox and Nanette Fabray) proved so popular with audiences that it spawned the short-lived NBC series Harper Valley (1981-1982; with Fannie Flagg and George Gobel). Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Eden remained a busy actress in films and made-for-TV movies.

the films of barbara eden

How to Marry a Millionaire (1957-1959 Syndicated TV Series)

Barbara Eden, Lori Nelson, and Merry AndersLori Nelson, Barbara Eden, and Merry Anders

Promotional photos from the series How to Marry a Millionaire with Lori Nelson and Merry Anders

A Private's Affair (1959)

Gary Crosby and Barbara Eden

With Gary Crosby in the 20th Century Fox comedy A Private's Affair

Flaming Star (1960)

Barbara Eden

From the 20th Century Fox Elvis Presley western Flaming Star

Twelve Hours to Kill (1960)

Barbara Eden

Barbara Eden gets roughed up in 20th Century Fox's late noir release Twelve Hours to Kill

All Hands on Deck (1961)

Pat Boone, Barbara Eden, Gale Gordon, and Dennis O'KeefePat Boone and Barbara Eden

From the 20th Century Fox musical comedy All Hands on Deck. LEFT: With Pat Boone, Gale Gordon, and Dennis O'Keefe. RIGHT: With Pat Boone

Swingin' Along (1961)

Tommy Noonan, Carol Christensen, Barbara Eden, and Peter Marshall

With Tommy Noonan, Carol Christensen, and Peter Marshall in the 20th Century Fox comedy Swingin' Along

Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961)

Barbara Eden and Robert SterlingBarbara Eden, Joan Fontaine, Peter Lorre, and Walter Pidgeon

From the 20th Century Fox adventure Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. LEFT: With Robert Sterling. RIGHT: With Joan Fontaine, Peter Lorre, and Walter Pidgeon

The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962)

Barbara EdenBarbara Eden

As Greta Heinrich in MGM's musical fantasy The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm

Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)

Peter Lorre, Barbara Eden, and Red Buttons

With Peter Lorre and Red Buttons in the 20th Century Fox adventure Five Weeks in a Balloon

The Yellow Canary (1963)

Pat Boone and Barbara Eden

With Pat Boone in the 20th Century Fox crime drama The Yellow Canary

Ride the Wild Surf (1964)

Shelley Fabares and Barbara EdenShelley Fabares and Barbara EdenBarbara Eden, Fabian, Tab Hunter, and Peter Brown

From the Columbia beach flick Ride the Wild Surf. LEFT: With Shelley Fabares. RIGHT: With Fabian, Tab Hunter, and Peter Brown

7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)

Barbara Eden, John Ericson, and Noah Beery Jr.

With John Ericson and Noan Beery Jr. in MGM's Tony Randall vehicle 7 Faces of Dr. Lao

I Dream of Jeannie (1965-1970 NBC TV Series)

Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman

With costar Larry Hagman in a promotional photo from Eden's series I Dream of Jeannie

A Howling in the Woods (1971)

Barbara Eden

From the NBC made-for-television thriller A Howling in the Woods

barbara eden today

Eden's marriage to Michael Ansara ended in 1973, and after a brief marriage in the late 1970s, she remarried again in 1991. Sadly, her son Matthew Ansara died from a herion overdose in 2001. After the death of her son, Eden slowed her acting career, although on occasion she makes television and film appearances. Her most recent film is the family picture My Adventures with Santa (2019; with Denise Richards). And today she's as beautiful as ever and well worth dreaming about.

filmography

FILM
My Adventures with Santa (2019) with Denise Richards and Patrick Muldoon
Always and Forever (2009) with Dean McDermott and Max Gail
Carolina (2003) with Shirley MacLaine, Randy Quaid, and Jennifer Coolidge
Loco Love (2002) with Laura Harring
A Very Brady Sequel (1996) with Gary Cole, Shelley Long, and Tim Matheson
Nite Club Confidential (1996)
Dead Man's Island (1996) with William Shatner, Don Most, Morgan Fairchild, Roddy McDowall, and Traci Lords
Eyes of Terror (1994) with Michael Nouri and Joan Pringle
Visions of Murder (1993) with James Brolin and Joan Pringle
I Still Dream of Jeannie (1991) with Bill Daily, Peter Breck, and Ken Kercheval
Hell Hath No Fury (1991) with David Ackroyd, Loretta Swit, and Kim Zimmer
Her Wicked Ways (1991) with Heather Locklear, David James Elliott, and Gloria Hendry
Opposites Attract (1990) with John Forsythe, Conchata Ferrell, and Liz Torres
Your Mother Wears Combat Boots (1989) with Conchata Ferrell and Hector Elizondo
The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick (1988) with Judy Geeson
The Stepford Children (1987) with Don Murray, James Coco, and Dick Butkus
I Dream of Jeannie: 15 Years Later (1985) with Bill Daily, Wayne Rogers, and Hayden Rorke
Chattanooga Choo Choo (1984) with Melissa Sue Anderson, Joe Namath, George Kennedy, Bridget Hanley, Clu Gulager, and Christopher McDonald
Woman of the Year (1984)
Return of the Rebels (1981) with Don Murray, Jamie Farr, and Patrick Swayze
Condominium (1980) with Steve Forrest, Dane Clark, Ralph Bellamy, Virginia Leith, Dorothy Malone, and Stuart Whitman
The Girls in the Office (1979) with Susan Saint James, Tony Roberts, and Joe Penny
Harper Valley P.T.A. (1978) with Ronny Cox, Nanette Fabray, and Louis Nye
Stonestreet: Who Killed the Centerfold Model? (1977) with Richard Basehart, Joan Hackett, and Sally Kirkland
The Amazing Dobermans (1976) with James Franciscus, Fred Astaire, Charlie Brill, and Parley Baer
How to Break Up a Happy Divorce (1976) with Peter Bonerz, Hal Linden, and Fred Willard
Let's Switch! (1975) with Barbara Feldon, Kaye Stevens, Pat Harrington, and Penny Marshall
The Stranger Within (1974) with George Grizzard, David Doyle, and Joyce Van Patten
Guess Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1973) with Kenneth Mars and Dean Jones
The Toy Game (1973) with Larry Hagman, Moosie Drier, and Lyle Waggoner
The Woman Hunter (1972) with Robert Vaughn and Stuart Whitman
A Howling in the Woods (1971) with Larry Hagman, Vera Miles, Tyne Daly, Ruta Lee, and Ford Rainey
The Feminist and the Fuzz (1971) with David Hartman, Jo Anne Worley, Farrah Fawcett, and Patti Chandler
Kismet (1967) with George Chakiris and Jose Ferrer
The Confession (1964) with Elliott Gould, Ray Milland, and Ginger Rogers
Ride the Wild Surf (1964) with Tab Hunter, Fabian, Peter Brown, Shelley Fabares, and Susan Hart
The Brass Bottle (1964) with Tony Randall and Burl Ives
The New Interns (1964) with Michael Callan, Inger Stevens, Sue Ane Langdon, and Beverly Adams
7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) with Tony Randall, John Ericson, and Frank Cady
The Yellow Canary (1963) with Pat Boone, Steve Forrest, and Jack Klugman
Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) with Fabian, Red Buttons, and Peter Lorre
The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm (1962) with Laurence Harvey, Yvette Mimieux, Russ Tamblyn, Claire Bloom, and Walter Slezak
Swingin' Along (1961) with Tommy Noonan, Peter Marshall, and Bobby Vee
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961) with Walter Pidgeon, Joan Fontaine, Frankie Avalon, Peter Lorre, Michael Ansara, and Robert Sterling
All Hands on Deck (1961) with Pat Boone, Jody McCrea, Buddy Hackett, and Warren Berlinger
Flaming Star (1960) with Elvis Presley, Steve Forrest, and Dolores del Rio
From the Terrace (1960) with Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Myrna Loy, and George Grizzard
Twelve Hours to Kill (1960) with Gavin MacLeod and Ted Knight
A Private's Affair (1959) with Sal Mineo, Barry Coe, Gary Crosby, Terry Moore, and Jim Backus
The Wayward Girl (1957) with Marcia Henderson, Whit Bissell, and Tracey Roberts
Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) with Jayne Mansfield, Tony Randall, and Mickey Hargitay
Back from Eternity (1956) with Robert Ryan, Keith Andes, Anita Ekberg, and Phyllis Kirk

TELEVISION SERIES
Dallas, 1978-1991 CBS TV series. Eden portrayed LeeAnn De La Vega during the final season (1990-1991)
A Brand New Life, 1989 TV series. Eden portrayed Barbara McCray Gibbons
Harper Valley P.T.A., 1981-1982 NBC TV series. Eden portrayed Stella Johnson
I Dream of Jeannie, 1965-1970 NBC TV series. Eden portrayed Jeannie
How to Marry a Millionaire, 1957-1959 syndicated TV series. Eden portrayed Loco Jones. Also in the cast were Merry Anders, Lori Nelson, and Lisa Gaye

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Watch the trailer for Barbara Eden's 1962 comedy adventure Five Weeks In a Balloon

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Watch Barbara Eden's 1972 made-for-TV film The Woman Hunter
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This page premiered November 14, 2003.
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