Barbara Eden, the beloved actress who brought Jeannie to life, celebrated her 92nd birthday on August 23, 2023, looking radiant as ever. While she dazzled audiences with her charm on I Dream of Jeannie, her real life was marked by deep sorrow after losing her only son, Matthew Ansara, to a heroin overdose in 2001.

Born during the Great Depression, Eden turned hardship into success, rising to fame in the late 1950s with roles in I Love Lucy and Flaming Star alongside Elvis Presley. But it was her role as Jeannie in 1965 that made her a household name. That same year, she welcomed her son Matthew with actor Michael Ansara.

Matthew’s struggle with addiction began at a young age, intensified by his parents’ divorce when he was nine. Eden recalled the pain of discovering his heroin use and the difficult decision to send him to rehab. Despite moments of sobriety and hope, Matthew’s battle with drugs persisted. Just months before his wedding, he tragically died at 35 from an overdose.

Now retired from acting, Eden continues to appear in TV specials, carrying the memory of her son while inspiring others with her strength. Happy 92nd birthday to a timeless icon, Barbara Eden.