Barbara Eden Opened Up About How To 'Cope With Losing A Child' After Son Matthew's Overdose

Apr 20, 2022

Barbara Eden is a true Hollywood Legend. The Tuscon native, born Barbara Jean Morehead, spent most of her childhood in San Fransico. At an early age, Eden found her love for performing. Eden sang in the church choir and competed in beauty pageants as a child. The rising star's big break came in 1955 when she scored a reoccurring role as a sketch performer on "The Johnny Carson Show." Years later, Eden made her official television debut when she played the young and beautiful socialite Diana Jordan in "I Love Lucy." In the years following, Eden appeared in several films and television sitcoms. The talented actress quickly rose to fame as the lead in NBC's hit series "I Dream of Jeannie." In the hit series, Eden played Jeannie, a 2,000-year-old genie who falls in love with an astronaut named Anthony Nelson, played by Larry Hagman. The series ran for five seasons, from 1965 to 1970. Following one of her most notable roles as Jeannie on I Dream of Jeannie, Eden went on to star in "20 theatrical feature films and made-for-television films," according to IMDB. Eden also starred in the film "Flaming Star" alongside Elvis Precisely. 

With an acting career that spans six decades, the Hollywood icon has faced many challenges throughout her career and personal life, from multiple divorcees, a devastating late-term miscarriage, and the tragic passing of her only child, Mathew, 35, who died from a heroin overdose.

Twenty years later, the legendary actress shared how she keeps the memory of her son alive and how she uses his passing to help others.

Barbara Eden and-then husband, Michael Ansara, wed in 1958. The couple tried to conceive for years before welcoming their first and only child, Mathew Ansara, on Aug. 29, 1965. Simultaneously, as Eden's acting career began to take off, so did her hopes of motherhood. 

"The same day that I Dream of Jeannie sold, the doctor told me I was pregnant," the television star shared with People. 

For Eden, motherhood quickly became her number one priority. Shortly after discovering she was pregnant, she approached "I Dream of Jeannie" creator Sidney Sheldon ready to give up her job. But Sheldon wanted to keep Eden as the show's lead and developed intricate filming techniques to hide her growing baby bump. In her autobiography, "Jeannie Out of the Bottle," the television star recalled her filming experience while pregnant. 

"Sidney came up with an almost foolproof technique for disguising my pregnancy by draping me with a multitude of veils and instructing that I be shot only from the waist up, or from a distance," Eden wrote. 

In an interview with People, the Golden Globe nominee refers to motherhood as the "loveliest thing" she had ever experienced.  

"It was the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me," she told the outlet.

Eden shared that she and her husband Michael referred to Mathew as their "lucky-charm baby" in her autobiography. She retold the happiness that their son brought to the married couple's lives. 

"We had a child at last, and we loved him more than words could say." the actress wrote. 

"Mathew meant everything to both of us," she penned, "and he always would."

Tragically, Eden's only child, Mathew, who spent 14 years in and out of rehab, battled with drug addiction for many years until his accidental overdose in 2001. He was 35. 

In her autobiography, "Jeannie Out of the Bottle," Eden described how a parent never really "copes" with losing a child. 

"I've often been asked how anyone can cope with losing a child," Eden wrote. "And the answer is that you don't. You can't. There's no way. You don't know how you will live through it, how you can survive. But you just do. There's no other choice."

Following Mathew's death, Eden began speaking with other families dealing with loved ones battling addiction. She hoped to find a purpose in her pain. 

"I began to speak with parents who were going through the same thing," Eden told People. "I think parents should know that it's not a bad thing to be strict with your child. If you know what's going on, you have a chance to help."

It's been 20 years since the passing of her only child, and the Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea actress continues to keep Mathew's memory alive by speaking about him. 

"I have his pictures around. He was such a beautiful young man," the actress said to Closer Weekly. "The only way I can honor him is to talk about him. Don't pretend like he never was. Because he was he was [a] super, super human being."

Although Eden has faced many parents' worst nightmares, she focuses on the brighter moments of her life. 

"I'm really lucky," the Hollywood icon shared with People. "I have dear friends. I have wonderful family, a very supportive husband." 

Eden wed Jon Eicholtz on Jan. 5, 1991. The couple has been married for 31 years. 

Barbara Eden continues to honor her late son, Mathew, by sharing the highs and lows of his life with the world and those closest to her. Through her pain, she hopes to enlighten others and share her son's beauty with the world.

What is your favorite Barbara Eden role? Let us know how you remember the television icon throughout her decades-long career.