Barbara Eden From 'I Dream Of Jeannie' Photographed At 92 Years Old

May 17, 2020 by apost team

I Dream of Jeannie enchanted audiences the world over with its depiction of Barbara Eden as the rapturous 2,000-year-old genie Jeannie. For five funny and enthralling seasons, audiences could not get enough of Jeannie’s adventures with her master-turned-husband, astronaut Tony Nelson, who was played by actor Larry Hagman.

Just as Jeannie was the show’s biggest hit, so too did Eden’s stardom climb as she soon found herself a household name. The show still draws new viewers from repeats on cable networks, and appearances by Eden are big draws for those lucky enough to see her in person.

The now 92-year-old actress made her most recent appearance last November at an event at Los Angeles’ Paley Center called The Paley Center Honors: A Special Tribute to Television’s Comedy Legends.

Before making it big on I Dream of Jeannie, Eden worked her way up with a variety of small parts on some of the most popular programs of the 50s. Eden was a recurring guest on The Johnny Carson Show and appeared in several episodes of sitcoms like The Andy Griffith Show and I Love Lucy. In an interview with Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest last year, Eden reflected on her time with I Love Lucy. Eden told Ripa and Seacrest how kind Lucille Ball was to work for, remembering how Ball herself helped fix one of the dresses in her wardrobe.

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After I Dream of Jeannie, Eden would go on to star in several productions, notably the movie and television series Harper Valley PTA. Eden even got the chance to reunite with her I Dream of Jeannie costar Larry Hagman for the final season of Dallas in 1990. Since the mid-90s, Eden has scaled back her acting work and makes few public appearances.

For the Paley Center’s event, Eden joined some of the heavyweights of the classic era of TV comedy. Among other actors and actresses honored at the event were Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett, and Rob Reiner. While those in attendance were pleased to see so many icons of classic television, social media was abuzz at how stylish Eden appeared despite no longer being active in Hollywood. Sari Cohen, an entertainment writer for Screen Rant, joked that she is still dreaming of Jeannie since seeing her at the event.

In the end, Eden’s career is a reminder of Hollywood’s golden age of comedy. Shows like I Dream of Jeannie will always be around to impress new fans with their timeless comedy and take us back to when the world was a far more simple place.

What do you think of Barbara Eden’s appearance at the Paley Center? Do you have any favorite I Dream of Jeannie episodes? Pass this on to other fans for a bit of daily nostalgia!