Barbara Eden Revealed Secret of Marriage with Her Husband, Who Helped Her Cope with the Death of Her Son

"I still think of him every day and dream of him every night," actress Barbara Eden once said of her son with ex Michael Ansara. While losing her only child left the actress devastated, she could count on the support of her husband, Jon Eicholtz, to help her through the difficult time.

"I Dream of Jeannie" star Barbara Eden and Jon Eicholtz, a structural engineer and real estate developer, had been married for ten years when tragedy struck in June 2001. Eden faced the unimaginable pain of losing her only son, Matthew Ansara, to a heroin overdose.

Coping with Tragedy Together

Matthew Ansara, a fitness trainer and actor, was 35 years old when an attendant at a Chevron gas station in Monrovia, Los Angeles, found him in a parked car in 2001.

Paramedics pronounced him dead on the scene. "They're just in shock right now. This is her only child. She gets a call at 3:30 a.m.," Eden's spokesman, Gene Schwam, said at the time. Luckily, Eden's "very supportive" husband helped her through the challenging time.

The Secret Behind Their Enduring Marriage

"You should walk in the other person's shoes if you're having a little problem. Try to see their side of it. It's not easy! But try," Eden, who starred in 139 episodes of "I Dream of Jeannie" from 1965 to 1970, says of her long-lasting marriage to Eicholtz.

The actress and author also learned to stay true to herself over the years. "Don’t try to be anyone else,” Barbara said in 2020. “The wonderful thing is we’re all different."

Finding Happiness and Balance

Having faced challenging times helped Eden find happiness and balance in her life, as she said in 2021, "People have to find their own way. Don't be afraid. Everyone's life is different. Everyone's beginnings are different. Learn to recognize in other people what you have inside yourself because that's the one thing we all have. We're all connected. Knowing that kind of got me over a lot of humps."

Barbara Eden Today

Now 92, Eden, has published two books in addition to her successful acting career. "Jeannie Out of the Bottle: A Memoir," in 2011, and her children's book, "Barbara and the Djinn," in 2021. However, another children's book might be in the cards, as she explained in August 2023, “I would like to do another children’s book. That would be fun. As a child, I was always encouraged to read, and I find that it is a true gift that you can give to your child or to other children.”

Eden is also content with the way her life has turned out, calling herself "really luckly" and adding, "I have dear friends. I have a wonderful family, a very supportive husband, a dog who is adorable, but a brat! Yes, I'm very happy. I think life, everything, has to work itself out. There's a reason for most things, and I can't wish for it."

The actress and her husband's bond extends beyond their home life, as the couple often travels together for Eden's work commitments.

No Sign of Slowing Down

Born in Tuscon, Eden, the perennial star of Hollywood's journey to stardom began in earnest in 1955 when she became a regular sketch performer on "The Johnny Carson Show."

This opportunity led to her iconic role as Jeannie in the NBC sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie" in 1965, where she shared the screen with Larry Hagman. The sitcom, which ran from 1965 to 1970, centered around a 2,000-year-old genie (Eden) and an astronaut (Hagman), who she falls for and eventually weds.

Following her 92nd birthday in August 2023, Eden was slated to appear at events like the Hazard Fest Autograph Convention Show in October and Rhode Island Comic Con in November.

These events are cherished opportunities for her to engage with her devoted fans, who journey from all corners to meet her. "They're the best fans in the whole world," she shared. "They're very well-read. They're good, nice people. When I step onto the big stage, I speak, and then I do the Q&A, I'm sometimes taken aback. They know more than I do about my work!"

She warmly recalled a young man named Bernard who frequently attends the conventions and seems to know every detail about her work. One of Barbara Eden's close friendships was born entirely out of her connection with her viewers. After starring in more than 25 films, 19 TV movies, and 5 TV series over nearly 70 years, fans have a multitude of questions about her illustrious career.