This seasoned star has faced immense sorrow, enduring the profound loss of both children from her first marriage and later navigating an abusive relationship in her second. After many years, the celebrity rediscovered love and revealed her secret to a lasting, fulfilling partnership.
This iconic actress began her Hollywood journey under challenging circumstances, compelled to work as a dancer to make ends meet. Despite experiencing heartbreak with two divorces from her previous marriages, this public figure found lasting love at 60. See photos of her and her spouse.
The famous actress, who is also a singer, developed a passion for singing through evenings spent with her mother, who encouraged her pursuits. As a teenager, she prioritized her singing and acting studies over dating.
During a meeting with a Warner Brothers talent scout, she received a discouraging remark about her appearance, which reinforced her decision to focus on character roles rather than conform to expectations.
While staying at the Hollywood Studio Club, she worked as a dancer at Ciro’s nightclub, where Elvis Presley once requested a date. They met later on set, and she noted his polite and pleasant demeanor.
After starting her Hollywood career, the actress met TV actor Michael Ansara on a blind date. They married in 1958, and in 1965, welcomed their son, Matthew Ansara.
However, in 1971, her second pregnancy ended in tragedy; she carried a stillborn baby to full term, leading to deep depression. This unprocessed grief impacted her relationship with Michael, and after more than a decade together, they divorced in 1974.
Around this time, their son Matthew began experimenting with drugs. When the mother of one remarried and moved to Chicago, Matthew stayed in Los Angeles with his father, who threatened custody action.
For six years, the actress traveled frequently to see her child, visiting every three weeks. Later, she recognized the need for therapy to fully address her grief.
Following the end of her first marriage, the Hollywood star met and wed her second husband, Chuck Fegert, in 1977. In her memoir, “Jeannie Out of the Bottle: A Memoir,” she recall how he initially “knew how to treat a lady” and often surprised her with flowers.
However, once they were married, his behavior shifted as he fell into a circle that indulged in heavy drinking and cocaine use. This lifestyle led to rudeness and, eventually, abusive behavior, prompting her to leave. The pair divorced in 1982.
In her 50s, Barbara Eden never anticipated finding love again. Yet, she met architect Jon Eicholtz, and their connection gradually deepened. They married in 1991, when she was 60, sharing a strong bond built on mutual values, a love for travel, and unwavering loyalty.
As she described, “I have his back and he has mine,” reflecting a relationship founded on enduring support and companionship.
Sadly, years after finding happiness, Barbara faced heartbreak when her son Matthew, then 35, passed away from an accidental heroin overdose in 2001.
Barbara was left “devastated” when her child was found unresponsive in his car at a gas station in Monrovia, where paramedics later pronounced him dead.
Looking back, she shared the guilt and sadness she felt, describing him as a “beautiful human being” when sober and expressing frustration over the grip of addiction.
Barbara and her first husband, Michael, had waited nearly seven years to welcome Matthew, an experience she called “the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me.”
However, Matthew’s struggle with addiction spanned 14 years, leading to erratic behavior that she initially didn’t understand. “I was scared to death. I didn’t know what to do,” Barbara expressed.
