Barbara Eden, the beloved star who made audiences believe in magic as the enchanting Jeannie in the classic sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, turned 92 on August 23, and she continues to captivate fans with her charm, grace, and timeless beauty. Yet behind the public glamour and the decades of adoration lies a deeply personal sorrow—the heartbreaking loss of her only child, Matthew Ansara, who died of a heroin overdose in 2001.

Born during the Great Depression, Eden grew up in modest circumstances and worked her way into Hollywood stardom through talent, persistence, and charisma. By the late 1950s, she was appearing in films such as A Private’s Affair and Twelve Hours to Kill, while also making guest appearances on popular television programs like The Johnny Carson Show and I Love Lucy. Her career took a leap forward when she starred opposite Elvis Presley in Flaming Star in 1960, showcasing her versatility and screen presence. But it was in 1965 that Eden became a household name when she took on the role of the mischievous, lovable genie opposite Larry Hagman in I Dream of Jeannie.

The show ran for five seasons, cementing her place in pop culture history and making her one of television’s most recognizable faces. That same year, Eden and her then-husband, actor Michael Ansara, welcomed their son Matthew into the world. The couple divorced when Matthew was nine, and Eden has often wondered whether the separation had a lasting impact on him. She first noticed something was wrong in 1984 when Matthew, who had been living with his father, returned home appearing lethargic, withdrawn, and unmotivated.

He wasn’t attending college as he had claimed, and what Eden and Ansara didn’t know at the time was that Matthew had already begun experimenting with drugs as young as ten years old. Over the years, Eden and Michael worked tirelessly to help their son, supporting him through numerous rehab programs and interventions. His drug addiction, particularly to heroin, was a constant battle that led to theft, broken trust, and repeated relapses.

There were moments of hope along the way—at one point, Matthew was married, studying creative writing at UCLA, and later pursued acting, earning roles in films such as To Protect and Serve and Con Games. In the years leading up to his death, he was engaged to a woman Eden described as “wonderful” and appeared to be finding stability in both his career and personal life. But addiction is relentless, and on June 26, 2001, Eden received the phone call every parent dreads.

Just six hours earlier, police had found Matthew slumped over in his truck. He was 35 years old. Investigators determined that he had injected a dose of unusually pure heroin, and the potency was too much for his heart to handle. Alongside the heroin, police also discovered anabolic steroids, a sign of his intense dedication to bodybuilding. Eden has spoken openly about her grief and the questions that will always linger—wondering if her divorce from Ansara might have contributed to Matthew’s struggles, but also acknowledging that many children from divorced homes do not turn to drugs.

She has described her son as someone who “won a lot of battles” but ultimately “lost his personal war.” Matthew was laid to rest beside his father, who passed away in 2013 due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. Despite her personal tragedy, Eden has continued to work steadily in television, film, and theater, and has been married to architect Jon Eicholtz since 1991. In recent years, she has appeared in stage productions and made her last film appearance as Mrs. Claus in My Adventures with Santa in 2019. Now at 92, Barbara Eden stands as a figure of both resilience and grace.

Her life has been a remarkable blend of professional triumph and personal heartbreak, a testament to the fact that even those who seem to have it all are not immune to tragedy. She continues to inspire generations of fans, not only through her iconic work but also through her willingness to share her story and advocate for awareness about addiction. Eden urges anyone struggling with substance abuse, or anyone who loves someone who is, to seek help—because one phone call, she emphasizes, truly can save a life.