Barbara Eden, the beloved star of I Dream of Jeannie, turned 92 on August 23. Decades after charming the world, she remains an adored Hollywood figure—but her life has also been marked by deep personal tragedy. In 2001, Eden lost her only son, Matthew Ansara, to a heroin overdose at age 35. Born in 1965 to Eden and actor Michael Ansara, Matthew struggled with addiction from a young age.
Despite multiple stints in rehab, periods of sobriety, and dreams of marriage and an acting career, he relapsed repeatedly. His final overdose came just as he seemed to be turning his life around. Eden has openly shared her grief and her struggles as a mother watching her child battle addiction, reflecting on whether her divorce may have impacted him.
“He won a lot of battles,” she has said, “but he lost his personal war.” Today, Eden is still active in entertainment, having appeared in TV shows and stage productions into her late 80s. Though she has faced unimaginable loss, she remains a symbol of grace, resilience, and timeless beauty.