Barbara Eden’s fist born son died of a drug overdose.
Eden’s second son was stillborn, but the actress has remained positive about life.
She had her husband’s support and her faith in God to help her overcome these losses.
The actress is 91 and has no plans to retire.
Barbara Eden is an actress with a career spanning back to the 1950s. The actress’s debut was in the 1956 movie, “Back from Eternity.”
Eden continued to work on many more films, but not all of them were successful; however, she got her big break from the series “I Dream of Jeannie,” which aired in 1965 and ended in 1970.
Acting was not Eden’s first artistic expression. Born on August 23, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona, she was first a cheerleader in high school and a famous teenage singer.
Her first performance was when she sang solo for a choir. She moved on to sing with different bands and swiftly transitioned into acting.
Eden has made appearances on several TV shows such as “I Love Lucy,” “The Andy Griffin Show,” “Father knows Best,” “Gunsmoke,” and more.
She has also appeared in 20 feature films, including “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and “Flaming Star” with the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.
Eden is now 91 years and is still as active as can be. She is a mother of two sons, who unfortunately passed away, but the actress remains optimistic and continuously tries to use her creativity to fulfill her purpose.
The Death of Barbara Eden’s Sons
Eden’s first son, Mathew Ansara, whom the actress had during her first marriage to Michael Ansara, died on June 25, 2001. Mathew was found dead in his car, and before paramedics found the cause of the death, it was confirmed that his body did not suffer any trauma.
Eden’s son was a fitness trainer and an actor, and his death came as a shock because of how he kept his body in shape and maintained a healthy lifestyle.
Before Mathew’s death, Eden was reportedly planning his wedding for September 1, 2001, which added another layer of shock for the mom.
It was later confirmed that Mathew died from an accidental heroin overdose. Eden confessed that her son was in and out of rehab for 14 years before he died.
At first, the actress said she did not notice any behavioral changes in her son. Some days, he was filled with rage, and some days he was her charming boy, and Eden did not know how to help him.
Furthermore, Eden said her son was too young to realize he needed therapy and found it miraculous that he lived until his 35th year. But 20 years later, she confessed that she had a lot of guilt surrounding her son’s passing.
Dealing with his addiction and its unpredictability was frustrating for Eden. She recalled the beautiful times they shared when Mathew was sober, but things would change. The actress said, “Drugs are so inexplicable. It’s so frustrating.”
Eden and her first husband, Michael, had tried to fall pregnant for seven years before conceiving Mathew. The former couple also found out they were expecting their son right before Eden was about to start “I Dream of Jeannie.”
Eden later fell pregnant with her second son, and in 1971, after she had carried her child for eight months, the doctor informed her that he had died in her womb.
The actress said, “It felt awful.” She wondered if something was wrong with her body and the after-effects of this traumatic experience led her to a dark place
Eden said she went back to work right after and lost a lot of weight, but every time she looked at Mathew, she felt blessed to be his mother.
Some days were better than others, and although she felt lucky to have her son, she could not help but find herself struggling to move or get out of bed.
At the time, Eden thought she had to go through everything independently, but the experience taught her the importance of asking for help. There is also not a day when she does not think about her sons.
How Barbara Eden Survived the Death of Her Sons
Eden has survived some painful experiences; the death of her son Mathew, a stillborn child, and two failed marriages. The actress even believed that the postpartum depression she endured after her last pregnancy led to the end of her second marriage.
To overcome these situations, Eden had faith in God and the support of her husband of 30 years, Jon Eicholtz. The actress said she believed we all have a purpose in this world, so she tries her best to be a productive citizen.
Eden’s motto is to put her best foot forward and keep her strength for those around her. She also admitted that the loss of her sons will probably always hurt, but she wants to spend the rest of her life doing her best to make them proud.
She lives her life with the utmost optimism. She is 91 years old, and there is no stopping her. “I feel young!” she said. To prove it, the actress revealed that at 87, she was doing intense training.
Her workout routine involved spin classes, weight lifting, and regular visits to the gym; now, her trainer comes to her house, and they do resistance training.
While keeping her body in shape, Eden also has a beauty routine that keeps her skin looking plump and moisturized. Her secret to her beauty is self-care. She recommends eating well, exercising, and, most importantly, applying moisturizer to fight wrinkles.
The singer also emphasized the importance of applying sunscreen. Another thing she likes to do is keep her face free of makeup whenever she is not working.
Eden has chosen not to let her experiences define her. She remains positive and appreciative of the life she has now. The actress gushed over how lucky she was to have her loving husband, her adorable and spoiled dog, and her friends.”Yes, I am very happy. I think [in] life, everything has to work itself out,” she said.
Eden made it clear that her goal in life is to be creative and productive. The actress works with various charities, including the American Cancer Society, the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the March of Dimes, Save the Children, and Childhelp USA.
Eden’s age is also just a number; she loves her job and does not plan to retire anytime soon. She said she would keep kicking until they kick her out.