She may have put away her famous genie bottle more than five decades ago, but Barbara Eden is still casting a spell on fans at 94 years old.
The Hollywood legend marked her milestone birthday on Saturday with a radiant Instagram photo, flashing her signature “Jeannie” pose in a vibrant blue patterned blouse.
“Let’s all take a moment to wish our favorite blonde, entertainment icon and Hollywood legend Barbara Eden a very VERY Happy Birthday today!” her team wrote, inviting fans to leave their well-wishes.
A flood of love from Hollywood
Tributes poured in across social media. Beverly Hills, 90210 star Jennie Garth gushed, “HAPPY BIRTHDAY BARBARA. I ❤️ you!” while Paris Hilton, who once dressed as Jeannie for Halloween, shared on her Instagram Story: “Happy Birthday icon!”
Comedian Caroline Rhea added: “Happy Birthday ageless beauty!”
It’s no surprise the star is still adored. Eden is the only surviving member of the main cast of I Dream of Jeannie, the Emmy-nominated sitcom that ran from 1965–1970, where she played the bubbly genie who fell in love with astronaut Tony Nelson, played by Larry Hagman.
Her secret to timeless charm
In a 2023 interview with People, Eden shared her secret to eternal youth. “All through the years, I’ve noticed that many people don’t realize what a joy it is and what a gift it is to be able to work in an arena that you really love,” she said.
“So many people have to work in jobs they hate, and they have to do it just for sustenance, but aren’t we lucky when we can study for something, enjoy it and know that other people enjoy it? I think that’s a gift that life gives us, if we are willing to work for it.”
She also stays active. “I used to do spinning classes and weights with a trainer, but when Covid hit that ended my heavy workouts. Now I have a stationary bike and lift five-pound weights, which are good for your bones.”
A career of magic and milestones
From early skits on The Johnny Carson Show to guest roles on I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show, Eden found worldwide fame as Jeannie — complete with a pink harem costume so daring that censors at the time banned her from showing her belly button. (The rule wasn’t lifted until 1983.)
She later penned her bestselling memoir Jeannie Out of the Bottle in 2011 and a children’s book, Barbara and the Djinn, in 2021.
Still enchanting fans
Even now, Eden continues to delight audiences at fan conventions, often joking that her most devoted followers know more about her career than she does.
“They’re the best fans in the whole world,” she said. “When I get up on the big stage, I speak, and then I do the Q&A, I’m sometimes surprised. They know more than I do about my work!”
At 94, Barbara Eden is living proof that some stars never lose their sparkle — they only shine brighter.
