Barbara Eden became one of television’s most recognisable faces when she starred as a 2000-year-old genie in the hit ’60s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. And six decades later, the actress is still working her magic.
Barbara celebrates her milestone 95th birthday on Sunday, August 23 2026, looking incredible and showing no signs of stepping away from the career that has spanned more than seven decades.
In fact, the actress made a glamorous rare appearance in Los Angeles earlier this year, stepping onto the red carpet at Project Angel Food’s Lead With Love charity event on June 27.
Wearing an elegant white pantsuit over a royal blue silk top, Barbara wore her signature blonde hair swept away from her face and was all smiles for photographers – even recreating Jeannie’s famous folded-arm pose.
Still working at 95
And retirement certainly doesn’t appear to be on Barbara’s agenda. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly ahead of her birthday, the actress revealed she is still interested in taking on new roles and would particularly enjoy getting the chance to play someone less sweet than her most famous alter ego.
“I could be really mean,” she joked, recalling the mischievous “Bad Jeannie” she also played on the series.
Barbara said she remains open to acting provided the material is good, and she is already due to make another public appearance on September 5, when she will introduce a screening of her 1961 movie All Hands on Deck with former co-star Pat Boone at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival.
© Getty ImagesHer most recent stage work included a 2025 production of Love Letters, while her later screen credits have included My Adventures with Santa, Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Dallas.
Becoming Jeannie
Barbara was already an established actress when I Dream of Jeannie premiered in 1965, but the role transformed her into an international star.
© Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesCreated by Sidney Sheldon, the sitcom followed astronaut Tony Nelson, played by Larry Hagman, after he discovers Jeannie and her bottle on a beach.
The series ran for five seasons and 139 episodes between 1965 and 1970 and went on to enjoy decades of repeats and syndication around the world. The actress also went on to play Jeannie’s dark-haired and considerably more troublesome sister on the show.
© Getty ImagesBefore Jeannie, Barbara had already worked opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Elvis Presley in the 1960 Western Flaming Star.
More than 60 years later, Barbara remains closely associated with the role that made her famous – something she has embraced rather than resisted.
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