‘I Dream of Jeannie’s’ Barbara Eden on the Time She Scared Larry Hagman to Death (Exclusive)
Barbara Eden was just 15 years old when she made the decision to forgo traditional schooling and pursue a career in show business, using her vocals as the launching pad for what would turn into a career that’s still going strong after nearly 80 years.
“I never had a high school girlhood. I never had a best friend, I didn’t go to dances, I didn’t go steady. I didn’t date until I was 16 1/2. I was always Miss Self-Improvement,” she told TV Guide Magazine in 1966. “I learned about makeup, hairstyles, clothes, all the externals. I poured myself into my studies. Along the way I developed the personal philosophy I still believe in — there is always tomorrow, but don’t louse up today for tomorrow.”
And that she wouldn’t. Eden became an accomplished star quickly, performing on The Johnny Carson Show and starring in the 1957 TV adaptation of How to Marry a Millionaire. She also had numerous films on her resumé, including starring opposite Elvis Presley in 1960’s Flaming Star, before she landed the part of the sweet and charming Jeannie in the beloved I Dream of Jeannie (1965-70).
Now, at a beautiful and brilliant 93 years of age, Barbara Eden is ever-so-humble as she chats to us about her most famous role. As I Dream of Jeannie celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, Eden shares with ReMIND a few memories of the show and her first meetup with her infamous costar Larry Hagman.
I Dream of Jeannie is one of those rare iconic TV series that is still beloved today. What do you remember about first getting the script? What were your thoughts on the show’s premise?
Barbara Eden: Well, first, I was very surprised to receive the script. I had been reading about it in Variety, and I was thinking, they’re testing all these women who were beauty contest winners. And not only that — they were almost 6 feet tall and I’m not, and Mediterranean sexy, dark-haired, beautiful women.
So I just put it aside and thought, “Well, that won’t be for me.” And then the script arrived, and I read it and I recognized immediately what they’d been talking about in the trades. My agent called me and asked what I thought about it. I said, “I think it’s wonderful.” He said, “Well, that’s good because they’ve made an offer.” I said, “Oh, really?” He said, “Yes, you just have to go and have tea with Sidney Sheldon [the creator].” I did, and it was lovely. We were in sync the minute we talked to each other. As for the script, I liked it. I liked it a lot. I thought it was fresh and it would entertain, but I liked the character. I really liked her. I knew I would like playing her.
Everett Collection
What was your first meetup like with your costar Larry Hagman?
I knew nothing about him. … But the first time I met Larry, Sidney called me and said, “You should meet and talk to him.” He wanted it quickly, but I was working, I think, at Universal on a film, and I said, “Well, I can’t. I’m working.” And he said, “Well, he’ll come over to you and wait.”
He came to my dressing room during a lull in shooting, and we read the script, and then I got up and we did a certain scene. Larry told me this later, but I scared him to death. I had no idea. He was pretty good at hiding it because it was one of those scenes where Jeannie would just jump up and grab him, and I did it.
You definitely had that rare chemistry between you two.
He was one of the rare actors who I’ve worked with where we just right away understood and believed, and we did it. I don’t know, we were on the same rhythm, I guess, but I loved working with him.
You can watch I Dream of Jeannie on Antenna TV weekdays.
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1965
February 2025
Flashback to 1965 and celebrate the very best of TV, Movies, Music, Fashion & more!
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