Barbara Eden

Actress
Bob Hope Comedy Collection
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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

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About
About this interview

In her two-and-a-half hour Archive interview, Barbara Eden chronicles her start in television and her work on early television series including I Love Lucy. She discusses her first regular series role as "Loco Jones" in How to Marry a Millionaire. She then goes on to talk about her starring roles in I Dream of Jeannie and Harper Valley PTA. She speaks of reuniting with Larry Hagman for a six-episode stint on Dallas, and with Bill Daily in two I Dream of Jeannie reunion movies. Eden also discusses some of the many made-for-television movies she appeared in, as well as her then-current career plans. Jennifer Howard conducted the interview on April 25, 2000 in Beverly Hills, CA.

"The most interesting person on screen is someone who's different." 

People Talking About ...
Barbara Eden
Highlights
Barbara Eden on changing her name to "Barbara Eden"
Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance"
Barbara Eden getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character
Barbara Eden on the perceived anti-feminist aspects of I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on her role in the feature film and series Harper Valley PTA
Barbara Eden on joining the cast of Dallas and reuniting with Larry Hagman
Full Interview

Chapter 1
On her early life and influences; on choosing to go to Los Angeles to start her performing career; on her first series role, in How to Marry a Millionaire
On her first series televsion role, on How to Marry a Millionaire; on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance"; on guest-starring on various series; on the trajectory of her career, and on starring in the feature film "The Brass Bottle"

Chapter 2
On guest appearances on various dramatic series; on her feature film roles including "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and working with producer Irwin Allen
On getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie: on playing "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie
On working with Sidney Sheldon, and co-stars Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Roarke, and others on I Dream of Jeannie
On filming the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie; on the "rules" for "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie; on the belly button "controversy"

Chapter 3
On the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie; on how special effects were done and the look of the sets on I Dream of Jeannie; on a typical workweek on I Dream of Jeannie
On memorable episodes of I Dream of Jeannie; on Don Rickles and Bob Denver guest-starring on I Dream of Jeannie
On "Tony Nelson" and "Jeannie" getting married on I Dream of Jeannie, and on the end of the show; on starring in various made-for-television movies

Chapter 4
On some of her TV movie work including The Feminist and the Fuzz, The Stranger Within, Stone Street, and How to Break Up a Happy Divorce; on her role in the feature film and subsequent series Harper Valley PTA
On taking on the role of producer for made-for-television movies; on starring in Brand New Life; on joining the cast of Dallas and reuniting with Larry Hagman
On touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials

Chapter 5
On hosting Championship Ballroom Dancing; on then-current projects; on the craft of acting
On the impact of I Dream of Jeannie; on her fan mail
On her mentor; on how she would like to be remembered
On b-roll pictures from her career- "Jeannie's" bottle from I Dream of Jeannie; with the cast of I Dream of Jeannie; as "Jeannie" in I Dream of Jeannie; on the set of Kismet; with Tim Conway; with Bob Hope
Shows

Andy Griffith Show, The

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Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show

Bob Hope Specials

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Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials

Burke's Law

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Barbara Eden on working on Burke's Law

Dallas

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Barbara Eden on joining the cast of Dallas and reuniting with Larry Hagman

Dr. Kildare

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Barbara Eden on guest-starring on the Dr. Kildare episode "If You Can't Believe the Truth"

Gunsmoke

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Barbara Eden on one of her first television jobs, on Gunsmoke

Harper Valley PTA

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Barbara Eden in her role in the feature film and subsequent series Harper Valley PTA

How to Marry a Millionaire

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Barbara Eden on her first series role, in How to Marry a Millionaire

I Dream of Jeannie

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Barbara Eden getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character
Barbara Eden on working with Sidney Sheldon, and co-stars Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Roarke, and others on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on filming the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on the "rules" for "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on playing "Jeannie's" sister on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on the perceived anti-feminist aspects of I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on the controversy over showing her belly button on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on how special effects were done and the look of the sets on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on a typical workweek on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on memorable episodes of I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on Don Rickles and Bob Denver guest-starring on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on "Tony Nelson" and "Jeannie" getting married on I Dream of Jeannie, and on the end of the show
Barbara Eden on the impact of I Dream of Jeannie

I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later

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Barbara Eden on reprising her role as "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later and I Still Dream of Jeannie

I Love Lucy

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Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance"

Perry Mason

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Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Perry Mason

Rawhide

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Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Rawhide with Clint Eastwood

Route 66

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Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Route 66 and The Virginian
Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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Barbara Eden on the controversy over showing her belly button on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie

Characters & Catchphrases

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Barbara Eden getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Barbara Eden on her mentor

Diversity in Television

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Barbara Eden on the perceived anti-feminist aspects of I Dream of Jeannie

Gulf War

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Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope's USO tour in the Persian Gulf

Historic Events and Social Change

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Barbara Eden on the perceived anti-feminist aspects of I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope's USO tour in the Persian Gulf

Pivotal Career Moments

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Barbara Eden on her mentor

Pop Culture

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Barbara Eden getting the role of "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie and her interpretation of the character

Television Industry

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Barbara Eden on the controversy over showing her belly button on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie

War

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Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope's USO tour in the Persian Gulf

Women

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Barbara Eden on the perceived anti-feminist aspects of I Dream of Jeannie
Professions

Actress

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Barbara Eden on one of her first TV jobs on Gunsmoke
Barbara Eden on the craft of acting

Performers

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Barbara Eden on the craft of acting
Genres

Comedy Series

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Barbara Eden on her first series role, on How to Marry a Millionaire
Barbara Eden on her guest appearance I Love Lucy
Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show
Barbara Eden on starring on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden on starring as "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie
Barbara Eden in her role in the feature film and subsequent series, Harper Valley PTA

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Barbara Eden on joining the cast of Dallas

Legal Dramas

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Barbara Eden on Burke's Law

Medical Dramas

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Barbara Eden on guest-starring Dr. Kildare

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials

Western Series

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Barbara Eden on one of her first television jobs, on Gunsmoke
Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Rawhide
People

Irwin Allen

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Barbara Eden on starring in the Irwin Allen feature films "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" and "Five Weeks in a Balloon", and various other feature films

Lucille Ball

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Barbara Eden on her guest appearance on the I Love Lucy episode "Country Club Dance"

Bill Daily

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Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie co-star Bill Daily as "Roger Healey"

Clint Eastwood

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Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Rawhide, starring Clint Eastwood

Andy Griffith

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Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show

Larry Hagman

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Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie co-star Larry Hagman as "Major Tony Nelson"
Barbara Eden on reuniting with Larry Hagman for Howling in the Woods, and other made-for-television movies
Barbara Eden on joining the cast of Dallas and reuniting with Larry Hagman

Bob Hope

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Barbara Eden on touring with Bob Hope for the Bob Hope Specials

Don Knotts

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Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show and working with Don Knotts

Don Rickles

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Barbara Eden on Don Rickles' guest appearance on I Dream of Jeannie

Hayden Rorke

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Barbara Eden on working with Hayden Rorke as "Colonel Alfred E. Bellows" on I Dream of Jeannie

Sidney Sheldon

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Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie creator/producer Sidney Sheldon

Aaron Spelling

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Barbara Eden on working with Aaron Spelling on Burke's Law

All Interviews

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