Barbara Eden

Actress

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

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

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Barbara Eden on changing her name to "Barbara Eden"

00:52

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

02:57

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

06:13

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

01:27

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

07:09

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

02:14

Full Interview

Play Full Video

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

Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show

01:13

Bob Hope Specials

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

07:13

Burke's Law

Barbara Eden on working on Burke's Law

01:22

Dallas

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

02:14

Dr. Kildare

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

02:12

Gunsmoke

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

00:58

Harper Valley PTA

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

07:08

How to Marry a Millionaire

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

05:54

I Dream of Jeannie

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

06:13

Barbara Eden on working with Sidney Sheldon, and co-stars Larry Hagman, Bill Daily, Hayden Roarke, and others on I Dream of Jeannie

06:11

Barbara Eden on filming the pilot of I Dream of Jeannie

03:52

Barbara Eden on the "rules" for "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie

00:39

Barbara Eden on playing "Jeannie's" sister on I Dream of Jeannie

00:40

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

01:27

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

01:09

Barbara Eden on the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie

02:12

Barbara Eden on how special effects were done and the look of the sets on I Dream of Jeannie

08:01

Barbara Eden on a typical workweek on I Dream of Jeannie

01:46

Barbara Eden on memorable episodes of I Dream of Jeannie

07:52

Barbara Eden on Don Rickles and Bob Denver guest-starring on I Dream of Jeannie

01:18

Barbara Eden on "Tony Nelson" and "Jeannie" getting married on I Dream of Jeannie, and on the end of the show

02:51

Barbara Eden on the impact of I Dream of Jeannie

01:40

I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later

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

03:03

I Love Lucy

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

02:57

Perry Mason

Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Perry Mason

00:43

Rawhide

Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Rawhide with Clint Eastwood

01:46

Route 66

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

01:03

Topics

Censorship / Standards & Practices

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

01:09

Barbara Eden on the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie

02:14

Characters & Catchphrases

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

06:13

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Barbara Eden on her mentor

01:18

Gulf War

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

01:34

Historic Events and Social Change

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

01:27

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

01:35

Pivotal Career Moments

Barbara Eden on her mentor

01:18

Pop Culture

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

06:13

Representation on Television

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

01:27

Television Industry

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

01:09

Barbara Eden on the belly button controversy on I Dream of Jeannie

02:14

War

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

01:35

Women

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

01:27

Professions

Actress

View Profession

Barbara Eden on one of her first TV jobs on Gunsmoke

02:54

Barbara Eden on the craft of acting

04:25

Performers

View Profession

Barbara Eden on the craft of acting

04:25

Genres

Comedy Series

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

05:54

Barbara Eden on her guest appearance I Love Lucy

02:57

Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show

01:15

Barbara Eden on starring on I Dream of Jeannie

21:20

Barbara Eden on starring as "Jeannie" on I Dream of Jeannie

26:34

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

07:08

Daytime/Primetime Serials

Barbara Eden on joining the cast of Dallas

02:14

Legal Dramas

Barbara Eden on Burke's Law

01:22

Medical Dramas

Barbara Eden on guest-starring Dr. Kildare

02:12

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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

07:15

Western Series

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

00:58

Barbara Eden on guest-starring on Rawhide

01:48

People

Irwin Allen

View Person Page

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

05:57

Lucille Ball

View Person Page

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

02:57

Bill Daily

View Interview Page

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

00:41

Clint Eastwood

View Person Page

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

01:48

Andy Griffith

View Interview Page

Barbara Eden on guesting on The Andy Griffith Show

01:12

Larry Hagman

View Interview Page

Barbara Eden on working with I Dream of Jeannie co-star Larry Hagman as "Major Tony Nelson"

01:46

Barbara Eden on reuniting with Larry Hagman for Howling in the Woods, and other made-for-television movies

07:34

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

02:14

Bob Hope

View Person Page

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

07:18

Don Knotts

View Interview Page

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

01:12

Don Rickles

View Person Page

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

00:45

Hayden Rorke

View Person Page

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

00:26

Sidney Sheldon

View Interview Page

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

01:29

Aaron Spelling

View Interview Page

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

01:22