The legendary role of the genie in the 1965–1970 TV sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie” brought Barbara Eden, an American actress, to international fame. She started her career in the 1950s and was born Barbara Jean Morehead on August 23, 1931, in Tucson, Arizona.

Films like “Back from Eternity” (1956) and television shows like “How to Marry a Millionaire” (1957) were part of Eden’s early career. “I Love Lucy,” “Perry Mason,” “Gunsmoke,” and “Route 66” were among her many guest appearances on popular television series. She had a string of forgettable films in the ’50s and ’60s before landing the role of Jeannie in the groundbreaking film “I Dream of Jeannie.”

The film “I Dream of Jeannie” starred Larry Hagman as Major Anthony Nelson and Eden as a genie in a bottle. The show was a smash hit. The onscreen connection between Eden and Hagman helped the show become successful, and it even garnered a cult following.

After “I Dream of Jeannie” became a smash hit, Barbara Eden kept working in the film and TV industries. She portrayed the title part in the 1981 and 1982 television series “Harper Valley P.T.A.,” which was adapted on the hit country song. “Barbara Eden: My Story,” Eden’s autobiography, came out in 1986. “Jeannie Out of the Bottle,” her book, was published in 2011.

For her private life, Eden has tied the knot more than once. Matthew Michael Ansara was born to her first marriage in 1958 to Michael Ansara. Divorce was finalized in 1974. In 1977, Eden wed Charles Donald Fegert; they later divorced in 1983. She married Jon Eicholtz in January 1991.

Among Barbara Eden’s many contributions to show business is her portrayal of Jeannie, a figure that will live on in television history books.