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Stories

Barbara Eden Opens Up About The Loss Of Her Son Matthew In 2001

by Lauren Novak

Published August 24, 2021

Barbara Eden opens up about the loss of her son

I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden opened up about the loss of her son. Matthew Ansara was the only child of Barbara and her ex-husband Michael Ansara. Matthew was only 35 when he passed away in 2001 from an accidental drug overdose.

At the time, Matthew was an actor, fitness trainer, and was preparing for his upcoming wedding. Barbara said, “You’re gonna make me cry… I have his pictures around. I[I] don’t pretend like he never was. Because he was [a] super, super human being. [He was] a beautiful young man.”

Related:

  1. Barbara Eden Has Carried On “As Best I Can” Since The Death Of Son Matthew Over 20 Years Ago
  2. Barbara Eden Shares More About Her Son’s Tragic Death That Happened 20 Years Ago

Barbara Eden opens up about the loss of her son

Barbara Eden, and her son, Matthew Ansara, ca. 1968 (photo by Ivan Nagy)
Barbara Eden, and her son, Matthew Ansara, ca. 1968 (photo by Ivan Nagy) / Everett Collection

Barbara said for a long time she would talk to other parents about drugs and the dangers of accidental overdoses. She admitted she didn’t know about his drug addiction until it was perhaps too late. She said Matthew fought to get clean but it was very difficult.

RELATED: ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ Star Barbara Eden Opens Up About Turning 90, Publishing First Children’s Book

YOUR MOTHER WEARS COMBAT BOOTS, Matthew Ansara, Barbara Eden, David Kaufman, 1989
YOUR MOTHER WEARS COMBAT BOOTS, Matthew Ansara, Barbara Eden, David Kaufman, 1989 / Everett Collection

Barbara admitted, “For a long time, I would go out and talk to parents about drugs, and the use of them and what to do… because I think a lot of people, we were totally ignorant, we had no idea what was going on. … [My mom] didn’t go into my drawers. I didn’t go into hers, and all that kind of thing. You open those drawers. You know what they’re doing every minute. I thought I did. But I didn’t know. And I think if we had known sooner, we could have dealt with it. We didn’t know until he was in college.”

Next up: Meet Shirley Watts, Wife Of Late Rolling Stones Drummer Charlie Watts
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