At 92 years of age, Barbara Eden has lived a life that has been eventful even independent of her illustrious and prolific acting career. Full of emotion and intrigue has been her love life, culminating in a 31-year marriage between Eden and Jon Eicholtz, but before finding him, Eden had to turn down none other than JFK.
Eden has been married three times. Her first marriage was to Michael Ansara, known for Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Then came Charles Fegert before she tied the knot for good with Eicholtz. Eicholtz would be an invaluable pillar for Eden who, for all the suitors that vied for her attention, needed meaningful emotional support through a horrible tragedy.
In her many years approached by male admirers, Barbara Eden turned down JFK
From 1964 to 1970, Eden made wishes come true in I Dream of Jeannie. A household name, Eden received copious amounts of attention, especially hopeful male attention. Multiple were actually high-profile like she was, as Eden revealed in The Sunday Morning Herald in 2011. Some of the biggest names included JFK and Elvis Presley.
She met JFK at the airport; while she was buying candy at a local shop, a man had asked her if she wanted to meet a Kennedy. Eden said she was interested in the offer, though he was wearing a heavy fur coat, and so, Eden admitted, she couldn’t really see him. Nevertheless, they exchanged an amicable conversation, before the stranger, JFK, slid his phone number into her hand.
“I binned the piece of paper,” Eden admitted, “but I wish I still had it.”
Barbara Eden ended up finding her husband of 31 years, Jon Eicholtz.
When one door closes, another opens. Except, in Eden’s case, she had already walked purposefully through the door she was meant to. Never succumbing to the lure of fame and worship from strangers, Eden turned down everyone who approached her and remained dedicated solely to her marriage to Eicholtz.
Eicholtz was supportive in a way Edens fans and last two husbands were not, most importantly by always seeing her as a person first and foremost. So, when she grieved, he supported her. Tragically, Eden’s son Matthew passed away three years after her marraige to Eicholtz; the bodybuilder was found slumped over in his car, with no trauma found done to the body.
In the aftermath defined by sorrow, Eden comfortably leaned on Eicholtz and the support he offered her.