Barbara Eden may be just days away from her 95th birthday, but retirement does not appear to be on her mind. The I Dream of Jeannie icon recently revealed that she still wants to act and even has a few ideas about the kinds of characters she would enjoy playing next.
For fans wondering about Barbara Eden today, the update is an encouraging one. At 94, she would gladly consider a new role if the material excites her. After a career spanning more than six decades, Eden is not simply looking back at the character who made her famous. She still sounds ready for another challenge.
Barbara Eden Says She Would Still Take the Right Role
Eden told Entertainment Weekly that she would consider almost any kind of part if the writing impressed her. She even joked that she would enjoy playing someone mean, recalling the mischievous “Bad Jeannie” she portrayed on I Dream of Jeannie. Eden also played Jeannie’s troublesome identical twin, giving the character dark hair, a green costume, and a very different personality.
Her willingness to keep working comes as she prepares for another public appearance connected to her long career. On September 5, Eden will join Pat Boone at the Cinecon Classic Film Festival to introduce their 1961 comedy All Hands on Deck. The film came during a busy period for Eden, who also appeared alongside Elvis Presley in Flaming Star, as well as in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and The Yellow Canary.
Her Career Went Far Beyond I Dream Of Jeannie
Of course, fans still closely associate Eden with the magical sitcom that made her a television legend. I Dream of Jeannie ran from 1965 to 1970 and paired her with Larry Hagman, who played astronaut Tony Nelson. Eden later returned to the character in the TV movies I Dream of Jeannie… 15 Years Later and I Still Dream of Jeannie. She and Hagman also reunited years later in Dallas, although they played characters far removed from the playful pair audiences remembered from the sitcom.
Eden continued working well beyond her Jeannie years. She starred in Harper Valley PTA, appeared on Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and played Mrs. Claus in the 2019 movie My Adventures with Santa. She also performed in a production of Love Letters in 2025. That makes the latest update on Eden today especially fitting. As she approaches 95 on August 23, the actress continues appearing before audiences, revisiting her classic work, and keeping the door open for another role. After decades of bringing television viewers a little magic, Eden clearly has no intention of disappearing into the bottle just yet.