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Looking back on the life of Barbara Eden

Step aside, Aladdin! Barbara Eden, the woman who made the world dream of genies, is celebrating her 92nd birthday on August 23, and the nonagenarian looks fantastic!

Eden–who turned fans into shameless bottle shiners hoping for their own wish-granting blonde–is still adored almost 60 years since she first appeared on I Dream of Jeannie.

But, while she was able to strike a pose and make magic happen on screen, in real life, she was unable to save her son, who died of a heroin overdose in 2001.

Born in the Great Depression, Barbara Eden, 92 as of August 23, 2023, turned poverty into luxury when, in 1956, she started appearing in film (A Private’s AffairTwelve Hours to Kill) and TV (The Jonny Carson ShowI love Lucy).

In 1960, she played to international audiences when she cast was alongside the “King of Rock and Roll,” Elvis Presley in the western, Flaming Star.

And then, in 1965, the stunning blonde played Jeannie, a beautiful genie that was set free by astronaut and US Air Force Captain, Tony Nelson.

Eden captured the hearts of fans with her impressive portrayal of the magical creature that she played for the five-season run of the fantasy sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, with Larry Hagman playing her love interest, Nelson.

The same year she was reaching super stardom as Jeannie, Eden and her husband, actor Michael Ansara (known for his starring in role in the 60s series Broken Arrow) had a son, Matthew Ansara, who was born August 29, 1965.

When Matthew was nine, his parents ended their 15-year marriage, a strike that Eden, who married two more times, says sent her son on the wrong path, towards drugs.

The Harper Valley PTA star explained that she first noticed Matthew was in trouble in 1984, when at 19, he moved in with his father after she remarried. Returning after she divorced a second time, Eden said he was sleeping a lot and lied about being enrolled in college.

“Matthew never told Mike and me that he was using heroin—he didn’t want to hurt us. But we figured it out because he had been acting sluggish, losing weight, staying out all night. I insisted that he enter a rehab center, and I let him come back home when he came out a month later.”

The star of The Stepford Children continued, “But he started using again. The professionals told us that if your child is using drugs, he has become the drug: He is no longer your child, and he no longer has a home with you. So, I locked him out when he was 20, which was the hardest thing I ever had to do.”

Matthew, who started using drugs when he was only 10, spent the next 12 years in and out of rehab, his parents connecting to help him through.

“When he visited us, sometimes he’d laugh and say, ‘Here I am, better lock up everything.’ But when he was sober, he’d tell us, ‘I’m so sorry. I love you more than anyone in the world,’” Eden said of her son, who often stole their property when he visited.

Barbara Eden, US actress, in costume in a publicity portrait for the US television series, ‘I Dream of Jeannie’, circa 1967. The sitcom starred Eden as ‘Jeannie’. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

During a brief remission when he was 27, Matthew married and studied creative writing at UCLA, but “the cycle began again,” and his wife left.

Recalling when things turned for the worse, Eden said she confronted her son, and “he got angry, threw things and stomped out.” Finding Matthew after a months-long search, Eden learned he’d spent most of the time living on the streets.

“One day, soon after they separated, he called me, sounding half dead, and said, ‘Mom, I’m sick.’ Mike’s wife and another friend drove with me to a bad part of Venice, Calif., and we found him in his apartment, unconscious from an overdose.”

Describing his living conditions as “filthy,” Eden continued. “He weighed 200 lbs., but we three women got him up and to the car and took him to the hospital, which saved his life.”

At 29 he was diagnosed with clinical depression and was on medication, that didn’t help.

When he was 31, Matthew was clean again and following the path of his parents, he had a starring role in the 2001 film To Protect and Serve, and a supporting role in Con Games, that was released posthumously the same year.

In September that year, he had plans to wed a “wonderful girl.”

“One day he told me, ‘Life is great, Mom. I can’t believe I spent so many years not being awake to how green the trees are.’” Eden said.

Barbara Eden son cause of death

Soon after that conversation, on June 26 at 3 a.m. Eden was jolted from her sleep when a phone call came through about her son,

Six hours before the call, police found 35-year-old Matthew, an amateur bodybuilder, slumped over the steering wheel of his truck, where cops also pulled vials of anabolic steroids that he used to bulk up for competitions.

Autopsy results showed that Matthew’s cause of death was accidental drug overdose.

“Then he was dead. He had shot up with a dose of unusually pure heroin, and it was too much for his heart,” Eden said. “Even when he was getting in shape, he did it like an addict—obsessively. He was unable to do anything in moderation.”

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Mourning the death of her only child, the author and singer, married to Jon Eicholtz since 1991, is still looking for answers.

“Matthew took it horribly. He wanted his mommy and daddy to stay together. If I had to do it over, I would have waited until he was older. But then I remind myself that so many kids from divorced homes don’t become addicts.” She continued, “He won a lot of battles. But he lost his personal war.”

The senior Ansara, who at 91 died in 2013 from complications related to Alzheimer’s, is buried next to his son at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

As for Eden, who retired Jeannie’s pink harem suit, she can be seen on TV shows like Worst Cooks in America: Celebrity Edition and the 2019 film My Adventures with Santa, where she plays Mrs. Claus. Her last stage production was 2019’s Love Letters.

First, we’d like to wish the beautiful Barbara Eden a very happy birthday!

Next, we cannot imagine a parent’s pain of losing a child and we are so sorry for her loss. If someone you know is struggling with addictions, please contact your local alcohol or drug abuse hotline–it could save their life.

Please share this story and let’s give Eden some warm wishes and the love she deserves!

Best Of

Inside the hectic life of Australia’s biggest family

When Jeni first met her husband Ray, she was certain of one thing — she never wanted children.

“Ray wanted at least four kids. I thought that was crazy. Like, who has that many children?” Jeni told Mamamia.

Now, over three decades later, they are the proud parents of 16 children.

$600 every week on groceries

If you’re from Australia, you might have heard of them, but for me, it was a real shock when I first started reading about The Bonell Family.

Life for the Bonell family, who are raising 16 kids in Australia, is anything but ordinary. From feeding their large brood to coordinating the chaos of daily life, Jeni and Ray Bonell have mastered the art of juggling it all — and with a healthy dose of humor, too.

The Bonell family, from Queensland’s Toowoomba, is made up of nine boys and seven girls – Jesse, 35, Brooke, 34, Claire, 31, Natalie, 30, Karl, 28, Samuel, 26, Cameron, 25, Sabrina, 24, Tim, 22, Brandon, 20, Eve, 19, Nate, 17, Rachel, 16, Eric, 15, Damian, 14 and Katelyn, 10.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan once joked, “You know what it’s like having a fourth kid? Imagine you’re drowning, then someone hands you a baby.” So what’s it like to have sixteen kids?

Jeni, the mother at the helm, spends a staggering $600 every week on groceries just to keep their pantry stocked. With inflation hitting hard, that budget has crept up by $50. For a family of 18 (with 8 kids still living at home), it takes a lot to keep everyone well-fed.

The weekly grocery list is nothing short of impressive: 17 three-litre bottles of milk, 14 boxes of cereal, 45 tubs of yogurt, and a whopping four dozen eggs.

“We go through 50 litres of milk each week and one to two loaves of bread every day,” says Jeni.

Getting a good family photo is difficult

It’s a logistical nightmare for anyone, but for the Bonells, it’s all part of the rhythm of life. The Bonell family’s home life is a carefully choreographed routine.

“Getting a good family photo is difficult,” says Jeni, laughing. “You need an extra-wide lens, and there’s always someone looking away, pulling a funny face, or with their eyes closed. But we enjoy those little quirks in the photos. They’re not picture perfect, but that’s part of the fun.”

With 16 kids, it’s not just about taking photos — it’s about keeping up with the whirlwind of daily life.

Imagine having 16 kids, a full-time job, part-time jobs, and a household to run. That’s the reality for Jeni and Ray.

“I used to think life was busy with little kids,” says Jeni, “but I’m certainly busier these days with older children.” Between coordinating three different schools, sporting activities, part-time jobs, and the older kids’ studies, it’s a juggling act. And yet, Jeni wouldn’t have it any other way. “Life is very hectic – but it’s good.”

The evening routine in their home is a perfect reflection of the Bonell family dynamic. “Take an average-sized family and multiply it by eight, and that’s what our evening routine is like,” Jeni laughs.

Stretching every dollar

Some nights it’s total chaos; other nights, everything falls into place like a well-oiled machine. But regardless of how the evening unfolds, one thing is always consistent: dinner time. “Dinner is always great,” Jeni explains. “Some nights we have eight people at the table, other nights we have more than 20!”

The Bonells are pros at stretching every dollar. Jeni is known for her budget-friendly meals that cost between $2 and $10. She often shares her grocery trips on YouTube to help others manage their food costs.

“It’s a struggle for everyone at the moment,” says Jeni, “We’re all feeling that pinch with the budget.” To stay organized, Jeni uses a chore chart to divide household responsibilities, making sure everyone from age eight upwards pitches in. The kids are also taught to cook from a young age. “Our 12-year-old can put a roast dinner on for 20 people with almost no supervision,” Jeni says with pride.

The laundry load in a house like theirs is equally immense. Jeni does three full loads of laundry every day, which amounts to about six average-sized loads. And when it comes to grocery shopping, Jeni fills up two trolleys each week. “I always need one of the kids to help with the load,” she says.

The Bonell Family religion

When it comes to their finances, the Bonells have learned to make sacrifices. While they pay off their home mortgage, the financial pressures are still real. “It’s expensive and you definitely have to make sacrifices with your budget,” says Jeni. “But we all work, and our family doesn’t live off the taxpayer. However, we do get a lot of criticism for having so many kids.”

Although the Bonells are deeply religious and regularly attend church, Jeni insists that their large family isn’t solely the result of their strong faith.

“God has a funny sense of humour,” says Jeni. They have no regrets, though. ”It just feels right for us,” says Ray, who works as an electrician. ”People have to do what’s right for them. Having 16 kids is not for everyone, but it’s what works for us.”

Despite their busy lives, Jeni and Ray find moments for themselves. “Do I get alone time with my wife? Of course, I do. We make time for each other,” says Ray with a smile. “It’s important to look after each other.”

Their two older children have now left home and are married, adding to the family dynamic as Jeni and Ray become grandparents to two grandchildren. It’s proof that the Bonell family just keeps growing. But with each addition, the love, laughter, and sense of togetherness only deepen.

Inside their roster system

In a family where organization is key, the Bonells have developed a solid routine. From prepping school uniforms and lunches the night before to creating a rotation system for chores, the Bonells make it work.

“We have a roster system, so when a kid turns eight, they get put on the roster,” says Jeni. “They rotate through chores like sweeping, mopping the floor, packing up the table, and helping with meal prep.”

When it comes to snacks, Jeni has a few favorites she shares with fans on YouTube, including air fryer egg cups and air fryer pizza bites. Both snacks are simple to prepare, freeze well, and are perfect for school lunches.

For the Bonells, it’s all about creating a system that allows everyone to pitch in and contribute. And despite the chaos of managing a household of 16, it’s clear that love, teamwork, and humor keep the Bonell family thriving.

Whether it’s feeding the kids, running a household, or finding time for a quick coffee date, the Bonells make it all work — and they do it with a smile.

At the end of the day, the Bonell family proves that with a little creativity, a lot of organization, and plenty of love, you can make just about anything work. Sure, raising 16 kids isn’t easy, but for Jeni and Ray, it’s all part of the adventure.

Whether it’s sharing tips on how to feed a crowd on a budget, keeping up with the endless laundry, or just enjoying the chaos of family life, the Bonells know how to make it happen. And through it all, they’re creating a home full of memories, laughter, and endless love. If there’s one thing we can all take away from this, it’s that family, no matter how big, is always worth it.

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Tiger Woods posts an emotional message on social media announcing the death of his mother, Kultida, saying, “My Mom Was Force Of Nature

In a heartfelt social media statement, Tiger Woods revealed that his mother, Kultida Woods, has passed away at the age of 78. She is his “biggest fan” and a “force of nature,” according to the 15-time major champion.

“I want to share with you my deepest sorrow that my beloved mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning,” Tiger wrote in his touching letter. My mother’s spirit was just indisputable; she was a force of nature all her own.

She laughed and used the needle quickly. “She was my biggest supporter and fan, and without her, none of my personal accomplishments would have been possible,” he continued. Her two grandsons, Sam and Charlie, adored her more than anyone else. I appreciate everyone’s prayers, support, and privacy at this trying time for my family and myself. I adore you, Mom.

Kultida, who is originally from Thailand, met Tiger’s father, Earl Woods, in the late 1960s when he was serving with the US military in Bangkok, according to Fox News. After being married in 1969, the pair moved to Brooklyn, New York, and finally settled in Cypress, California, where their only child, Tiger-born Eldrick Woods, was born.

Eldrick was given his parents’ names, K for Kultida and E for Earl. Tiger Phong, his father’s lost companion in Vietnam, inspired the golf champion’s nickname. At the age of 74, Earl passed away in 2006.

During one of the golfer’s darkest moments, Kultida supported her son. In a widely reported news appearance in 2010, he admitted to having several extramarital affairs. Tiger’s mother, who was seated in the front row of the public confession, acknowledged that he had “stopped living by the core values” that his parents had taught him and that his behaviour was unacceptable.

penultimate year, Tiger Woods said on The Tonight Show that his mother was the reason he was able to don the now-famous red and black ensemble that he donned on the penultimate day of golf competitions. Published at 10:45 AM IST on Wednesday, February 5, 2025

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