We all know and love Barbara Eden as the fictional Jeannie in ‘I Dream of Jeannie’ – the hit 60s sitcom about an astronaut who discovers a 2,000 year old genie in a bottle.
With her acting prowess and witty lines, she swiftly became a favorite amongst audiences, both young and old.
Though, aside from starring in one of the most popular shows of the decade, she was also reportedly lending an ear to one of her famous chums when he needed marriage advice.
It all started when Eden – who is now 92 – landed a role in the 1960 film ‘Flaming Star’ alongside Elvis Presley.
At the time, Presley was a megastar who had not only topped the charts musically, but had already also appeared in numerous musical dramas. He was also dating a young Priscilla Beaulieu – who was 10 years his junior – whom he met while on military service in Germany.
He apparently had some reservations about marrying her, saying (via Fox): “Elvis told me about this girl that he really liked a lot. He said, ‘I want to know how you and your husband survive this business. I’m a little worried about bringing her to the United States.'”
Eden was married to actor Michael Ansara, and Presley wanted her advice on how she managed to stay married to him while working in Hollywood.
“I told him, ‘This is our work. He goes on location, I go on location. But we’re always together. This is how we make money, but we are a team. And as long as the two of you are a team, it will work out.’ But Elvis was worried. ‘I just don’t know,'” he said.
“He was such a well-bred gentleman,” Eden added. “Just wonderful to work with. I’d come on the set, and he’d immediately pull up a chair for me. Actors don’t do that. But he was so courteous and gracious with me.
“He was truly a nice guy in this business. I remember he would have his father on set and another man he called his cousin, but I later found out it wasn’t a cousin. But they would all just sit together, play guitar and sing.
“Well, sure enough, he brought that girl over — and it was Priscilla,” Eden recalled.
Presley first met Priscilla when she was 14 years old in 1959, the year before appearing in ‘Flaming Star’ with Eden. The pair spent a lot of time together and, when Presley completed his military service and returned to the US, they kept in contact.
In 1963, Priscilla moved to the US to be with Presley, and the pair wed in 1967.
If you liked reading this article, you may be interested in the life of Debra Paget and why Elvis was ‘obsessed’ with her.
READ MORE
- Looking back on the life of Barbara Eden, and the tragic story of her only son who died at only 35
- The heartbreaking reason why Elvis never toured overseas
