Barbara Eden Opens Up About Honoring Her Late Son Matthew's Memory

It’s been two decades since Barbara Eden lost her beloved son, Matthew Ansara, who tragically passed away at just 35 years old in June 2001. Despite the passage of time, Barbara still cherishes the memory of her late child, whom she describes as a "beautiful young man." In an exclusive conversation with Closer, the iconic star of I Dream of Jeannie shares how she keeps Matthew's memory alive in her heart and home.

Speaking candidly, the 90-year-old actress admits that reminiscing about her son often brings tears to her eyes. "You're going to make me cry," she says, her voice filled with emotion. "I have his pictures all around me. I don’t pretend like he never existed because he was truly a remarkable human being." Barbara emphasizes that she believes in keeping Matthew's spirit alive by openly talking about him and sharing stories from his life.

Barbara Reflects on Her Journey After Losing Matthew

Matthew's tragic death from a heroin overdose came after a long battle with addiction. In the years that followed, Barbara found solace in turning her pain into purpose. "For a long time after Matthew passed away, I dedicated myself to educating other parents about the dangers of drug use," she recalls. "I would go out and speak to groups, sharing my experiences and offering advice on how to recognize the signs of addiction. Many of us were completely unaware of what was happening right under our noses."

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Reflecting on her role as a mother, Barbara admits she often wonders if there was more she could have done to help Matthew. Growing up, she was taught to respect privacy, a lesson that influenced her parenting style. "My mom never went through my things, and I never went through hers," she explains. "I carried that same philosophy into raising Matthew. But looking back, I wish I had been more involved. If we had known sooner about his struggles, we might have been able to address them earlier."

Barbara acknowledges that her approach may have been too hands-off. "You need to be vigilant," she advises other parents. "Check their rooms, their belongings—know what they're up to every minute. I thought I had a handle on it, but I didn't. By the time we realized there was an issue, Matthew was already in college."