Matthew Ansara: The Life and Tragic Death of Barbara Eden’s Son

Matthew Ansara was the only child of two famous Hollywood actors — Barbara Eden, the star of I Dream of Jeannie, and Michael Ansara, best known for his role in Broken Arrow. His parents had tried for seven years to conceive him before he was born on August 29, 1965. Growing up in the heart of Hollywood’s entertainment world, Matthew had every advantage money and fame could offer.

He pursued careers in acting and bodybuilding, standing an imposing 6’4″ and working as a fitness instructor. But behind the scenes, Matthew struggled with drug addiction for most of his adult life. His mother spent years — and countless resources — trying to help him get clean, sending him through multiple rounds of rehabilitation.

On June 25, 2001, Matthew died at age 35 from an accidental heroin overdose. His death shattered his mother. In the years since, Barbara Eden has spoken publicly about the pain of losing her only son and the helplessness she felt watching him battle addiction. She’s used her grief to raise awareness about the realities of substance abuse, hoping other families won’t suffer the same loss.

Early Life and Background

Where Did Matthew Ansara Grow Up?

Matthew Michael Ansara was born on August 29, 1965, in Los Angeles, California. His arrival was long-awaited — his parents, Barbara Eden and Michael Ansara, had been married since 1958 and spent seven years trying to have a child before Matthew came along. He was their only child together, and both parents doted on him from the start.

He grew up surrounded by Hollywood. His mother was at the peak of her career during his early childhood — I Dream of Jeannie ran on NBC from 1965 to 1970, making Barbara Eden one of the most recognizable faces on television. His father, Michael, maintained a steady career in film and television throughout the same period.

Matthew’s childhood wasn’t without disruption, though. His parents divorced in 1974, when he was about nine years old. Despite the split, both Barbara and Michael stayed involved in his upbringing. He continued living in the Los Angeles area and remained close to both parents through his teenage years and into adulthood.

Who Were Matthew Ansara’s Parents?

Matthew’s father, Michael Ansara, was a Syrian-born American actor who built a long and respected career in Hollywood. He’s best remembered for playing the Apache chief Cochise in the 1950s TV series Broken Arrow, but he appeared in dozens of films and television shows over several decades. Michael was born in Lowell, Massachusetts, in 1922 to a family that had emigrated from Syria.

His mother, Barbara Eden, became an American icon through her role as Jeannie in NBC’s I Dream of Jeannie. She’d been a working actress and singer before the show, but the sitcom made her a household name. Barbara and Michael met on a blind date in October 1957, and they married the following year.

The marriage lasted 16 years before they divorced in 1974. Barbara went on to marry Charles Fegert in 1977, but that marriage ended in 1982. She married architect and real estate developer Jon Eicholtz in 1991, and they’ve been together since. Michael Ansara also remarried — he passed away on July 31, 2013, at age 91.

Matthew Ansara’s Famous Parents

How Was Matthew Ansara Related to Barbara Eden?

Matthew Ansara was the only son — and only child — of Barbara Eden and Michael Ansara. Barbara Eden is best known for starring as the titular character in the NBC sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, which aired from 1965 to 1970. The show made her one of the most beloved television stars of the 1960s, and she’s remained a recognizable figure in American pop culture ever since.

Michael Ansara had a long career in Hollywood spanning several decades. He played Cochise in Broken Arrow and appeared in numerous other film and television productions, including voice work and guest spots well into the 1990s. He was known as a versatile character actor who could play a wide range of roles.

Matthew was their only child together. Neither Barbara nor Michael had other biological children. Even after their 1974 divorce, both parents stayed involved in Matthew’s life. Barbara, in particular, became deeply entangled in his struggles with addiction — she’s described spending years trying to get him help, paying for treatment programs, and dealing with the constant fear that came with watching her son’s self-destruction.

Career

What Did Matthew Ansara Do for a Living?

Matthew followed his parents into the entertainment industry, at least briefly. He had an acting role as “David” in The Mod Squad, though his on-screen career never gained significant momentum. Growing up with two successful actors as parents gave him access to the industry, but acting didn’t become his primary pursuit.

Where Matthew really stood out was physically. He was a bodybuilder and fitness instructor, standing 6’4″ with an imposing build. He took his training seriously and worked in the fitness world for stretches of his adult life. People who knew him described him as physically impressive and genuinely passionate about health and exercise.

But his career — in whatever direction it took — was repeatedly interrupted by his drug addiction. The problem started in his teenage years and grew worse over time. Periods of sobriety would be followed by relapses, and the instability made it nearly impossible for him to maintain consistent work. His addiction didn’t just threaten his health; it dismantled his ability to build the kind of life his talents might have otherwise allowed.

Struggles With Addiction

What Happened to Matthew Ansara?

Matthew’s drug problems began when he was a teenager. Barbara Eden has said she didn’t fully grasp the extent of his addiction until after her second divorce, in the early 1980s. Once she understood what her son was facing, she threw herself into trying to save him. By her own account, Matthew went through seven or eight rounds of rehabilitation over the years. Each time, there was hope. Each time, he relapsed.

The addiction took everything from him at various points. Matthew experienced periods of homelessness despite having a family with the means to support him. Addiction doesn’t care about wealth or celebrity connections, and Matthew’s story is a painful illustration of that reality. His mother kept trying — kept paying for treatment, kept reaching out — but the disease was stronger than any single intervention.

On June 25, 2001, Matthew Ansara died from an accidental heroin overdose. He was 35 years old. His death was ruled accidental by the coroner. The loss hit Barbara Eden devastatingly hard. She’s described it as the most painful experience of her life — worse than any professional setback or personal failure she’d ever faced.

In the years since Matthew’s death, Barbara has spoken openly about what happened. She hasn’t hidden from the cause of death or sanitized the reality of his addiction. Instead, she’s used her platform to advocate for addiction awareness, sharing her family’s story in hopes that it might help other parents recognize the signs early or find the courage to keep fighting for their children. It’s a grief she carries every day, but she’s channeled it into something that might spare another family the same outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Matthew Ansara?

Matthew Michael Ansara was the only son of I Dream of Jeannie star Barbara Eden and actor Michael Ansara. He worked as an actor, bodybuilder, and fitness instructor before his death in 2001.

How did Matthew Ansara die?

Matthew Ansara died on June 25, 2001, at age 35, from an accidental heroin overdose. He had struggled with drug addiction since his teenage years.

Did Barbara Eden have any other children?

No. Matthew was Barbara Eden’s only child. After his death, she has spoken publicly about the loss and become an advocate for addiction awareness.

Who is Matthew Ansara’s father?

His father was Michael Ansara, a Syrian-born American actor known for playing Cochise in the TV series Broken Arrow and for many other film and television roles.

Related Celebrities

• Barbara Eden — Matthew’s mother, I Dream of Jeannie star
• Michael Ansara — Matthew’s father, actor
• Jon Eicholtz — Barbara Eden’s current husband