The magical genie in a bottle series was a major hit for NBC in the late 1960s — as were its stars, Barbara Eden and Larry Hagman

NEED TO KNOW

• I Dream of Jeannie premiered on NBC in 1965
• The sitcom starred Larry Hagman and Barbara Eden, who earned two Golden Globe nominations for her performance as the titular genie
• Since the show ended in 1970, there have been two made-for-TV reunion films and an animated series featuring Eden

It’s hard to believe it’s been over 60 years since I Dream of Jeannie crashed into our lives.

An iconic 1960s sitcom, the NBC hit premiered on Sept. 18, 1965. The series follows the 2,000-year-old genie (Barbara Eden), who’s discovered on a deserted island in the South Pacific by astronaut Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson (Larry Hagman) after his NASA rocket Stardust One misfires and falls to Earth. Nelson takes Jeannie back to Cocoa Beach, Fla., where they eventually fall in love and get married.

Over its five-season run, the show earned two Golden Globe Award nominations and an Emmy nod.

Eden told PEOPLE in April 2026 that the show was “just happiness.”

“I loved it. I loved it,” she said. “Of course, once I left Jeannie, I did a lot of other things, but it was very fulfilling for me.”

Find out what happened to the cast of I Dream of Jeannie after the finale aired on May 26, 1970.

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Barbara Eden as Jeannie

Born Barbara Jean Morehood in Tucson, Ariz., in 1931, Eden’s big TV break came in 1955 on The Johnny Carson Show. From there, she appeared on I Love Lucy, Father Knows Best and The Andy Griffith Show before starring as Jeannie. She received two Golden Globe nods for her portrayal of the 2,000-year-old genie with the catchphrase, “Yes, master.”

Eden went on to star in several TV movies, led the cast of the short-lived early ‘80s sitcom Harper Valley P.T.A. and had a five-episode arc on the final season of Dallas. In the aughts, she guest-starred on shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, George Lopez and Army Wives. She also had a successful cabaret career in Las Vegas.

Eden reprised the role of Jeannie in two TV movies, 1985’s I Dream of Jeannie… Fifteen Years Later and 1991’s I Still Dream of Jeannie and the audio series Master Dearest, from the Diaries of Jeannie.

After I Dream of Jeannie ended, Eden went through two divorces, the loss of an unborn child and her son Matthew’s death at age 35 in 2001 following a heroin overdose.

In January 1991, she married her third husband, real estate developer and architect Jon Eicholtz.

“I’m really lucky,” she told PEOPLE in October 2021. “I have dear friends. I have a wonderful family, a very supportive husband. Yes, I’m very happy.”

Eden is the last living main cast member of I Dream of Jeannie.

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Larry Hagman as Major Anthony Nelson

Hagman played Major Anthony “Tony” Nelson, a dashing astronaut, U.S. Air Force officer and jet pilot.

The Texas-born actor later portrayed the iconic crude oil baron J.R. Ewing for 14 seasons of the CBS primetime soap Dallas. He reprised the role several times, including in two TV movies, 1996’s Dallas: J.R. Returns and 1998’s Dallas: War of the Ewings, the spinoff Knots Landing and season 1 of the mid-2010s TNT revival. The latter was his final acting credit.

On the big screen, Hagman’s post-Jeannie films included The Eagle Has Landed (1976), Superman (1978), Nixon (1995) and Primary Colors (1998).

In 2001, he released an autobiography, Hello Darlin’: Tall (and Absolutely True) Tales About My Life.

Hagman wed Maj Axelsson in December 1954. They shared two children, daughter Heidi and son Preston.

In 2011, Hagman announced he was diagnosed with stage 2 throat cancer, 15 years after having a life-saving liver transplant procedure. He died of complications from the cancer on Nov. 23, 2012. Hagman was 81.

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Bill Daily as Captain Roger Healey

Bill Daily played Tony’s goofy best friend and fellow NASA astronaut, Captain Roger Healey.

The role launched him right into his next sitcom, The Bob Newhart Show. On the series, he played airplane co-pilot and the Newharts’ neighbor Howard Borden. He reunited with Bob Newhart on the comedian’s later sitcoms Newhart, George & Leo and Bob.

The Iowa-born actor also starred on Small & Frye and Starting from Scratch, had a recurring role on ALF and guest-starred on shows like The Munsters Today and Caroline in the City. He also reprised the role of Healey in both Jeannie TV movies.

Over the years, Daily became a staple on game shows like Match Game and Hollywood Squares.

He also applied his love for magic to three TV specials called Daily’s Hocus-Pocus Gang, which introduced young magicians to the craft.

Daily died days after celebrating his 91st birthday on Sept. 4, 2018.

He is survived by his son J. Patrick, a motion picture key grip.

“Our favorite zany astronaut, Bill Daily has passed,” Eden wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “Billy was wonderful to work with. He was a funny, sweet man that kept us all on our toes. I’m so thankful to have known and worked with that rascal. Until we meet again Billy, xo.”

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Hayden Rorke as Dr. Alfred Bellows

Hayden Rorke appeared on various shows, including I Love Lucy, The Lone Ranger, The Twilight Zone and Bonanza, before landing the part of NASA medical officer Dr. Bellows on I Dream of Jeannie.

Rorke — who was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., and took his stage name from his mother, actress, textile colorist and suffragist Margaret Hayden Rorke — later appeared on shows like Cannon, Wonder Woman and The Love Boat.

Throughout his career, he appeared in more than 240 plays and more than 50 films, per the Los Angeles Times. His last role was his reprisal of Dr. Bellows in the 1985 CBS TV reunion movie I Dream of Jeannie… Fifteen Years Later.

Rorke died of cancer on Aug. 19, 1987. He was 76.

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Emmaline Henry as Amanda Bellows

Emmaline Henry starred on I’m Dickens, He’s Fenser before landing her best-known role as Dr. Bellows’ wife, Amanda Bellows, on I Dream of Jeannie. (Fun fact: Her first appearance on the sitcom was actually as a magician’s assistant on season 1.)

The Philadelphia native went on to guest star on shows like Green Acres, The Bob Newhart Show, The Love Boat, Three’s Company and Eight Is Enough.

On the silver screen, she appeared in a handful of films, including Divorce American Style (1967), Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and Harrad Summer (1974).

Henry died of a brain tumor on Oct. 8, 1979. She was 50.

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