Barbara Eden, 78, gets back into her I Dream of Jeannie crop-top and harem pantaloons

By Cassie Carpenter

|

She spent five years and 139 episodes starring on sixties sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie.

And Barbara Eden, 78, bravely donned her iconic crop-top and harem pantaloons for the opening ceremony of the 21st Life Ball in Vienna Saturday.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Magically evergreen! Barbara Eden, 78, bravely donned her I Dream of Jeannie crop-top and harem pantaloons for the opening ceremony of the 21st Life Ball in Vienna Saturday

Magically evergreen! Barbara Eden, 78, bravely donned her I Dream of Jeannie crop-top and harem pantaloons for the opening ceremony of the 21st Life Ball in Vienna Saturday

Magically evergreen! Barbara Eden, 78, bravely donned her I Dream of Jeannie crop-top and harem pantaloons for the opening ceremony of the 21st Life Ball in Vienna Saturday
Looking good! The evergreen TV legend still looked fabulous while baring her impressive midriff in the pink chiffon costume and tiny red velvet bolero

Looking good! The evergreen TV legend still looked fabulous while baring her impressive midriff in the pink chiffon costume and tiny red velvet bolero

The evergreen TV legend still looked fabulous while baring her impressive midriff in the pink chiffon costume and tiny red velvet bolero.

The former blonde bombshell even made sure to wear her star-making role's classic braided blonde ponytail wig, scarf hat, and silver kitten heels.

Originally designed by Gwen Wakeling with colors selected by Eden, the Jeannie costume caused controversy with the censors due to the slightly exposed navel.

Your wish is my command: Barbara first appeared on stage at Vienna's City Hall alongside former Olympic swimmer Greg Louganis, pop star Fergie, and even organiser Gery Keszler

Your wish is my command: Barbara first appeared on stage at Vienna's City Hall alongside former Olympic swimmer Greg Louganis, pop star Fergie, and even organiser Gery Keszler

Ready for the guest of honor? Eden's most recent acting role was in the 2009 movie-of-the-week, Always and Forever alongside Dean McDermott for the Hallmark channel

Ready for the guest of honor? Eden's most recent acting role was in the 2009 movie-of-the-week, Always and Forever alongside Dean McDermott for the Hallmark channel

Her new master: Eden then reenacted her classic wish-conjuring arm and head nod, which magically brought out her new 'Master' - former US President Bill Clinton

Her new master: Eden then reenacted her classic wish-conjuring arm and head nod, which magically brought out her new 'Master' - former US President Bill Clinton

Southern gentleman: The 66-year-old politician escorted Barbara hand-in-hand up the tall velvet steps off the stage

Southern gentleman: The 66-year-old politician escorted Barbara hand-in-hand up the tall velvet steps off the stage

Barbara first appeared on stage at Vienna's City Hall alongside former Olympic swimmer Greg Louganis, pop star Fergie, and even organiser Gery Keszler.

Eden then reenacted her classic wish-conjuring arm and head nod, which magically brought out her new 'Master' - former US President Bill Clinton.

The 66-year-old politician escorted Barbara hand-in-hand up the tall velvet steps off the stage.

Scandalous in the '60s: Originally designed by Gwen Wakeling with colors selected by Eden, the Jeannie costume caused controversy with the censors due to the slightly exposed navel

Scandalous in the '60s: Originally designed by Gwen Wakeling with colors selected by Eden, the Jeannie costume caused controversy with the censors due to the slightly exposed navel

Classic sitcom: The show's premise involved a 2,000-year-old genie being rescued by an astronaut (Larry Hagman), who rubs her bottle after crash landing his shuttle on a beach

Classic sitcom: The show's premise involved a 2,000-year-old genie being rescued by an astronaut (Larry Hagman), who rubs her bottle after crash landing his shuttle on a beach

Before her big entrance, the aging beauty walked the glamorous event's magenta carpet in a glittery gold gown featuring a thigh-high slit and matching bolero.

Rather than a gold purse, Barbara clutched a replica of the purple genie's bottle from her famous show.

The sitcom's premise involved a 2,000-year-old genie being rescued by a handsome astronaut, who rubs her bottle after crash landing his shuttle on a beach.

Eden's entrance: Before her big surprise, the aging beauty walked the glamorous event's magenta carpet in a glittery gold gown featuring a thigh-high slit and matching bolero

Eden's entrance: Before her big surprise, the aging beauty walked the glamorous event's magenta carpet in a glittery gold gown featuring a thigh-high slit and matching bolero

Theme song in your head, yet? Rather than a gold purse, Barbara clutched a replica of the purple genie's bottle from her famous show

Theme song in your head, yet? Rather than a gold purse, Barbara clutched a replica of the purple genie's bottle from her famous show

Jeannie Out of the Bottle: Barbara even named her 2011 memoir after the series

Jeannie Out of the Bottle: Barbara even named her 2011 memoir after the series

Dallas star Larry Hagman, who passed away from throat cancer last November, played Captain Tony Nelson opposite the then 31-year-old starlet.

Meant to compete with the rival series Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie was created by Sidney Sheldon and aired on NBC in 1965.

The series, which was a mild hit at the time, became hugely popular during decades of syndication and the two spin-off reunion movies - neither of which starred Hagman.

Barbara even named her 2011 memoir after the series.

Jeannie Out of the Bottle detailed her two failed marriages and her 'emotional breakdown' following the death of her only child, Matthew Ansara, from an accidental heroin overdose in 2001.

Before appearing on Jeannie, the pretty starlet made appearances on shows like I Love Lucy, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Father Knows Best, and The Andy Griffith Show.

Eden's most recent acting role was in the 2009 movie-of-the-week, Always and Forever alongside Dean McDermott for the Hallmark channel.

The comments below have not been moderated.

Early on, she was a regular on the TV show "How to Marry a Millionaire". There are episodes on 'you tube'. It's worth a look. As for her putting on the old costume, if the lights were low and she was saying "oh, master", well, I might, uh......... :)

Click to rate     Rating   1

Ms Eden is a telling example of why it is better to look at photographs of one's prime rather than try to recreate it!

Click to rate     Rating   1

Yeah Fergie check a REAL legend.

Click to rate     Rating   4

Rohda from New Zealand, I suggest you get an eye exam if that makes you sad! She's 78 years old! 78! 78! And she looks like THAT! That's a triumph! Nothing to be sad about there! We all age, and that's a normal part of life, That lovely lady has aged wonderfully. If you want to actually be sad, visit a nursing home's dementia ward.

Click to rate     Rating   14

"Crash landing his shuttle on a beach"? In the early 1960's? Look at the opening sequence. It was a capsule, Mercury or Gemini. There were no space shuttles until decades later.

Click to rate     Rating   3

Bill Clinton is anything and everything but what the photo caption read: A Southern Gentleman. Barbara Eden has been and will always remain a true Lady.

Click to rate     Rating   17

She still looks get in the costume and I enjoyed watching I dream of Jeannie show.

Click to rate     Rating   17

she played on I Love Lucy in one episode as a Blonde beautiful party crasher...and its so funny watching Lucy, Ethel and Betty Ramsey get so jealous of her! She was stunning in the episode! lol she played the part perfect...and it was before Jeannie!

Click to rate     Rating   11

It is so sad in a way how we grow old, when you look at the two photos of her young and old. But kudos to her for putting Jeannie's outfit on one more time. Gorgeous Lady.

Click to rate     Rating   23

She still looks great. Larry Hagman was good looking too.

Click to rate     Rating   53
Share this comment

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

You have 1000 characters left.
Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.
For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.
Terms