Barbara Eden cancels film festival appearance amid 'sudden illness'

Barbara Eden has sparked concern after dropping out of a film festival appearance due to a “sudden illness”.

The 95-year-old actress, most well known for her role in I Dream of Jeannie, had been due to attend the Cinecon Classic Film Festival in Los Angeles on Saturday (05.09.26) to collect her Cinecon Legacy Award in person, but organisers broke the news of her absence shortly before she had been scheduled to appear.

They wrote on Facebook: “We’re sorry to share that, due to a sudden illness, Barbara Eden will no longer be able to appear in person at Cinecon tonight.”

Organisers added that Barbara was “deeply regretful that she had to cancel at the last minute”, as she had “been very much looking forward to seeing everyone and celebrating with us”.

They concluded the statement by writing: “We know how many of you were excited to welcome Barbara. We appreciate your understanding and join you in sending her our best wishes for a speedy recovery.”

Despite Barbara’s absence, her former co-star Pat Boone - who appeared with her in All Hands on Deck in 1961 and The Yellow Canary in 1963 - continued to honour the actress as was planned.

All Hands on Deck screened for fans, with Pat staying on after the film’s showing to sign autographs for fans.

Barbara had been set to receive the Cinecon Legacy Award alongside fellow screen stars Nancy Kwan and Lainie Kazan.

However, her fellow honouree Anna Maria Alberghetti, 90, was also unable to attend in person to collect the award.

Barbara became a household name thanks to her titular role in 60’s sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, which saw her play a 2,000 year old genie who came out of a bottle found by an astronaut.

She also starred in TV shows including How to Marry a Millionaire, as well as films including The Brass Bottle and Flaming Star.

Barbara’s award honour comes just months after she opened up to Entertainment Weekly about how she was shockingly told by a casting director when she was starting out that she’d never make it because she didn’t have "big t***”.