Barbara Eden back in her iconic costume at 78
Barbara Eden bravely donned her iconic crop-top and harem pantaloons for the opening ceremony of the 21st Life Ball in Vienna Saturday.
Barbara Eden, 78, spent five years and 139 episodes starring on sixties sitcom, I Dream of Jeannie.
The evergreen TV legend still looked fabulous in the pink chiffon costume and tiny red velvet bolero.
Barbara Eden 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 Barbara Eden, the costume caused controversy with the censors due to the slightly exposed navel.
Barbara Eden first appeared on stage at Vienna’s City Hall alongside former Olympic swimmer Greg Louganis, pop star Fergie, and even organizer Gery Keszler.
She then reenacted her classic wish-conjuring arm and head nod, which magically brought out her new “Master” – former President Bill Clinton.
Bill Clinton, 66, escorted Barbara Eden hand-in-hand up the tall velvet steps off the stage.
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 Eden 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.
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 Larry Hagman.
Barbara Eden 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, Barbara Eden made appearances on shows like I Love Lucy, Perry Mason, Gunsmoke, Father Knows Best, and The Andy Griffith Show.
Barbara Eden’s most recent acting role was in the 2009 movie-of-the-week, Always and Forever alongside Dean McDermott for the Hallmark channel.