A Look Back at the Remarkable Life of Barbara Eden

Yet even though audiences feel they know the actress well, there are still many surprising details about her journey to fame.

Like many aspiring performers, Eden left her hometown of San Francisco and headed to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming a Hollywood star. Her early experiences, however, were far from encouraging. During one of her first meetings with a talent agent, she received a brutally discouraging response.

In a 1989 interview, Eden recalled the moment vividly. The agent reportedly told her to go home, marry the boy next door, and forget about acting, insisting she was not tough enough, not pretty enough, and lacked the qualities needed to succeed in Hollywood.

The harsh criticism was shocking and painful. With no connections in the entertainment industry, Eden initially struggled to find opportunities. Instead of stepping onto a film set, she found herself working at a bank in order to support herself.