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Barbara Eden Tears Up Recalling Son's Tragic Death

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ET's Thea Andrews sits down with television icon Barbara Eden, who opens up about the death of her son in 2001 and talks about plans for a movie based on her 1960s sitcom "I Dream of Jeannie."

The star reveals that she was floored by the news that her 35-year-old son, Matthew, had died in what she later found out was an accidental heroin overdose. "I was shocked when I got the call because he had been clean and sober for almost two years and was going to get married," Barbara says.

She says one of the most important pieces of advice she can give parents trying to learn whether their children are on drugs is to not be afraid to snoop. "I sincerely think the only way you can tell is to be very, very nosy -- to get into their drawers, get into their closets. I didn't do that because I respected his privacy."

Barbara also tells ET about hosting a new dancing show that will tour the country and she reveals whether she would show off her own dance moves on "Dancing with the Stars." Watch the video to also get an update on plans for the "I Dream of Jeannie" movie.

Barbara returns to the small screen to star along with Dean McDermott in an upcoming Hallmark Channel movie called "Always and Forever," set to air October 24.

For more of Barbara's emotional interview, tune in to tonight's ET!

Posted June 18, 2009 5:15:00 AM
See All: tv barbara eden

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