Barbara Eden Insists Elvis Presley Deserved More Credit as an Actor: ‘He Was Wonderful’

Barbara Eden reflected on her experience working alongside Elvis Presley, saying the music icon never received the recognition she believes he deserved as an actor.

The I Dream of Jeannie star, 94, also worked on films alongside screen legends including Presley, Paul Newman and Fred Astaire.

In 1960, she was cast alongside Presley in the western Flaming Star. Featuring just two songs, the dramatic film was a big change from his previous musical comedy, G.I. Blues, which included 11 songs and spawned a best-selling soundtrack released the same year.

Flaming Star was not a huge box office hit, and Presley was then pushed back into musical films for the remainder for his screen roles.

But speaking to Entertainment Weekly during Project Angel Food’s Lead With Love telethon, Eden praised her former costar’s dramatic abilities and suggested his film career could have taken a different path.

“He was good. He was good in that movie,” Eden said. “I think all they did was use him to get the money. They didn’t think about his career or how talented [he was] — my God. He was wonderful, and he was wonderful singing.”

The comment supports an interview she gave to People in 2025 when she also said of Presley was underrated.

“I remember how good he was,” she told the publication. “He was a fine actor. This was a part that required good acting, and he did it, boy.

“I just think people didn’t recognize or appreciate what a fine actor he was, and a lovely, lovely man.”

Presley played a man of mixed white and Native American heritage navigating cultural tension in West Texas, while Eden portrayed his love interest in Flaming Star.

He would go on to star in 31 feature films, but never received anything like the success or credit he got while performing and releasing hit songs.