Charles Donald Fegert | Barbara Eden Ex husband, & The Chicago Media Executive

Charles Donald Fegert was an American newspaper advertising executive best known for his marriage to actress Barbara Eden, the star of I Dream of Jeannie. However, his professional life developed independently of Hollywood.

Fegert built his career in Chicago’s newspaper industry, working with two major publications: the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Daily News. His responsibilities included advertising and marketing, eventually leading to senior executive positions.

His marriage to Barbara Eden brought him national attention in the late 1970s. The couple married in 1977 but later divorced in 1983. Eden subsequently discussed their relationship in her memoir, Jeannie Out of the Bottle.

Although Charles Fegert remained a relatively private figure, historical newspaper records and Barbara Eden’s interviews provide useful details about his career and personal life.

Charles Donald Fegert Quick Facts

Who Was Charles Donald Fegert?

Charles Donald Fegert was a Chicago-based advertising and publishing executive whose professional career placed him among the business figures behind major metropolitan newspapers.

He became publicly recognizable after marrying Barbara Eden, who had already achieved television fame through I Dream of Jeannie.

Unlike his famous wife, Fegert did not work as an actor or entertainer. His professional responsibilities centered on newspaper advertising, marketing, and management.

His name appears in historical records connected to Chicago’s newspaper industry. The February 9, 1972, edition of the Congressional Record identifies Charles Fegert as advertising manager of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Daily News.

That official record provides an important starting point for understanding his career before his marriage brought him into entertainment news.

The Man Who Moved Chicago’s Media

Charles Fegert’s professional story belongs to an important period in Chicago’s newspaper history.

The city had several influential publications, and advertising represented a major part of their commercial operations. Newspaper advertising executives worked with businesses, agencies, publishers, and commercial clients.

Fegert’s position placed him within this business environment. He was responsible for advertising operations at two well-known Chicago newspapers.

His work was not the same as journalism or editorial management. Instead, it involved the commercial side of publishing, where advertising policies and business relationships helped support newspaper operations.

His later executive appointments demonstrate that he moved beyond an advertising-management position into broader leadership responsibilities.

Although describing him as someone who transformed Chicago’s entire media industry would be an exaggeration, his documented roles show that he held significant responsibilities within the city’s newspaper business.

1972: Chicago’s Newspaper Rules Began to Change

One particularly interesting detail about Fegert’s career appears in the February 9, 1972, Congressional Record.

During a House discussion, Representative George E. Danielson mentioned speaking with Charles Fegert, then the advertising manager of the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Daily News.

The discussion concerned a new advertising policy adopted by the two newspapers.

According to the Congressional Record, the publications had decided to draw a line against offensive advertising. Danielson praised Fegert and publisher Marshall Field for the decision.

This historical reference is significant because it connects Fegert directly to a newspaper policy discussion that reached the United States House of Representatives.

It also provides evidence of his responsibilities during the early 1970s. He was not simply associated with the newspapers by name; he was involved in explaining and communicating their advertising policy.

From Advertising to the Executive Suite

Fegert’s career progressed beyond advertising management.

His connection with Field Enterprises, the organization associated with the Chicago newspapers, placed him within a larger publishing operation.

By 1977, he was being described in contemporary coverage as a senior marketing executive. His professional standing was also visible in Washington newspaper coverage during the years surrounding his marriage to Barbara Eden.

A particularly useful reference appeared in The Washington Post on March 17, 1980. The newspaper described Barbara Eden as being married to Chicago Sun-Times executive vice president Charles Fegert.

The publication mentioned them again in its March 29, 1981, coverage of the Gridiron Club dinner, identifying him by the same executive title.

These contemporary references help establish that Fegert held a senior position at the Chicago Sun-Times during this period.

His career therefore had an established foundation before his relationship with Eden attracted public attention.

How a Chicago Executive Won the Heart of Hollywood Star Barbara Eden

Barbara Eden was already a recognizable television actress when she met Charles Fegert.

She had become famous for playing Jeannie in the NBC sitcom I Dream of Jeannie, which aired from 1965 to 1970.

After her first marriage to actor Michael Ansara ended in divorce in 1974, Eden eventually met Fegert in Chicago.

In later interviews, Eden described their initial attraction. She remembered Fegert as handsome, intelligent, and entertaining when they first met.

Her comments also reveal that she was experiencing loneliness during this period of her life.

The relationship developed quickly, bringing together a Hollywood actress and a successful Chicago newspaper executive.

For Eden, the relationship initially appeared to offer companionship and a new beginning. For Fegert, it brought a much more public connection with an established television star.

Eden later shared her memories of the relationship in her autobiography, giving readers a personal account of how their marriage began.

Charles Donald Fegert Weds Barbara Eden in 1977

Charles Donald Fegert and Barbara Eden married on September 3, 1977.

The marriage was recorded in Barbara Eden’s biographical entry at Encyclopedia.com, which identifies Fegert as a publishing executive and records their marriage and eventual divorce.

The wedding connected two people from very different professional worlds.

Eden was an established actress whose television fame extended beyond the United States. Fegert was a senior newspaper executive whose career was centered in Chicago.

Their marriage also brought Eden closer to Chicago. A 1980 Washington Post report described her attending a Washington social event as the wife of Chicago Sun-Times executive vice president Charles Fegert.

The couple did not have children together.

Eden already had a son, Matthew Ansara, from her first marriage to Michael Ansara. Matthew remained an important part of her family history.

Their Divorce: What Happened Between Barbara Eden and Charles Fegert?

Although their relationship began with strong attraction, the marriage eventually became troubled.

Barbara Eden later described the difficulties in her 2011 memoir, Jeannie Out of the Bottle.

In interviews discussing the book, she recalled problems involving Fegert’s social circle, drinking, and cocaine use. She also said that his behavior became abusive.

These are Eden’s firsthand recollections and should be attributed to her rather than presented as independently established findings.

A detailed account of her statements appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald’s coverage of Eden’s memoir.

Eden explained that she eventually decided to leave the relationship.

Their divorce was completed in 1983, according to Encyclopedia.com and Biography.com.

The separation ended a marriage that had connected a major Hollywood television personality with a prominent Chicago publishing executive.

Life After Divorce

Following his divorce from Barbara Eden, Charles Fegert largely disappeared from mainstream entertainment coverage.

Unlike Eden, who continued working in television, film, theater, and public appearances, Fegert maintained a much lower public profile.

His professional identity remained connected to Chicago’s newspaper and advertising business, although detailed information about his later employment and personal activities is limited.

There is also little dependable public information about his romantic relationships after the divorce.

Because he was not a regular entertainment-industry personality, much of his later life was not documented in the same way as Eden’s career.

His story is therefore best understood through the historical records of his professional work and the accounts Eden later shared about their marriage.

Charles Donald Fegert Death: When Did He Die?

Charles Donald Fegert is not still alive.

Genealogy records identify his death as September 25, 2002, in Chicago, Illinois. The same records list his birth date as November 8, 1930, which would make him 71 at the time of his death.

The date and age are recorded by AncientFaces, although this is a genealogy resource rather than a formal newspaper obituary.

A reliably documented cause of death has not been established in the sources reviewed. It would therefore be inappropriate to attribute his death to a particular illness or circumstance.

His death brought an end to the life of a businessman whose public legacy is connected to both Chicago’s newspaper industry and his former marriage to Barbara Eden.

Charles Donald Fegert Net Worth: Was He Worth $2.5 Million?

Charles Donald Fegert’s net worth is often estimated at approximately $2.5 million at the time of his death.

However, this figure has not been confirmed through publicly available estate documents, financial statements, or reliable reporting based on his personal assets.

Nevertheless, the estimate should not be treated as a verified financial fact.

Fegert held senior advertising and executive positions at major Chicago newspapers. Those positions indicate a successful professional career, but they do not establish the exact value of his estate.

The most responsible conclusion is that $2.5 million is a commonly repeated estimate, not a confirmed net worth figure.

Final Thoughts

Charles Donald Fegert’s life was about more than his marriage to Barbara Eden.

He established himself in Chicago’s newspaper industry, worked in advertising management for two major publications, and eventually held a senior executive position at the Chicago Sun-Times.

His 1977 marriage to Eden brought him into the public spotlight, while her later memoir provided insight into the difficulties that eventually ended their relationship.

Although much of his private life remains undocumented, historical newspaper records provide a clearer picture of his professional career.

Today, Fegert is remembered through two connected stories: his work in Chicago publishing and his place in Barbara Eden’s personal history.

Frequently Asked Questions About Charles Donald Fegert and Barbara Eden

1. Who was Charles Donald Fegert?

Charles Donald Fegert was a Chicago newspaper advertising executive best known as Barbara Eden’s second husband.

2. Was Charles Donald Fegert still alive?

No, Charles Donald Fegert died on September 25, 2002, according to genealogy records.

3. What was Charles Donald Fegert’s net worth?

His net worth was not publicly verified, although some online sources estimate approximately $2.5 million at his death.

4. When did Charles Donald Fegert marry Barbara Eden?

Charles Donald Fegert married Barbara Eden on September 3, 1977.

5. Why did Barbara Eden and Charles Fegert divorce?

Barbara Eden later described relationship problems and abusive behavior in her memoir, Jeannie Out of the Bottle.

6. How long were Barbara Eden and Charles Fegert married?

They were married from September 1977 until their divorce in 1983.

7. Did Charles Donald Fegert and Barbara Eden have children?

No, they did not have children together.

8. What did Charles Donald Fegert do for a living?

He worked in newspaper advertising and marketing and held senior executive positions connected with the Chicago Sun-Times.

9. How old was Charles Donald Fegert when he died?

He was reportedly 71 years old when he died in September 2002.

10. Who is Barbara Eden married to now?

Barbara Eden married real estate developer Jon Eicholtz in 1991, and they have remained married.

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