Charles Donald Fegert was an American advertising and marketing executive from Chicago. He is mainly known as the second husband of actress Barbara Eden, the star of I Dream of Jeannie. He was born on November 8, 1930, in Chicago and died on September 25, 2002, at the age of 71. People close to him often called him Chuck. He spent most of his working life with major Chicago newspapers and held senior roles in advertising and marketing. Unlike his famous wife, he stayed away from media attention and rarely gave interviews. This is why most people know him only through his marriage to Eden and a few business records from his newspaper years.
Charles Donald Fegert Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
| Full Name | Charles Donald Fegert |
| Nickname | Chuck |
| Born | November 8, 1930, Chicago, Illinois |
| Died | September 25, 2002 (age 71) |
| Profession | Newspaper advertising executive |
| Known For | Second husband of Barbara Eden |
| Main Workplace | Chicago Sun-Times |
| Marriage Date | September 3, 1977 |
| Divorce | Early 1980s |
| Children | Three from earlier marriages |
Early Life and Family Background
Fegert was born and raised in Chicago, where he lived for most of his life. His father worked in the steel industry, and the family had working-class roots. Before college, he briefly worked in the steel mills himself, which taught him the value of hard work and a steady income. He also served in the United States Coast Guard before starting university. Growing up in Chicago in the mid-twentieth century meant he saw the city’s newspaper industry at its peak, with several daily papers competing for readers and advertisers. This environment likely shaped his later choice to build a career in newspaper advertising and sales. Beyond these basic details, very little is recorded about his childhood or family life.
Education
Fegert attended South Shore High School in Chicago. After high school, he studied at Loyola University Chicago, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1955. His university education gave him a formal grounding in business principles, which he later applied directly to his work in advertising sales and management. Graduating in 1955 placed him at the doorstep of a booming postwar American economy, a time when newspapers were still the dominant advertising medium. He wasted no time putting his degree to use and joined the Chicago Sun-Times as an advertising salesman in the same year he graduated. This early start marked the beginning of a career that would span several decades.
Career and Professional Life
Fegert built his entire professional reputation in the newspaper advertising industry. This field required strong sales skills, relationship management, and an understanding of what businesses needed to reach readers. He worked his way up from an entry-level advertising salesman to senior executive roles, eventually becoming vice president of advertising and marketing. His career coincided with the golden age of print media, when newspapers generated massive revenue through display ads and commercial partnerships. He was known for his ability to connect with clients and for his confidence in handling business negotiations. Beyond his official duties, he was also a skilled master of ceremonies who could entertain audiences at events throughout Chicago. This mix of sales expertise and personal charm helped him rise through the ranks and become a recognizable name within Chicago’s media circles.
Career at Chicago Sun-Times
His most significant professional association was with the Chicago Sun-Times, where he began working as an advertising salesman in 1955. Over the years, he climbed steadily through the organization and eventually reached the position of executive vice president. A 1972 Congressional Record identified him as the advertising manager of both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Daily News. This showed that he held responsibility for two major publications at the same time. His role involved overseeing advertising operations, managing sales teams, and building relationships with major advertisers. By the early 1980s, reports described him as an executive vice president at the Sun-Times, confirming that he had reached the upper levels of newspaper management. Working at the highest levels of Chicago newspaper advertising during a period when print was still the primary advertising channel shows that he was a serious and accomplished business professional.
How Did He Meet Barbara Eden?
Fegert met Barbara Eden in Chicago during the mid-1970s. At that time, Eden was in the city performing and he was already established in his newspaper career. Their first encounter was not a romantic fairy tale from the start. He reportedly told Eden early on that she was his dream girl, but she did not take the line seriously and initially found him somewhat forward. Despite her lack of immediate interest, he was persistent. He flew to see her more than thirty separate times as their relationship developed. This was a significant effort given that his career and life were rooted in Chicago while she was based in Hollywood. Eden later reflected that she met him during a lonely period in her life and was drawn to him because she found him handsome, intelligent, and someone who genuinely knew how to enjoy himself. Their courtship unfolded across two cities and showed a side of him that few business associates would have seen.
Marriage to Barbara Eden
Charles Donald Fegert and Barbara Eden married on September 3, 1977. At the time of their wedding, Eden was already a major television star through I Dream of Jeannie and numerous other roles. He was, by contrast, a successful but private business executive from Chicago. Their marriage brought him sudden attention from the entertainment press, a level of scrutiny he had never experienced before. Sources differ slightly on when the marriage ended, with some reporting a separation in 1982 and a finalized divorce in 1983. The couple did not have any children together. After the divorce, Eden eventually remarried in 1991, while he returned to a quiet life away from Hollywood. Their marriage lasted approximately five to six years and remains a brief but notable chapter in Eden’s personal history. For him, it was a period when his otherwise private life briefly intersected with the world of television fame.
Why Did They Divorce?
The marriage between Charles Donald Fegert and Barbara Eden ended in divorce in the early 1980s. According to reports, Eden left him in 1982 after he began struggling with alcohol and cocaine use. A Romanian entertainment outlet also claimed that he stayed out late, drank heavily, and became abusive toward Eden before she fled the home. These specific allegations come from secondary sources and have not been confirmed by Eden herself in the available records. What is clear is that the marriage lasted roughly five to six years, with the couple separating in 1982 and the divorce being finalized around 1983. Eden later moved on with her life and eventually remarried in 1991.
Did Charles Donald Fegert Have Children?
He did not have any children with Barbara Eden during their marriage. Eden already had one son, Matthew Ansara, from her previous marriage to actor Michael Ansara, and Fegert became a stepfather to the boy. Some biographical accounts suggest that he may have had children from earlier relationships before he met Eden, though reliable details about their identities and lives are not available. During the divorce proceedings, a custody dispute arose over Matthew, with Fegert reportedly filing for custody while the boy expressed a desire to remain in Chicago rather than relocate with his mother. Matthew later struggled with drug addiction and passed away from an overdose in 2001.
Life After Divorce
After the divorce from Barbara Eden, he returned to a quiet life in Chicago and stayed away from the celebrity spotlight. He continued his work in the newspaper advertising industry and maintained his connections within the city’s business community. People who knew him noted that he rarely spoke about his Hollywood marriage and preferred to focus on his professional life and family. He spent time with his adult children and grandchildren, and his daughter later described him as a warm and fun-loving father who enjoyed family gatherings. There are no public records showing that he remarried after his divorce from Eden. Fegert chose a private path rather than seeking attention through interviews or television appearances, which was consistent with his low-profile nature throughout his life.
Death and Cause of Death
He passed away on September 25, 2002, in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of 71. His family kept the medical cause of death private, and no official record of the specific cause has been made public. Some reports mention that he died peacefully in his sleep, though this detail has not been formally confirmed. His remains were cremated according to a Find a Grave memorial record. At the time of his death, nearly two decades had passed since his divorce from Barbara Eden, and he had spent those years largely out of public view. His daughter shared a touching memory after his passing, describing how his grandchildren gathered to sing playful songs he had taught them over the years.
Net Worth
His exact net worth is not publicly confirmed, and no reliable financial records exist to verify any specific figure. Some secondary websites estimate that he was worth around $2.5 million at the time of his death, attributing this to his long career as a senior advertising executive at major Chicago newspapers. However, these estimates lack clear financial evidence and should be treated with caution. What is certain is that his positions as vice president of marketing and advertising at the Chicago Sun-Times and Chicago Daily News provided him with a comfortable income and a successful professional career. Unlike his famous wife, Fegert built his wealth through decades of work in the newspaper business rather than through entertainment industry earnings. His financial success was real, but the precise numbers that circulate online remain unverified.
Lesser-Known Facts About Charles Donald Fegert
- He had two previous marriages and three children before meeting Barbara Eden. His daughter was named Lisa, and his sons were named Michael and Chip.
- His daughter Lisa described him as “the funnest dad and the funnest grandpa” who loved doing imitations and singing with his grandchildren.
- He reportedly told Barbara Eden he had never watched her famous show I Dream of Jeannie when they first met. He liked her as a real person, not as a television icon.
- According to Eden’s 2011 memoir Jeannie Out of the Bottle, he was still legally married when their relationship began. He told Eden that a divorce was already in progress.
- Eden’s mother never fully accepted this situation and reportedly never forgave him for it.
- His wedding gift to Eden included a luxury Chicago condominium overlooking Lake Michigan. The home was valued at over $250,000 at the time and featured a mirrored Jacuzzi in the bedroom.
- After the 1977 wedding, Eden moved to Chicago and had to give up her custody arrangement for her son Matthew. This sacrifice caused her significant emotional pain.
- He was a sought-after master of ceremonies in Chicago. His charm and public speaking skills made him popular on the city’s social and business circuit.
- He was once compared to the famous entertainer Georgie Jessel for his ability to entertain crowds at events and banquets.
- His career spanned nearly three decades at major Chicago newspapers, yet he never sought fame or publicity from his marriage to a Hollywood star.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who was Charles Donald Fegert?
He was an American advertising and marketing executive who worked for major Chicago newspapers, including the Chicago Sun-Times. He is best known as the second husband of actress Barbara Eden.
2. When did Charles Donald Fegert marry Barbara Eden?
They married on September 3, 1977, in Chicago.
3. What was Charles Donald Fegert’s profession?
He worked in newspaper advertising and marketing. He served as an executive at the Chicago Sun-Times and was also associated with the Chicago Daily News.
4. Did Charles Donald Fegert have children with Barbara Eden?
No. The couple did not have any children together during their marriage. Eden already had a son, Matthew Ansara, from her previous marriage.
5. When did Charles Donald Fegert and Barbara Eden divorce?
Sources differ slightly on the exact date, but the divorce was finalized in the early 1980s. Some records state 1982, while others say 1983.
6. When did Charles Donald Fegert die?
He passed away on September 25, 2002, at the age of 71.
7. What was Charles Donald Fegert’s cause of death?
His exact cause of death was not publicly confirmed. One secondary source claims he died in his sleep from natural causes, but this has not been officially verified.
Conclusion
Charles Donald Fegert built a successful career as a newspaper advertising executive in Chicago. He rose from an entry-level sales job to senior management at major publications like the Chicago Sun-Times. While the public mostly remembers him as Barbara Eden’s second husband, his story goes beyond that brief marriage. He was a dedicated professional and a father to three children from earlier relationships. After his divorce from Eden, he chose a quiet life away from Hollywood and focused on his family. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 71, leaving behind a legacy of hard work and professional achievement.
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