Bill Daily, who played wingman to Larry Hagman on the classic ’60s TV series “I Dream of Jeanie,” carried a secret real-life torch for the series’ blond bombshell star, Barbara Eden — and he toted it all the way to the grave! Bill, who died at 91 of natural causes in Santa Fe, N.M., on Sept. 4, was married three times, but couldn’t resist Barbara’s charms. He played clumsy Maj. Roger Healey to Barbara’s magical genie and Hagman’s Maj. Tony Nelson on the show from 1965 to 1970 — and “carried a torch for her from almost the very first moment he met her,” a source close to the late actor revealed to The National ENQUIRER. “He never stopped loving her. He always felt they had a special bond!” Read on for details of Bill’s crush, and click here for more news of old Hollywood….
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Scantily clad Jeannie lived in a bottle at Maj. Nelson’s home and “was in love with him on the show, but it was clear that Daily’s character had a major crush on her,” dished the source. “It was the same in real life. Daily had this unrequited love for Barbara!”
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Photo credit: Files
The pair never crossed the romantic line. And Barbara saluted crush-carrying Bill as a “funny, sweet man who kept us all on our toes,” in a farewell Twitter statement. "I’m so thankful to have known and worked with that rascal. Until we meet again Billy.”
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Bill's first marriage, to
Patricia Anderson, lasted from 1949 to 1976. Four years later, he wed actress
Vivian Sanchez, mom of his daughter
Becca. In 1985 he, Barbara and
Hayden Rourke (center) revived their characters for a "Jeannie" TV movie with
Wayne Rogers stepping in for Larry as Maj. Nelson.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Bill and Vivian divorced and in 1993, and he wed third wife Becky. They adopted Kimberley and J. Patrick before her 2010 death. Following "Jeannie," Bill played neurotic pilot Howard Borden on "The Bob Newhart Show" from 1972 to 1978.
Scantily clad Jeannie lived in a bottle at Maj. Nelson’s home and “was in love with him on the show, but it was clear that Daily’s character had a major crush on her,” dished the source. “It was the same in real life. Daily had this unrequited love for Barbara!”
Photo credit: Getty Images
The pair never crossed the romantic line. And Barbara saluted crush-carrying Bill as a “funny, sweet man who kept us all on our toes,” in a farewell Twitter statement. "I’m so thankful to have known and worked with that rascal. Until we meet again Billy.”
Bill's first marriage, to
Patricia Anderson, lasted from 1949 to 1976. Four years later, he wed actress
Vivian Sanchez, mom of his daughter
Becca. In 1985 he, Barbara and
Hayden Rourke (center) revived their characters for a "Jeannie" TV movie with
Wayne Rogers stepping in for Larry as Maj. Nelson.
Photo credit: Getty Images
Bill and Vivian divorced and in 1993, and he wed third wife Becky. They adopted Kimberley and J. Patrick before her 2010 death. Following "Jeannie," Bill played neurotic pilot Howard Borden on "The Bob Newhart Show" from 1972 to 1978.
Photo credit: Getty Images