Former child star John Eimen has died from prostate cancer the age of 76.
Facebook – the Eimen family.
John Eimen, the red-haired, freckled former child actor who appeared throughout 1950s and 1960s television, died on November 21 at his home in Mukilteo, Washington, following a recent prostate cancer diagnosis. He was 76.
Born on October 2, 1949, in Chicago, Eimen moved with his family to the Los Angeles area, where a chance encounter in first grade set him on the path to an acting career. After his teacher introduced him to a talent agent, he soon began landing small roles across several television series, including Leave It to Beaver, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, Bachelor Father, Wagon Train, The Untouchables, Lawman, and The Twilight Zone.
John Eimen was active as a child star on television in the 1950s and 1960s.
Universal Television
A major break seemed imminent in 1961 when Eimen was cast as the son of Oscar winner (and future Falcon Crest star) Jane Wyman in the proposed drama Dr. Kate. But when Wyman exited the project, the show dissolved (and ultimately aired in pilot form as an episode of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse).
The following year brought a more substantial opportunity: a recurring role in the military school comedy McKeever and the Colonel as Monk, a pal of Cadet Gary McKeever (Scott Lane). It ran for just one season. Eimen’s final screen appearance came in 1967 on Petticoat Junction.
As adulthood approached, Eimen pursued music — singing and playing guitar — which ultimately took him to Japan. There, he married his wife, Midori, in a traditional Shinto ceremony and spent more than a decade teaching English, performing in clubs, and appearing on Japanese television.
After returning to the United States in the mid-1990s, Eimen embarked on a second career as a flight attendant on international routes, where his fluency in Japanese proved invaluable. He retired in 2020.
Eimen is survived by his wife of 51 years; their two sons, Daniel and Chris; and grandsons Lucas and Oliver.